* * * click HERE for an architectural description of Shaar Hashamayim * * *

BASSATINE NEWS ISSUE No. 12

PROFILE - KARAITES FROM EGYPT

Mourad El Kodsi was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1919. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from the University of Cairo in 1942 and his master's degree in education from the University of Rochester in 1963. In Cairo he was a teacher and principal in both the Karaite Jewish school system and Les Ecoles de la communite Juives du Caire from 1942 to 1959.

In 1959 Kodsi emigrated to the United States. He taught French in Brighton Central Schools, Rochester, New York, and gave Arabic classes at the University of Rochester and St. John Fisher College. He is now retired and continues to research scholarly articles on the Karaite community. Although his book "The Karaites Jews of Egypt" is sold out, copies are available in respected libraries across the United States.

On the subject of Bassatine Cemetery, Kodsi refers to an old Arabic-language document dated 15th of Muharram 980 Higriyah (1571 C.E.). "The Karaite Community of Egypt had this land in al-Wazir in the area of al-bassatin since very long ago and it was in their hands on the basis of an older document."

The document goes on to state that the Karaite Shawwal had sometimes earlier given the other Jews a piece of the land to bury their dead. (Note: The Karaite burial section was sold by the community after 1973.)

Another prominent member of the Karaite community in the United States (Philadephia) was the late Dr. Barouch "Brooks" Massouda a famous dentist and professor. He arrived alone in the US when he was only 14 years old. He became a professor in dentistry and and came few times to Egypt to lecture there.

Outside the United States there are the following Karaite synagogues: Moshe al-Dar'i in Abbassieh, Cairo; the oldest synagogue of the Karaites in Old Jerusalem; a synagogue in Istanbul below ground level. "There are also Karaite communities in Troki, Lithuania and Warsaw, Poland; and a Karaite Synagogue in Daly City, California, near San Francisco," says David Hirsch, librarian at UCLA.

The last Karaite hakkam al-Akbar-grand Rabbi in Cairo was Tobiah Levi Babovitch (born in Crimea, according to UCLA's David Hirsch). It was Tobiah who played host to Egypt's first president, General Mohammed Naguib, when he visited the Karaite synagogue in Abassia "Moshe El Dar'i" on 25 October 1952. The president was met at the synagogue's main entrance by community elders Leito Baroukh, David Zaki Lichaa, Tewfik Eliahou El Gazzar, Farag Aslan, Jacques Leito Marzouk, Murad El Kodsi, Ibrahim Daoud Hosni and engineer Moussa Mourad Marzouk.

Entry by President Mohammed Naguib in Karaite Golden Book dated 25 October 1952 in which he says: This is indeed a happy day, as I was lucky to be among my brothers and children, members of the Jewish Karaite Community. His Excellency the Hakham blessed me as he blessed the Army movement which is similar to a great extent to the Karait movement. I would like to emphasize that all the children of Egypt are brothers regardless of their religion or faith, there is no difference between Jews, Muslims or Christians. Religion is for God. The nation is for all. Long live Unity, Discipline and Action. Major-General Mohammed Naguib.

Source: Mourad El Kodsi's book.

MILESTONES

OBITUARY BN sadly announces the passing away of member of the JCC Board member Robert R. Nahman who died on 20 October 1999 after a short illness he was buried the following day at Bassatine Cemetery where Kadish was read by Zvi Mazel Robert Nahman is survived by a brother in Canada and several nieces and nephews in Italy and other parts of the world.

ADLY SYNAGOGUE: WHAT'S IN A NAME

With regards a recent article Gates of Heaven! (Cairo Times, 2 September 1999) describing Cairo's Adly Synagogue, I would like to add the following comments:

The name 'Chaar Hachamaim" although the synagogue's' official name, was hardly ever used except after the 1960s. It was simply known as "Le Temple Ismailieh" a French appelation which referred directly to its location. The synagogue, completed in 1903-4 with the help of public subscription stood at the epicenter of the new European district of Ismailia named in honor of Khedive Ismail Pasha who founded the district.

Among Ismailieh's first inhabitants were the cream of the Jewish elite during the reigns of Ismails son and grandson Khedives Tewfik and Abbas. It is interesting to note that diagonally opposite the back of the Synagogue was the home of a major benefactor, Nessim Mosseri(26th of July ex-Fouad Street). the Mosseri house was later turned into Egypt's first Modern Art museum.

Not far from the Synagogue were the homes, offices, department stores and combined office-residential buildings belonging to Egypt's leading Jewish merchants, bankers, financiers and traders. These included the Suares immeubles de rapport on and off Midan Suares (renamed Mustafa Kamel in the 1930s); Levi de Benzion building off Kasr El Nil Street right behind the Bourse; the Mansour & Ades and the Moise Levy buildings on Abou el Sebaa Street; the Rofe, Toledano and Moise Green buildings on 26 of July Street; the Coronel buildings on Cherif Pasha Street opposite the National Bank of Egypt; the Chalom-Levi and Cattaui villas on Cherifein Street; the Arbib, Kabli and Calcutta Buidlings on Adly Street; the Sapriel, Canneri, Weiser buildigs off Midan Tewfik. Evidently there were the department stores: Chemla, Cicurel, Benzion, Orosdi-Back, Chalons, Rivoli, Daoud Ades, etc.

In the late 1940s Temple Ismailieh was gradually referred to by younger members of the congregation as the "Adly Synagogue." The street on which the temple stood had recently been renamed Adly Yegen Pasha instead of Maghrabi Street. Eventually the "Yegen" and then the "Pasha" were dropped from the name of Egypt's former prime minsiter.

Weddings at Adly Synagogue always took place on Sunday when the entire building was drowned in flowers especially if the celebrations concerned a daughter or son of a local Jewish grandee. Bride and groom recieved the long line of well-wishers at the sale des fetes (the annex reception hall) before the traditional nuptial ride in a horse-drawn coach around the island of Zamalek.

Coinciding with the peace process, Adly temple was restored in 1980 courtesy of Nessim Gaon, President of the World Sephardic Federation in Geneva, at a cost of around LE 400,000. (Photos)

Carmen Weinstein

THE BASSAQUIZ

Which person mentioned below was lawyer to King Fouad and which one to King Farouk? a) Enrico Lusena b) Emannuel Mizrahi Pasha

Which performing art (directing, acting, composing, singing) were the following Egyptian-born Jews involved in? - Laila Mourad (b. February 1917) - Ibrahim Zaki Mourad (Mordachai) - Mounir "Maurice" Mourad - Rokaya Ibrahim aka Rachel Ibrahim Levy (for a time Mrs. Mustafa Wali) - Negma Ibrahim aka Sarina (d. 1968) - Elias Mo'adab - Nagwa Salem aka Ninette Shalom (d. 1988) - Victoria Cohen - Togo Mizrahi aka Ahmed Mishriki (d. 1987) - Daoud Hosni aka David Haim Levi (d. 1876-11937) - Richard Anthony (born Btesh, January 13, 11938) - Georges Moustaki (né Joseph Mustacchi, Alexandrie, Égypte, 1934)

Answers posted next BN issue.

Answer to last issue's quiz a. Erwin Weiser was Egypt's long jump champion b. Salvatore Cicurel was Egypt's fencing captain and participated in 1928 Olympic Games c. Rolando Schinasi was Egypt's swimming champion d. Isaac Amiel Boxing champion

MAHALA AL KUBRA SYNAGOGUE

The synagogue of Mahala al Kubra aka Ibrahim al-Amshati (a sage from the Middle Ages) could be restored in the not so distant future. If anybody out there has a picture of the synagogue, please e-mail or send ASAP for the benefit of restorer/architect.

Mahala Al Kubra (sometimes spelt Kobra), situated halfway between Alexandria and Damietta was the site of a flourishing Jewish community under the Fatimids. Benjamin of Tudela, the 12th-century traveler, relates that he found 500 Jews living there. Documents written in Mahala during the 12th and early 13th centuries were found in the Cairo Genizah early this century.

The Jews of Mahala were engaged in handicrafts and commerce, such as the silk trade. According to a takkanah, in 1187 R. Perahyah b. Joseph was dayan in Mahala. Joseph Sambari, the 17th-century Egyptian chronicler, mentions the Sefer Torah in the synagogue of Mahala, which was read only on the New Moon and on which people took the oath.

According to popular tradition, the tomb of Hayyim ibn al-Amshati is situated under the synagogue and pilgrimages were held there every year on the first day of Iyar when visitors would travel to Mahala Al Kubra temple (around the beginning of May or 15 days after Pessah). Celebrations lasted three days and nights.

REMEMBRANCE BY ALLEGRA SOFAIR

COLUMNIST GREER FAY CASHMAN IN CAIRO

Khan-al-Khalili is a marvelous place in which to buy not only silver but also copper and brassware. If you have the time, take a look at the artisans who, working with tweezers, painstakingly make the inlaid mother-of-pearl boxes. After watching them for 10 minutes you'll never again quibble about the price of inlaid mother-of-pearl. more

FROM THE BASSA ALBUM

(photo Samir Raafat)