Josh Z
Google
A comprehensive guide to the synagogue for 2025. I was here in October 2024 and I was told the hours were wrong and entry wasn’t permitted and any photos of the guards around the compound or even of the outside of the synagogue were forbidden.
So this time I went in April 2025 and the first day I showed up an hour before the closing time on maps and the guard said to come tomorrow at around 10am. I came at 11am today and someone took my passport and disappeared for 5 minutes, realizing he made photocopies of my passport. Then I stepped through security, I wouldn’t recommending bringing anything, and filled out a questionnaire about my name, nationality, date of visit, and religion. He barely looked at the form and gave me my passport.
There was a lovely woman named Rasha who was my tour guide. She is working there since her father used to be one of the caretakers decades ago. She speaks perfect English and can answer all questions about the Synagogue. This tour was free and so was entry, but I encourage tipping for generosity. No “gifts” are required like at the Maimonides Synagogue in Cairo.
It is right off of the main road and you have to pass some militarized police at every corner, but just confidently ask you want to see the Jewish Synagogue for Tourism and I recommend going closer to the beginning hours near 10am, and always expect someone could arbitrarily say come tomorrow instead.
The actual synagogue is stunning. I went when it was being cleaned (pictured) and truly it is kept in pristine condition, much better than all of the roads and buildings in the area for that matter. Pictured are all of the features still present (the only bummer is apparently they have a Torah Scroll but it is locked away not for public viewing).
Fun fact- apparently there are 10 Jews still in Alexandria, all elderly women!