WE HAD TWO MEANINGFUL STOPS ON OUR LAST DAY. FIRST WE WENT TO THE BEN EZRA SYNAGOGUE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL TRADITION, IT IS LOCATED ON THE SITE WHERE BABY MOSES WAS FOUND. (SEE SECOND PICTURE.) THE LAND FOR THE SYNAGOGUE WAS PURCHASED IN 882 CE FOR 20,000 DINARS BY ABRAHAM IBN EZRA OF JERUSALEM.

"ACHMED", THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE RABBI, IS ONE OF 200 JEWS REMAINING IN CAIRO. HE HAS, FOR YEARS, SOLD RELIGIOUS ITEMS IN THE ENTRANCE ALLEY TO THE SYNAGOGUE, AND GREETED US WITH A HAPPY CHANUKAH.

NEXT WE WENT TO THE SHA'AR SHAMAN SYNAGOGUE, WHICH RECENTLY RE-OPENED AFTER SOME RENOVATIONS. IT IS HARD TO GET INTO AND IS HEAVILY GUARDED. WE EVEN HAD TO GIVE OUR PASSPORTS TO THE SECURITY GUARDS BEFORE ENTERING. THE CARETAKERS ONLY ALLOWED US TO TAKE ONE PHOTO (FOR MONEY), AND TRACKED US CAREFULLY TO BE SURE WE COMPLIED. HOWEVER, THEY DID ALLOW US TO OPEN THE TORAH, AND IT WAS VERY TOUCHING TO HAVE OUR RABBI READ FROM THE TORAH, AND FOR US TO SAY SEVERAL PRAYERS TOGETHER.

OUR LAST STOP BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO LUXOR WAS LUNCH AT THE SOUK. FIRST PICTURE IS OF SAMMI, OUR GUIDE, RELAXING WITH A WATER PIPE.