Synagogue Ben Ezra
Synagogue Ben Ezra
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The oldest existing synagogue in Cairo was originally a church in the 8th century.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
222 reviews
Excellent
79
Very good
90
Average
48
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Ron W
Cedar City, UT172 contributions
Mar 2020
Ben Ezra Synagogue, once a Christian church. This area is the original home of the Coptic Christians, one of the world's oldest Christian denominations. This is a small synagogue and sparsely furnished. I found it quite interesting due to its history. Here, visit the Hanging Church, that was built in the 7th century. Admire the courtyard and interior with its elaborate wooden screen, marble pulpit and icons.
Cost: Free
Weather: The weather in February was perfect – not hot, but no jacket required.
Toilets: unknown
NOTE: Street vendors all accept U.S. Dollars
Cost: Free
Weather: The weather in February was perfect – not hot, but no jacket required.
Toilets: unknown
NOTE: Street vendors all accept U.S. Dollars
Written March 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gail Goldman
Hartsdale, NY1,108 contributions
Feb 2020
This site is also known as the El-Geniza Synagogue and is located in Coptic Cairo so you might want to explore that history as well while you are in the vicinity.
Local legend says that it is located on the site where baby Moses was found.
It dates back to the 9th century AD and was originally a church. The synagogue was restored in the 12th century and now, with so few Jews in Cairo, it is just a tourist attraction. The inside is an interesting mix of architectural features with Islamic and Coptic influences.
Shame that no photos are allowed.
Local legend says that it is located on the site where baby Moses was found.
It dates back to the 9th century AD and was originally a church. The synagogue was restored in the 12th century and now, with so few Jews in Cairo, it is just a tourist attraction. The inside is an interesting mix of architectural features with Islamic and Coptic influences.
Shame that no photos are allowed.
Written April 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SherifSonbol
Cairo, Egypt48 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
I heard it was finally re-opened after many years of renovations. I went and followed the signs but alas. I reached a wall blocking the charming alley in Old Cairo.
After many investigations, I finally found it inside the Coptic Museum. I had a nice day looking at the details and listening to the local guide saying that the Star of David is originally an Islamic ornament.
I also visited part of the Babylon Fort inside the museum. In the end, I sat at the nice museum park and looked for the cafeteria. I could not. The people told me that there is no cafeteria, although signs are pointing to it!
They also told me that the best and the cheapest cafeteria is in the Hanging Church, next door. They were right.
After many investigations, I finally found it inside the Coptic Museum. I had a nice day looking at the details and listening to the local guide saying that the Star of David is originally an Islamic ornament.
I also visited part of the Babylon Fort inside the museum. In the end, I sat at the nice museum park and looked for the cafeteria. I could not. The people told me that there is no cafeteria, although signs are pointing to it!
They also told me that the best and the cheapest cafeteria is in the Hanging Church, next door. They were right.
Written September 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,407 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I came accross this synagogue while walking around Coptic Cairo Neighborhood. There was a tour guide explaining to her big group about this sinagogue when I arrived. Noted the simple deorations here. Entrance is FREE, I spent about 5 minutes here!
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK179,496 contributions
Oct 2019
Ben Ezra Synagogue is a synagogue that more of a tourist attraction in Coptic Cairo more than a place of worship due to the few Jews still in Egypt. The building doesn’t look like much, but the inside has been attractively restored and certainly looks pretty. Pity no photos are allowed though.
Written November 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Octovianus G
Jakarta, Indonesia331 contributions
Sep 2012 • Couples
This is the initial place where the baby Moses was put on the Nile to be found by the daughter of Pharaoh and started his education in order to lead the Israel people out of Egypt to go back to the Promised Land. It's a quite place to rest, especially after a long overnight flight to Cairo from Jakarta and a city tour in Cairo :-)
Written August 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nosayat
Vienna, VA3 contributions
The Ben Ezra Synagogue is not easy to find on your own. Start by getting yourself to Coptic Cairo, the old city known as Fustat. Go down the stairs and into a warren of alleys. If you can find the Hanging Church, you are almost there. There are no signs to lead you. The synagogue has been beautifully restored, although it is no longer in active use as a house of worship. You can take photos of the outside but not the inside.
Written July 14, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
redeco
Warren, MA9,464 contributions
Jewish history in Egypt begins with the enslavement of the Jews under the pharaohs and their subsequent deliverance by Moses. By the time of the founding of the Jewish State in 1948 many Jews returned to Israel on their own, but when Egypt went to war with Israel, any Jews remaining in Egypt were expelled. Monuments to the Jewish religion are scarce in this country, so this synagogue is open as a museum and no longer is used for services.
Upon entering you will find a marble shrine which contains a rock that Moses supposedly prayed at. The building was put up in the 8th century as a church and later converted to a synagogue, so this tradition might be in doubt. Perhaps the Coptic church valued the same rock and there is something to it. The space has many of the same features of early Christian churches in terms of long nave, and two side aisles, similar roof construction, and so forth. The space is flooded with light from windows on both sides of the nave and the place has a hallowed feeling about it. During restoration in the nineteenth century, thousands of documents were discovered in the synagogue's treasury dating back to the Middle Ages.
On the day of my visit there were lots of people paying their respects to this monument. Pay close attention to street signs showing the way. Signage isn't so good in Coptic Cairo. The old city lies about twelve feet below the level of the modern city.
Upon entering you will find a marble shrine which contains a rock that Moses supposedly prayed at. The building was put up in the 8th century as a church and later converted to a synagogue, so this tradition might be in doubt. Perhaps the Coptic church valued the same rock and there is something to it. The space has many of the same features of early Christian churches in terms of long nave, and two side aisles, similar roof construction, and so forth. The space is flooded with light from windows on both sides of the nave and the place has a hallowed feeling about it. During restoration in the nineteenth century, thousands of documents were discovered in the synagogue's treasury dating back to the Middle Ages.
On the day of my visit there were lots of people paying their respects to this monument. Pay close attention to street signs showing the way. Signage isn't so good in Coptic Cairo. The old city lies about twelve feet below the level of the modern city.
Written May 5, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,523 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
Small synagogue in the Coptic section of Cairo. There is not much to see. It used to be a church but it was never sold back to the Christians who initially sold it to help pay for the taxes.
Written July 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nafiz333
United Kingdom64 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
It used to be a church 1000 years ago and now belongs to Jew after a tricky contract ! You can’t take a photo inside, the old genesis were found here which has been archived at university of Cambridge at present.
Written November 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth I
4 contributions
What days/hours is the Synagogue open for visitors?
Egyptology
Cairo, Egypt41 contributions
The synagogue is no longer in use as a religious building so can be visited any day of the week, I don't know the exact opening times but usually it would be between 9am and 5 pm
Tanzontoast72
Auckland Central, New Zealand
is it free entrance here??
Nony Z
120 contributions
yes it is
Joan K
Dallas, Texas24 contributions
What time does it open and close?
Syed R
89 contributions
All attractions in Cairo open from around 9am and the last visitor enter at 4.30 pm. But we must appreciate that this is an active synagog so it may be open for jewish community a little early. 9 am is a safe bet. This place is about 40 mins drive from city center.
em1234154
New York City, NY13 contributions
Hello everyone,
Is anyone knows the times of opening, and the price please?
Thanks
privet guide m
Giza Governorate, Egypt21 contributions
Hello from Egypt the time starting from 8:00am tell 4:00 pm and no money to get inside its for free accept if you are with tour guide he will talk like 25$
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Frequently Asked Questions about Synagogue Ben Ezra
- Hotels near Synagogue Ben Ezra:
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Synagogue Ben Ezra Information
Excellent Reviews | 79 |
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