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Egypt documenting Jewish artifacts

Cairo is seeking the world’s help to catalog historical records of Jewish antiquities.

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Diplomats from the United States and Israel join mourners on April 18, 2013, at Sha'ar Hashamayim (Gate of Heaven) synagogue in Cairo at a ceremony in memory of Jewish leader Carmen Weinstein, who had led efforts to preserve the overwhelmingly Muslim country's Jewish heritage. — REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Egypt has begun registering Jewish antiquities in an attempt to protect them from theft and neglect — an important step forward in preserving history. However, the government still faces criticism for not making good on promises to renovate the country’s synagogues — or, for that matter, Egyptian historical and archaeological sites in general. 

Jewish antiquities have always been part of Egypt’s cultural heritage, and government officials have said they are also part of the world’s heritage and the property of all mankind, not only Egypt. And so, Saeed Helmy, the head of the Islamic and Coptic Monuments Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, is calling on countries around the world to financially support Egypt in restoring and preserving the antiquities.

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