Egypt's newly restored synagogue

In Cairo’s ancient Jewish quarter, the ruined Ben Maimon synagogue has undergone a seven month restoration.

The synagogue held a dedication ceremony last week, amid a heavy security presence which cleared a 500 metre area around the shul.

The dedication ceremony included several Egyptian Jewish families, Carmen Weinstein, head of Egypt's Jewish community, Yitzhak Levanon, the newly-appointed Israeli ambassador to Egypt and the US, Canadian and French envoys.

At the rededication ceremony, Rabbi Andrew Baker of the American Jewish Committee said: “Let us recognise that there is something of a miracle in what takes place here today—albeit an earthly one. As the Egyptian Government has embraced this project as its own, I hope it is a sign that it will embrace the history of Jews in Egypt—from the 12th Century but also the 20th Century—as its own too.”