Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue (Cairo) Synagogue

Address: Sha’ar Hashamayim Synagogue, Haret el-Yehud, Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt

Sha’ar Hashamayim Synagogue (Cairo) is a synagogue in Cairo Governorate, Egypt, recorded under its Hebrew name meaning “Gates of Heaven.” The site is identified in city directories and mapping resources for Cairo.

The interior and exterior attract interest for religious and community history, and the building has been used by Cairo’s Jewish community for worship and communal events. Specific visitor access and opening times vary and are subject to local arrangements.

The synagogue is a constructed religious building with roots in the modern period of Cairo’s Jewish community; published accounts and community records reference its role in communal life during the 20th century.

It sits within the urban fabric of Cairo; the provided coordinates place it inside the Cairo Governorate area served by the city’s transport and street network.

• Location and community: Located in Cairo Governorate, the synagogue serves the city’s historic Jewish community and appears on local maps and directories.
• Name and cultural significance: The building is known by the Hebrew name meaning “Gates of Heaven” and is recorded in 20th-century accounts of Cairo’s Jewish institutions.

The synagogue is in Old Cairo (Coptic Cairo) near the Babylon Fortress area. From downtown Cairo, take a taxi to the Babylon/Coptic Museum area; it’s a short walk through narrow lanes. Public transport options are limited and local knowledge is helpful-arranging a guide from central Cairo is recommended for first-time visitors.

• Friday evening prayers draw the Orthodox community-visit outside those hours to avoid disrupting services.
• Look for the synagogue's ornate bimah and original wooden seating; photography inside may be restricted-ask permission.
• Combine a visit with walking tours of historic Cairo neighborhoods (Gamaleya, Ben Ezra) to place the synagogue in the city's broader Jewish heritage.