Egypt plans to restore Alexandria synagogue

Government aims to elevate Jews’ profile, promote diversity

ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT A $ 2 million restoration of Egypt’s largest synagogue is the start of a government effort to keep alive the legacy of the Jewish community, whose members have largely left for Israel, France and elsewhere since the middle of last century.

“We are experiencing a renaissance,” said Samy Ibrahim, vice president of the Cairo Jewish community, which, like the one in Alexandria, counts a population of less than a dozen members. “The government is elevating the profile of the heritage of Egyptian Jews.”

Ibrahim spoke Tuesday as Joshua Shamsi, a Connecticutbased photographer, met with him and other members of the Egyptian Jewish community in the Prophet Elijah Synagogue in Alexandria to draw up plans for a comprehensive visual survey of their synagogues, schools and cemeteries.

“Something important is happening in Egypt,” said Shamsi, who has documented abandoned heritage sites in Morocco, Tunisia and Iraq for Diarna, an American online “geo- museum” of Middle Eastern Jewish life. “Doors closed before are now opening.”

Last week, Minister of Antiquities Khaled El- Enany announced his agency will fund the restoration of the Prophet Elijah Synagogue, including repairing the rain- damaged roof of the women’s gallery.

The 160- year- old structure is itself an 1850s- era restoration of a sanctuary damaged when French forces bombarded the Mediterranean port city. Egyptian King Muhammad Sa’id Pasha paid for the work at the time.

The 700- seat Italianate synagogue is one of four buildings on a compact city block that once comprised the Jewish community living in Alexandria’s historic center, including a three- story school, a community center and two residential buildings. Today, non- Jews occupy most of the apartments.

“Rent from the apartment buildings no longer can pay for the upkeep of the synagogue,” said 81- year- old caretaker Abdel Nabi, a Muslim.

The push is in line with Egyptian President Abdel- Fattah elSissi’s attempts to court Coptic Christians and emphasize Egypt’s “diversity” in response to a series of deadly bombings in minority communities, mostly by the Islamic State group.