Egyptian antiquities minister toured Elijah Prophet synagogue, which has undergone extensive renovation in recent years with Egyptian government funding • The building will open next month

• Elijah the Prophet's Synagogue in Alexandria // Photo: Ahmed Rumia, Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

The Egyptian press reported over the weekend that Dr. Khalid Al-Anani, the minister of antiquities, traveled to the city of Alexandria. In Cairo.

The tour included an examination of the synagogue's structure, where all the works in the restoration project were completed, which included strengthening the building's foundations, renovating the facade, adding new lighting and more. According to Egyptian media, the ancient synagogue will open in January 2020.

مريبا ان شاء الله
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تصوير الفنان أحمد رميح لوزارة الأثار المصرية pic.twitter.com/6oQqtoY18l

- العروة الوثقى (@ ubday75) December 21, 2019

The tour also included a visit to the Greek-Roman Museum and the Jewelry Museum in Alexandria. There, too, there were renovation works that the antiquities minister and his staff closely examined.

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Until a few years ago, the Alexandria synagogue had few visitors. In the past, some 25,000 Jews lived in the city, while only a few Jews live today, most of them elderly. The Elijah Prophet Synagogue was established in 1354 and served as an important community center.

The synagogue in the early 2000s, before the renovation // Photo: IP

During the French invasion of Egypt in the late 18th century, the synagogue was bombed. The building was rebuilt in 1850. Since the immigration to Israel, the synagogue has been subject to ongoing neglect, and at one point the upper floor ceiling collapsed following water damage.

As part of an overall move to boost tourism in the country and as a sign of respect for the various minorities living in Egypt, the government in 2017 undertook to renovate the synagogue with a huge amount of money. In addition to the synagogue, renovations were planned at seven other sites.