To preserve Jewish heritage, Egypt plans to restore Alexandria synagogue
The push is in line with President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s attempts to emphasize Egypt’s diversity in response to attacks on minority groups.
A $2 million restoration of Egypt’s largest synagogue, Prophet Elijah Synagogue in Alexandria, is the start of a government effort to keep Jewish heritage alive.
“The government is elevating the profile of the heritage of Egyptian Jews,” 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 Jewish community numbered 75,000 when the first Arab-Israeli war broke out in 1948. Since then, most members have left for Israel, France, and elsewhere.
