The exact date of the appearance of Jews within Alexandria is unknown, since there are very little texts which speak of Judaism and most of these writings were destroyed by the works of Cyril, who lead an assault on the Jews in Alexandria whom he despised. It is safe to assume, however, that the Jewish faith spread into Alexandria as it did throughout most of the eastern Mediterranean, very gradually but continuously. The Jews could be found in virtually every economic level of Alexandrian society. From merchants, to shopkeepers, farmers, sailors, judges, all ways of life from the upper class to the poor. The integration of Jews into Alexandria occurred on all levels.

The Structure of the Jewish Community

 Throughout this early period, the Jewish community was organized politically in a fashion similar to other foreign groups resident within the Hellenistic cities of the eastern Mediterranean. Each comprised a sociopolitical unit commonly referred to as a politeuma.  This political entity as "a recognized, formally constituted corporation of aliens enjoying the right of domicile in a foreign city, a city within a city; it had its own constitution and administered its internal affairs as an ethnic unit through officials distinct from and independent of those ofthe host city." The Jewish politeuma was originally administered by an ethnarch who ceded much of his authority to a council of elders, or gerousia, sometime during the principate of Augustus. Serving as an executive officer for the politeuma was the hazzan, who saw to ' the day-to-day administration within the community. Synagogues, or temples of worship, could be found in various locations throughout the city, and functioned not only for worship, but as the assembly place for the various collegia, or craft associations, composed of Jews within the city.

Decline of Judaism in Alexandria

In late 414 to early 415 A.D., years of tension between the Jews of Alexandria and the Gentiles reached a climax beginning with a series of riots and finally an assault was made by the Jews against the Christians in the city. That next day, the patriarch Cyril demanded all Jews be removed from the city. This was refuted by the prefect of Alexandria, Orestes, but Cyril paid no heed. Cryil himself led an army of Christians against the Jews in the city, plundering and destroying the synagogues as well as killing Orestes, burning the Library of Alexandria, and the expulsion of the Jews from the city..

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