European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 22, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                % a a a chief Art restorer Nimet Riad Tower right supervises work inside the Ben Ezra synagogue. The by Riding was a virtual ruin when restoration work  David accords help resurrect egyptian synagogue by Mimi Mann the associated press Ben Ezra synagogue Egypt s oldest was a dying legacy of the Long Rich history of jews in Egypt until the Camp David peace accords set a reclamation project in motion. Now it has become a testament to determination. Renovation of the two Story building a blend of Early Christian moorish and islamic architecture underlying the jewish is nearing an end. Echoing through the Sanctuary and around its yellow Walls surrounded by scaffolding Are the sounds of 140 workers chasing an aug. 31 deadline. Nothing has been easy about saving Ben Ezra nestled in a picturesque and historic Corner of old Cairo. The project originated with the 1978 Camp David accords that led to peace Between Egypt and Israel. It was stalled for years by bureaucracy and the search for experts Able and willing to join the politically sensitive work. Finally Progress was made. And those involved Are pleased with the results Quot we have re established it As a Monument Quot said belgian architect Johan Beelaert who joined the project in 1988. Quot Ben Ezra was floating on water Quot when he arrived Dellaert said. Quot its roof was exposed to. The sky. Paintings were decaying. I found sort of a  his Job has been to make Ben Ezra Strong again to safeguard the Brick and Stone Walls stained Glass windows. And Interior Woodwork inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Workers have inserted Limestone blocks to form a Buffer that absorbs underground water Dellaert said. The roof has been replaced along with weak portions of the outer Structure. Quot when possible we repaired the original but when there was nothing left or the original portions were too weak or faded we had to reconstruct Quot he said. Egyptian Art restorers led by Nimet Riad a Canadian born in Egypt Are repairing and conserving Floral and Geometric patterns that cover the ceilings. Restoration of a synagogue was included in the Camp David agreements As a show of religious tolerance. Originally it was to have been done in Sinai the disputed Peninsula Between the two countries. Quot but that did t prove possible Quot said Guy Dore assistant director of the Canadian Center for architecture in Montreal which is coordinating the project under the egyptian antiquities organization. Quot we agreed on Ben Ezra in old Cairo  he said work was stalled until 2 i years ago. Ben Ezra is three Miles South of Cairo within the roman Walls of the fortress of Babylon known today As Masr Al Quadira or old Cairo. Cobbled alleys Low Slung archways and heavy wooden doors make old Cairo a major tourist Center. It beckons visitors to four of the earliest Christian churches two convents and legendary Sites where a pharaoh s daughter scooped Moses from the bulrushes the Prophet Jeremiah f reached and the holy family a Joseph Mary and the infant Jesus a found safety in a crypt. Historians debate everything about the area including the origin of the name Babylon which was Iraq s ancient capital. Some believe Egypt s Babylon was named for prisoners of War brought to Egypt from Mesopotamia in 2000 . To perform Public works. Others Date its beginnings to the persian occupation of Egypt in 525-332 . By roman times Babylon was a stronghold guarding the Nile. Early writers recorded that Babylon contained two synagogues babylonian and palestinian the latter probably was Ben Ezra. The sad state of Ben Ezra before restoration reflects the whole of old Cairo. Battered by pollution overpopulation and a rising water table its historic monuments stand on the fringe of ruin. Saving Ben Ezra was made particularly difficult because specialists faced an unknown history 1,000 years of shadowy legends clouding die synagogue s Story. Ben Ezra is said to have been a Melchize Church in the eighth Century supported by the roman emperors at constantinople. Later it belonged to the coptic Christian jacobites who sold it to the jews in the ninth Century. Two centuries later it was demolished by the notorious Arab Caliph Al Hakim. Over the centuries there were Many changes in the synagogue. Project directors had to decide which Ben Ezra to duplicate. They chose to Render the synagogue As it looked before it was last rebuilt a Century ago. That was a glorious time for Ben Ezra. In the Early 1890s, a secret room yielded the Cairo Geniza thousands of bits of books and records telling the Story of Egypt s jewish Community in the Middle Ages mainly the 10th to 13th centuries. But for unknown reasons Ben Ezra s congregation decided to tear the synagogue Down and Start again. The results were not Good. Poor materials were used but no one knows Why. Egypt s jewish Community was wealthy numbering More than 30,000 a compared to Only about 100 today most of them elderly a and could have afforded better. That building did not stand up to time. It is Hope that the restored one will. 24 stripes Magazine August 22, 1991 and