Egypt’s
Ministry of Antiquities has released a statement denying reports on social
media that Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue has been placed on UNESCO’s
List of World Heritage in Danger. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
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The Jewish Synagogue
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Yasmin
El-Shazly, the General Supervisor of the Department of International
Organisations for Cultural and the International Cooperation, said in the
statement that the site was declared endangered by the World Monuments Fund, a
non-profit NGO that is not part of UNESCO.
El-Shazly
said that according to the rules and regulations of this fund, any person or
entity can nominate any archaeological building to be placed on the list of
this fund without a scientific study proving that the building is in danger.
“The
Egyptian government gives equal importance to all its monuments and heritage
sites, whether Ancient Egyptian, Jewish, Coptic or Islamic,” El-Shazly
asserted.
El-Shazly
said that the Egyptian government has allocated EGP 100 million to finance the
restoration of the synagogue, which started in August and will last for eight
months. El-Shazly added that this affirms the Egyptian government's keenness to
protect and preserve the synagogue as part of Egypt’s heritage and identity.
Waadalah
Abul-Ela, the head of the Projects Department at the antiquities ministry, said
that the work on the synagogue aims to restore its architecture and fine
decorative elements, as well as the lighting and security systems. The
Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue is located in Nabi Daniel Street in downtown
Alexandria and is the oldest synagogue in the city.
It
was originally built in 1354 but was partially destroyed by the Napoleon
expedition in 1798 in order to build a defensive wall from the Kom El-Dikka
area to the Mediterranean. In
1850, the synagogue was reconstructed with contributions from the royal family.
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