Shalom and Peace:
We will continue our search of international Jewish communities who have found interesting ways to survive, by again being in Egypt, at the Leontopolis Temple, on the Nile, 6 miles north of today's Cairo. It is mentioned in the Talmud and by Josephus. The site was discovered in 1906. It dates to the 165 BCE Judean Maccabean revolt and civil war against Greek Syria and fellow Hellenized (Westernized Reformed) Hebrews. A Hebrew settlement was founded in Leontopolis, Egypt by Judean farmers and soldiers, led by high priest Onias IV, after the outbreak of the revolt, with the approval and invitation of Ptolemy IV and his wife/sister Cleopatra of Egypt. At the time Egypt and Syria were enemies, with Judea stuck between. The Jewish soldiers were important in the military and political scenario of Egypt, and the area was named "the land of Onias." Onias erected a Temple to the Hebrew God with himself as High Priest conducting sacrifices. This temple served the Hebrews of the region for more than 240 years until it was closed down by the Romans in 73 CE. It is today known as Tell al-Yahūdiyya (Jew's Hill). Josephus says this Temple was similar to Jerusalem's and was fortress-like with 30 meter high walls. Onais' Hebrew name was Honiah IV, son of the high priest Shimon. He was ousted by Jason Alcimus for this role. Jason was a Hellenized Hebrew in league with the Syrians, which was one of the reasons for the Maccabean war.
The Talmudic rabbis gave the Leontopolis Temple legitimacy. Its high priest was a traditional Cohan, and it fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of: "In that day there shall be at altar to the Lord in the midst Egypt.' (Is. 19:19)". It existed while the Jerusalem Temple functioned. Unlike the Jerusalem priests trying to close the Elephantine Temple, no action was taken against Onais' Temple. Roman emperor Vespasian, afraid that Egypt would become a new center of Jewish rebellion after he conquered Jerusalem and destroyed its Temple in 70 CE, ordered the governor of Egypt to demolish and strip Leontopolis. Governor Paulinus did so in August 73 CE, three years after the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple. Ironically the Rabbinic Jewish Synagogue in Alexandria was more popular than Onais' Hebrew Temple (pictured).
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com .
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
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