The US Embassy in Cairo, in collaboration with the American Research Center in Egypt and representatives of American and Egyptian Jewish organizations, inaugurated a recently restored historic Jewish cemetery on November 20. The place contains the remains of many members of the Jewish community who lived in Egypt until the 1950s
The US Embassy in Cairo, in cooperation with American and Egyptian Jewish organizations, inaugurated a 15th-century cemetery after its restoration. The US State Department granted $150,000 for the restoration of a Jewish cemetery in Cairo, including a private donation from American Jews. The burial site on 120 dunams south of the city is one of The oldest Jewish cemeteries in the world, it contains the remains of many members of the Jewish community who lived in Egypt until the 1950s.
At the ceremony, American Commissioner Daniel Rubinstein emphasized the commitment of the United States to preserve the memory of the Jewish community’s role in Egyptian history. “B will remain a partner and committed to Egypt’s preservation, restoration and protection of Egypt’s important cultural and religious sites.”
Magda Haroun, the leader of the small Jewish community in Cairo, told the Al-Monitor website that the Egyptian government’s emphasis on restoring and opening Jewish cemeteries and other places of worship proves that the Jews were part of the fabric of this society and contributed to its civilization. She called for Jewish historical monuments all over Egypt, including synagogues, to be opened to the public.
Yosef Osama, a historian and researcher of heritage and antiquities, told Al-Monitor that many Jewish cemeteries and temples survived in Egypt. “The methods of building the graves differ according to the importance of the buried,” he said. “Some of them are covered with marble of various shapes and types, and some are covered with stone. The strange thing is that there are tombs with tall chambers and a large entrance, and with inscriptions, and the rumors are that most of these chambers were taken out and stolen. There are also graves for children, and it is certain that the graves with the chambers are intended for rabbis, clerics and wealthy Jews.”
Muhammad Abdel Latif, a professor of antiquities at Mansoura University and former assistant minister of antiquities, said that 13 Jewish historical sites are registered with the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.
Abdel Latif noted, “This cemetery contains the remains of a number of Jews, including Jacob Ben Khalis, who was in charge of taxes in Egypt, and some saw it as a sign of religious tolerance at the time.” The Egyptian government is in the process of registering the Jewish cemetery as a historical monument, he added.