Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue (Cairo)
The Sha'ar HaShamayim Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת שער השמים, lit. 'Gate of Heaven'; Arabic: كنيس عدلي), also known as Temple Ismailia and the Adly Street Synagogue, is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 17 Adly Street in Cairo, Egypt.[2] HistoryIts long-time leader was Chief Rabbi Chaim Nahum. In 2008, the synagogue marked its 100th anniversary.[3] The synagogue was built in a style evoking ancient Egyptian temples, and was once the largest building on the boulevard.[4] Work commenced on the synagogue in 1899 and it was inaugurated in 1908,[5] at a time when there was a vibrant Jewish community in Cairo. The last time the synagogue was full was in the 1960s.[3][5] Today the community numbers approximately six members, most of them older women.[3][6] The building houses a collection of a few hundred books, ranging in age from the 1500s to contemporary times, concerning or relevant to the history of Jews in Egypt. Although it is considered a Sephardic synagogue, many Ashkenazi Jews were members of the congregation and contributed to its construction and upkeep.[7] The synagogue underwent minor exterior renovations in 2007. 2010 arson incidentIn February 2010, a booby-trapped suitcase was hurled at the synagogue from a nearby hotel. The suitcase caught fire, but no one was hurt and no damage was reported.[4] Gallery
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