Ben Ezra Synagogue

The Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo is a site of immense historical, religious, and cultural significance. Its origins trace back to before 882 CE, and tradition holds that it stands on the spot where the pharaoh’s wife discovered the infant Moses in a basket along the Nile. Originally a Christian church known as El-Shamieen, the building was sold to the Jewish community in 882 AD to help the Christian owners pay taxes to Muslim rulers. Over the centuries, the synagogue has undergone multiple restorations, with the current structure dating back to 1892.

The synagogue is closely associated with two prominent medieval Jewish thinkers. It is believed that Moses Maimonides (1135–1204), the renowned philosopher and physician, either worshipped or taught here. It is also linked to Abraham ibn Ezra (1089–1167), a Jewish scholar who is credited with restoring the synagogue in the 12th century.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Ben Ezra Synagogue is its role in the discovery of the Cairo Geniza. In 1890, a vast collection of over 250,000 medieval Jewish documents was found hidden in a storeroom within the synagogue. These texts provide a detailed look into the religious, social, and economic life of North African Jews between the 11th and 13th centuries. Today, most of these invaluable manuscripts are preserved at Cambridge University in England.

Architecturally, the synagogue features traditional elements such as a bimah (pulpit), a hechal (ark or direction of prayer), and a geniza (storage space for sacred texts). It also displays decorative influences from the Turkish era, with geometric designs—stars, pentagons, and rectangles—and floral motifs adorning its interior, adding to its historical charm.