Ben Ezra Synagogue, Cairo

The Ben Ezra Synagogue dates back to the 9th century but was completely rebuilt in 1892. Today it is fully restored, though you won't find any services because there is no rabbi; it now serves as a Jewish heritage library. The synagogue claims to be built on the site where pharaoh's daughter found Moses in the bulrushes and Mary, centuries later, bathed Jesus. A temple of the Prophet Jeremiah is said to have stood here, and he himself is rumored to buried under the foundation. In 1896 the Geniza documents were found in the synagogues storerooms, offering deep insights into the social, political and economic life of Jews in Fatamid Cairo. This historical place is one of the most visited Jewish sites in Old Cairo.

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