Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue, Jewish temple in central Cairo, Egypt
Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue is a synagogue building in central Cairo and stands as the largest structure on Adly Street. The building combines architectural elements that resemble ancient Egyptian temples with Jewish design features.
The synagogue was built in 1899 by architects Edward Matasek and Maurice Youssef Cattaui to serve the growing Jewish community in Cairo. Its creation came at a time when the Suez Canal opening brought more people to the city.
The synagogue displays a blend of Jewish and Egyptian design elements that shows how different religious communities lived together in early 20th century Cairo. You can see this mix in the details of the interior decoration and the overall shape of the building.
The building remains the only active Jewish place of worship in Cairo and opens only for special religious holidays. Visitors should check ahead since opening times are limited and not available daily.
The building was documented in 2017 by the Diarna research team, which preserved digital records of its architecture and interior design for future generations. This documentation helps preserve records of Jewish heritage sites in Egypt.
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