The Ben Ezra Synagogue, one of the oldest and most important synagogues in Cairo, was reopened on Thursday after an extensive restoration project.
Tourism Minister Ahmed Issa said the Ben Ezra Synagogue is "one of the most important and oldest synagogues in Egypt".
The synagogue is believed to date back to 882 CE and is named for the prominent scholar Abraham Ibn Ezra. It is one of no more than five that remain in Egypt after many Jews left the country in 1952.
The restoration project included repairing the ceiling, cleaning and treating the stones, and maintaining the lighting system.
The synagogue is now in a much better condition than it was before the restoration, and it is once again a fitting home for the Cairo Geniza, a treasure trove of Jewish communal documents.
The project was funded by the Egyptian government and was carried out by a team of Egyptian experts.
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is a valuable asset to Egypt's cultural heritage. It is also a popular tourist destination. The synagogue is a reminder of the rich history of Jewish life in Egypt, and it is a testament to the country's commitment to religious tolerance.
What is Cairo Geniza?
Cairo Geniza is a collection of Jewish communal documents that were stored in the attic of the Ben Ezra Synagogue.
The documents date from the 8th to the 19th centuries and include letters, contracts, legal documents, religious texts, and even poems.
The Geniza was discovered in 1896 by Solomon Schechter, a Jewish scholar, and it has since become one of the most important sources of information about Jewish life in the Middle Ages.
