Muslim Govt. Shuts Down Egypt's Last Synagogue; Outlaws All Jewish Holidays for "Security" Reasons

For the first time in 2,000 years, there will be no Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services at the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Alexandria in 5773, the Jewish Press website reports today (September 3, 2012).

This was the last active synagogue in Egypt. Egypt's new Muslim Brotherhood government's excuse for the shut-down -- effectively outlawing Jewish High Holiday services this month in the entire country -- is "security."

Levana Zamir -- head of the International Association of Egyptian Jews in Israel -- said: "It seems this is really the end of Jewish life in Egypt. The authorities have found a way to take over the last Jewish bastion, since all the remaining synagogues are already archaeological and tourist sites. It is very sad."

This phenomenon is more proof of the fact that Jewish life is becoming extinct in nations in which Islam is the predominant religion.