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Ben
Ezra Synagogue:
(Other names: El-Geniza
Synagogue, El-Yaho church)
The
Synagogue of Ben Ezra was originally named El-Shamieen Church, and is
situated behind the “hanging church”. The Synagogue once had an old copy
of the Old Testament, and it was said that Ezra the Prophet (Al-Azir)
had written it.
It is
believed that the site of the Synagogue was where the box of Baby Moses
was found. ”. In the Encyclopaedia Britannica, a Synagogue is described
as “A prayer place for the Jews”. In old Greek it means: “The usual
place where the Jews assemble to receive religious teachings and to
worship” Some of these Temples were built close to a source of water, as
much as for protection from any attack, not just for ablution!
The Ben
Ezra Synagogue was originally a Christian church that the Copts had to
sell, to the Jews, in 882A.D in order to pay the annual taxes imposed by
the Muslim rulers of the time, and therefore Abraham Ben Ezra, who came
from Jerusalem during the reign of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, bought the church
for the sum of 20,000 dinars.
Through the centuries, the Synagogue received extensive restorations
and renovations until it reached its present state. The present building
dates back to 1892; the original one had collapsed and a new one was
built, echoing it.
A description of the Synagogue
It is
built in the shape of a basilica (rectangle), consisting of 2 floors;
the 1st dedicated for the men while the 2nd is dedicated for the women.
The entrance is situated on the north side.
The 1st floor:
It is
rectangular in shape, measuring 17m in length and 11.3m wide. It is
divided into 3 parts, the largest being the middle one (4.75 m in
width); these parts are divided by steel bars painted in a marble-like
color.
There
is a platform located in front of the sanctuary, where the rabbi stands
to read the Torah. The lector platform is in an octagonal shape and is
made of marble. A copper fence is situated on the 8th side of the
platform, where the Torah, and its rolls, is rested.
There
is a memorial Stella located in front of the platform. In the middle of
this Stella is a top part consisting of 2 semi-arches carried on 3
pillars, with a height of 85cm.
There
are 2 rooms on each side of the Holy Ark on the 1st floor
The
Most Important Decorations of the Synagogue:
Geometrical Decoration:
This
decoration goes back to the Turkish Period. It is clearly seen on the
side halls with patterns such as, star patterns, pentagonal patterns and
rectangles.
Floral decorations:
Used as
a background for the geometrical patterns, they are also found around
the Star of David in the middle of the ceiling. Here is a mixture of the
Hatai and the Roman decorations, which are floral patterns and are
called “Ottoman Arabesque”. This decoration includes floral patterns,
palmettos and lotus flower.
The
south eastern side of the top of the Torah closet is decorated with
stalactites, on top of which is a semi circle with ray decorations.
The
frame of the Torah Ark is a mimic decoration and on each of the two
sides are 2 wooden columns with geometrical patterns. The 2 columns have
stalactite capitals of the Ottoman period.
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