Friday March 29th, 2024
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7 Haunting Photos of an Abandoned Egyptian Synagogue

A true testament to the multi-cultural history of Cairo.

Staff Writer

Photos of the now abandoned Aitz Hayim synagogue in Cairo's Daher district were posted on Facebook by the neighbourhood community's page I'm From El Daher. The century-old temple was built in 1900 in the once-multi-ethnic eastern Cairo neighbourhood. The abandoned architectural and cultural gem, located in Qantara Street, was renovated in 1952 and was designed and built in a modern Jewish architectural style.

Before the establishment of the state of Israel and the subsequent persecution of Egyptian Jews for their presumed support of the occupation of Palestine, Egypt had a thriving Jewish community which had long been integral to its economy and identity. From 1948 onward, most Egyptian Jews left the country for Israel, Europe, or the US. Today, only 6 remain in Egypt and as a result, most synagogues in Cairo and Alexandria were left behind to fall into decay and abandonment. 

You can view the full album here.