THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Cairo Synagogue: Mixture of Joy, Sadness
(
CAIRO (JTA) — Suzy
Eban, wife of Israel's former
Foreign Minister, Abba
Eban, was born in Egypt
and remembers well the
Shaar Shamayim
Synagogue in downtown
Cairo. The contrast between
her memories and the
shabby, nearly deserted as-
pect of the synagogue on
Monday brought her to
tears.
The Ebans were among
the guests Premier
Menahem Begin invited on
his trip to the Egyptian cap-
al. They accompanied him
the synagogue Monday
afternoon where the Israeli
party attended minha serv-
ices. Standing outside the
building, surrounded by re-
porters representing the
world's news media, Mrs.
Eban wept.
"It is very difficult to get
used to the idea," she said.
-`It was once such a big
community, a community
full of life." Now there are
only 150-170 Jews left in
the congregation.
"I was told there are
only five Jewish children
here in Cairo," Mrs. Eban
said. "It looks so un-
attended, so neglected. It
used to be the pride of the
community." She re-
called the days when the
Egyptian Chief Rabbi,
Nahum Effendi, used to
lead the congregation in
prayer. He also officiated
at her wedding.
Monday, the entire rem-
nant of the congregation
attended services, mostly
elderly men and women.
The heavy pall of dust hang-
ing in the hot air almost
obscured the ornamental
stained glass windows. Yet
it was an unforgetable mo-
ment for all present. Begin
and his party occupied the
place of honor.
After the reader chanted
the prayers in an Oriental
accent, the premier rose to
tell the tiny congregation, "I
brought unto you the
greatest of missions —
peace." He said there was
consolation in their small
numbers, noting, "The
majority of those (Jews) who
lived in Egypt are today liv-
ing in Israel." The worship-
pers responded with loud
"amens." Begin urged them
to "preserve our belief."
Members of the Jewish
community of Cairo ex-
pressed hope that when an
Israeli embassy is opened in
Egypt in about nine months
the Jewish community of
`;giro may revive.
This was stated by 64-
year-old Salim Salameh,
Moroccan Oil
RABAT (ZINS) —
Morocco has discovered
substantial oil reserves
along its Atlantic coastline
which King Hassan says
will enable Morocco to be-
come an oil exporter.
Morocco currently im-
ports 70,000 barrels per day
from Iraq and the Soviet
Union.
The lip of truth shall be
established forever.
a gabai of the Shaar
Shamayim Synagogue
and the last Jew still in
government employment
in Egypt, acting as an in-
terpreter. He said that
Sadat was an "angel" and
the visit of Begin was the
greatest day of his life.
Robert Rahman, also 64,
a merchant, asked that a
Rabbi be sent to Cairo from
Israel now that peace has
been reached and that rabbi
should rebuild the commu-
nity. He said that most
synagogues and Jewish in-
stitutions were sold, but he
was not sure where the pro-
ceeds went.
Mrs. Etti Sofer said that
there was no use in bringing
a rabbi "since the Jews in
Egypt have no future."
Friday, April 6 1919
CJF Appoints Executive VP
NEW YORK — Robert I.
Hiller of Baltimore has been
appointed executive vice
president of the Council of
Jewish Federations effec-
tive Sept. 1.
Hiller is executive vice
president of the Associated
Jewish Charities and Wel-
fare Fund of Baltimore. The
CJF is the central coor-
dinating body for the 190
Jewish federations
throughout the U.S. and
Canada.
A lying tongue is but for a
moment.
May This Passover
Time
e The Start
verlastin
ood Health a
appiness
To 1
THREE GOOD REASONS WHY YOU
OULD NEVER BE HUNGRY
29161 Northwestern Hwy.
at 12 Mile Road
In Franklin Shopping Plaza
358-FOOD
(3663)
3068 Dougall Road
Windsor, Ontario
For Reservations: 963-8944
45
35 Park Street
(200 Feet From Tunnel Exit)
258-FOOD
(3663)