Restoring Cairo's Menasha Graveyard
The conservation of a family graveyard that has become an essential part of Egypt's Jewish heritage
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Menasha Graveyard
This walled space may seem mostly empty, but it is full of unique history. This is the family plot of the Menashas, one of the thousands of Karaite Jewish families that lived in Cairo in the early 20th Century.
Grave After Conservation (2020-08) by Ahmed ShafiqAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
This area, known as Basatin, is an area of southern Cairo where Egyptian Jews buried their loved ones for centuries. For many years, Jewish people were a part of Egypt's diverse and vibrant culture, but today only a handful remain in the country.
Menasha Before Conservation (2019-12) by Ayman DamaranyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
As the community dwindled, sites like this family graveyard were neglected and reused by people living in the area.
A Push for Preservation
But recently there has been renewed interest in preserving Egypt's Jewish heritage. In 2019, the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) began a restoration project in collaboration with the Drop of Milk Association, funded by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
Dome, Prayer House Before Conservation (2019-12) by Ayman DamaranyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
The project team first had to deal with the huge task of cleaning the site. As the neighborhood around the graveyard grew, people began informally utilizing the space for living quarters and communal waste disposal, however they had moved out by the time conservation started.
Domed Structure Before Conservation (2019-12) by Ayman DamaranyAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
The Menasha graveyard was also subjected to theft and vandalism and the marble columns and grave casings inside this building were stolen.
Another challenge was stabilizing the buildings, as the foundations had shifted under the building and began to collapse. Dangerous cracks began to appear.
Dome During conservation (2019)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
The domed building received extensive conservation work including repair to the walls and the dome itself, refurbishment and installation of columns to the two gravestone bases, and of the mosaic flooring in the interior.
Before and after images of the domed building
Conservation of the Prayer House
In the prayer house, the roof was at risk of collapsing. The team had to install a new roof with added supports.
Cleaning windows (2019)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
There were many components of the site that need treatment by expert conservators including the limestone structures, wooden windows, iron gates, and marble plaques.
Installing Stairs (2019)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Craftsmen from the surrounding community were employed to rebuild elements of the site using local materials.
Craftsmen from the surrounding community were employed to rebuild elements of the site using local materials.
Retouching a Marble Plaque (2019)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Conservation during Covid
Like many workplaces around the world, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the project to make adjustments and reorganize their work.
They used smaller crews working on alternating days and implemented social distancing rules.
Protecting Egypt's Jewish Heritage
The other part of this project was the conservation of the neighboring Leishaa family cemetery. The dome of Menasha cemetery can be seen in the background. ARCE is working with the Drop of Milk Association to ensure the ongoing protection and use of these two sites.
Looking to the Future
In the future ARCE hopes to renovate this empty plot between Menasha and Leishaa into a visitor center, which could then be used to hold community events, and give historic background for future visitors who are interested in learning about Egyptian-Jewish heritage.
The Preservation of Jewish-Egyptian HeritageAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Dr. Louise Bertini, Executive Director of ARCE, talks about the plan for future landscaping and work at the site.
Discover More:
Rescuing Cairo's Leishaa Jewish Cemetery
Tour Leishaa Cemetery
Take a Tour of Menasha Cemetery
7 Things to Know about Cairo's Oldest Jewish Cemeteries
Uncovering Egypt's Jewish History
This project was conducted by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) in collaboration with the Drop of Milk Association and funded by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).
Story created by Tessa Litecky, ARCE
Learn more about ARCE at arce.org
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