Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue
Synagogue in Alexandria, Egypt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue (Arabic: كنيس النبي إلياهو; Hebrew: בית הכנסת אליהו הנביא) is a synagogue, located at 69 Nabi Daniel Street, Alexandria, Egypt.
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- 1850–2012
- Re-opened in 2020
| Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue | |
|---|---|
The synagogue exterior, in 2024, following restoration | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Sefard |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 69 Nebi Daniel Street, Alexandria |
| Country | Egypt |
  Location of the synagogue, relative to the Nile Delta | |
| Coordinates | 31°11′56″N 29°54′01″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | |
| Founder | Muhammad Ali Dynasty |
| Funded by | Sir Moses Haim Montefiore |
| Groundbreaking | 1836 |
| Completed | 1850 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 700 worshippers |
| Materials | Italian marble |
| [1] | |
History
The current synagogue is located on the site of an earlier synagogue that was completed in 1354.[2][3] The earlier synagogue was bombed and destroyed by Napoleon's army in 1798, during the French invasion of Egypt.[1]
Construction for the new, current synagogue began in 1836 with contributions from the Muhammad Ali Dynasty[4] and was completed following assistance from Sir Moses Haim Montefiore.[1] The synagogue was completed in 1850 in the Neoclassical style, with Gothic Revival and Byzantine Revival influences.[1]
The synagogue was closed for the 5773 (2012) High Holidays because of security concerns,[5] and subsequently fell into a state of disrepair. In 2017, the Egyptian government announced a project to restore the synagogue in a growing move of keeping its Jewish heritage alive.[6] The synagogue was included on the 2018 World Monuments Fund list of monuments at risk.[7] Following its restoration, the synagogue was rededicated in January 2020, with three Jews present at the ceremony.[8][9]
Although services are still held in the synagogue, it now caters to a very small community due to the dwindling number of Jews in Alexandria.[10][11]
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