Tourist attractions in Cairo

Ben Ezra synagogue Cairo, Egypt | El Geniza Synagogue Ben Ezra Synagogue is one of the largest and most important Jews Synagogues in Cairo, Egypt. The Synagogue is famous for its Geniza found in the 19th century and contained a treasure of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Arabic manuscripts. What is the function of the synagogue? The synagogue for the Jews similar to the mosques for the Muslims and Churches for Christians, a place space for worship and prayer. in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but also for assembly and study. Where is Ben Ezra Synagogue? Ben Ezra Synagogue, referred to as El Geniza Synagogue is located in Old Cairo on Mar Girgis Street behind the Coptic Museum and near the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus. The Synagogue has an interesting mix of history, as the site was originally a church and then converted into a synagogue a century ago. What was the Ben Ezra synagogue? Once the Synagogue was a Coptic Church belonging to the Hanging Church but Ahmed Ibn Tulun forced the Christians to pay 20000 gold dinars in annual taxes. Patriarch Mikhail III the 56 Pope sold it to the Jews to be able to pay the taxes. As a consequence, Abraham Ben Ezra, who came from Jerusalem during Ahmed Ibn Tulun's reign, bought the church for 20,000 dinars. Jews believe that the prophet Moses lived in the area or in other words it is the place where baby Moses was found. When Ben Ezra Synagogue was built? The construction date of the Ben Ezra Synagogue is not known, but there is evidence from some documents found in Geniza that it dates back to 882 C.E and most probably pre-Islam. Ben Ezra Synagogue Cairo Egypt layout First