Ben Ezra Synagogue: Shared Heritage Of Abrahamic Faiths

The Ben Ezra Synagogue, in the Coptic Christian quarter of Old Cairo, is a remarkable confluence of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic religious tradition a shared center where streams of Abraham’s children conflate in a spirit of mutual respect and a shared heritage. The synagogue was traditionally constructed where infant Moses was found in the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter, so it is a place of significance to a number of faiths. The structure that exists now, from 1890s, was constructed on the grounds of an even earlier synagogue that existed from the 9th century AD.

For Catholics who visit this sacred site, the synagogue is an opportunity to know more about the Jewish roots of Christianity and about rich spiritual heritage of our elder brethren in the faith. The spiritual significance of Ben Ezra Synagogue is closely tied to its famous Geniza, a storeroom for sacred texts that were no longer usable but could not be destroyed because they contained the name of God. The discovery of this Geniza in the 19th century revealed a treasure trove of documents that have revolutionized our understanding of Jewish life in medieval Egypt and broader Mediterranean world. For pilgrims, this discovery is importance of preserving sacred tradition and the happy accident by which spiritual truth is handed down over the centuries.

The history of the Catholic Church itself in preserving scripture and Fathers’ writings rings equally true here, reminding us that the faith is handed on not only by formal teaching but also by loyal stewardship of sacred objects and writings. Ben Ezra Synagogue’s architecture is a reflection of the diversity of cultural influences that have formed Egyptian society. The synagogue building is a mix of Jewish, Islamic, and Christian architectural elements, producing a unique sacred space that is a reflection of interfaith coexistence and respect. The interior features magnificent woodcarvings, stained glass windows, and inscriptions in Arabic and Hebrew, which are the hallmarks of Egyptian Jewry’s multicultural traditions.

To Catholics, such architectural cohesion can help to deepen the appreciation of the ways in which different traditions of faith can enrich one another without losing distinctiveness the vision in the Church’s teaching on interreligious dialogue, wherein mutual cooperation and understanding are pursued in submission to genuine differences. The religious atmosphere inside the synagogue is one of serene contemplation and respect for history. One can almost sense accumulation of prayer and study within the building over the centuries of continued use.

The structure has survived earthquakes, flames, and political turmoil, a testament to strength of religion and to the long-range human need for holy spaces. To Catholics, this persistence is appealing to their own Church history as Peter’s barque which had weathered centuries of tempests yet continues to bear the Gospel throughout the centuries. The synagogue reminds them that religion, if rooted profoundly, is able to survive even through worse times. Today the Ben Ezra Synagogue is largely an old-time tourist attraction and historical site, since the Egyptian Jewish community has dwindled to a handful of members.

The occasional special services are still held from time to time, particularly on special Jewish holidays, offering a rare opportunity to observe living tradition of Egyptian Jewry. For pilgrims of any denomination, synagogue is a place in which to reflect upon shared spiritual heritage of Abrahamic religions and wisdom of maintaining holy ground sacred even if the source community has long since dispersed. As Pope John Paul II expressed in his historical visit to the Great Synagogue of Rome, “The Jewish religion is not ‘extrinsic’ to us, but in a certain way is ‘intrinsic’ to our own religion. With Judaism, therefore, we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion. You are our dearly beloved brothers, and, in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.”