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The Eliyahou Hanavi synagogue, built in 1354 before being bombed by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 during his campaign in Egypt, had already been rebuilt by an Italian architect in 1850. REUTERS / Mohamed Abd El Ghany

The Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue in Alexandria, built in 1354 and destroyed during Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign before being rebuilt in 1850 by an Italian architect, has just reopened. The Egyptian Jewish community finally feels the end of more than half a century of exclusion to which it was subjected in its own country.

From our correspondent in Cairo , Alexandre Buccianti

It was the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 that practically ended more than two thousand years of Jewish presence in Egypt . The reaction was the development of a radical Arab nationalism which subjected all kinds of atrocities to the Jews considered as "supporters of Zionism". " From that moment, many members of the Jewish community lose this notion of belonging to the Arab world to develop belonging, much more, either community or towards Western countries which are places of reception ", we explains historian Jean-François Fau.

The Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue has been restored by the Egyptian government despite sustained attacks by Islamists on social media and satellite TV channels broadcasting from Turkey. A reality underlined by Albert Arie, dean of the Jewish community: “ It is still a very important sign. It is not a question of Jews. It is a heritage. This is important, whatever the political options. This is the history of Egypt, that's all. And the history of mankind too ”.

Magda Haroun, the president of the Egyptian Jewish community, very active in the preservation of the heritage, is optimistic: “ It represents the recognition of the existence of the Jews of Egypt and the heritage it leaves. I believe that it is no longer threatened now, that the light has been shed on this heritage and that there are many young Egyptians who have joined our association for the preservation of the heritage of the Jews of Egypt and who really work very seriously.

We are renovating, cleaning the cemeteries. The Bassatine cemetery is the second oldest Jewish cemetery in the world after the Mount of Olives cemetery. We have done a lot of work. We have listed everything in the synagogues, to prevent theft, with the Ministry of Antiquities. We have cleaned the synagogues, we are opening them for visits, we are trying to do cultural activities, as much as we are allowed to do . ”

Jews in the Egyptian diaspora are so enthusiastic that they plan to celebrate the event with a trip and religious ceremonies from February 13 to 16, 2020.