Jewish Heritage

The Jewish cemetery holds many stories. Within these cemeteries, you’ll discover memorable stories about righteous people buried in small chambers. All of their stories tell of achievements and importance, with one stand-out; Sulika. The young Jewish woman who received a fatal verdict because she rejected to convert faiths and marry the Sultan.

The cemetery is covered with white arched tombstones with scribes on them. The most recent are usually written in French while the older ones are in Hebrew.

Passed away 500 hundred years ago, Rabbi Shlomo ben Hensh is the Tzaddik. Although with the lord for a long time, the Tzaddik is still revered by the Jewish community worldwide. El Fassie has devoted his life to guarding a tomb in which the Tzaddik lies. 

Jews from all around the world; America, Israel, Germany visit the Tzaddik and his devotee to ask for blessings and spiritual guidance. 

Most North African Berbers were Jewish before the Arab conquest. The Ourika region had Jewish schools, Synagogues, they hosted bar mitzvahs, and had rabbis to perform circumcisions. 300 Berber families, 1300 years ago, lived with Jewish belief. To this day, they’re still commemorated and remembered. The Tzaddik and his devoted guardian were both of Berber descent, and they’re still revered to this day.

Jews from different ethnicities lived in Meknes. Spanish exiles and other Jews have been living near the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and at different parts of Meknes. Moulay Ismail introduced us to great monuments and palaces. 

Jews were ordered by the Sultan to regroup in a new district that he sold them. At the end of the 19th-century, there were about 260 houses, providing a home to 1152 families. 

Although gleeful when it’s sunny, the old Mellah used to get disgusting and stinky when it rained. Mud formed and an unpleasant odour roamed the streets. The new Medina is different - as expected. Between 1926 and 1930, the new Mellah was built. The streets are wider with lesser houses and a better management system.

The old Mellah had 19 synagogues, and the new one has 17. Luxury and lavishness were not on their minds when they built theses synagogues. However, it does not lessen their distinct appeal. The Mellah quarters are still vital parts of Morocco’s culture, and they’re still architecturally breathtaking.

If you picture Marrakech, but smaller, you’ll be picturing Taroudant - a gorgeous city in the Souss valley south of Morocco. Before Marrakech was the capital of Morocco, Taroudant filled the vacant spot for a brief time. Taroudant’s fame comes from its local talent and crafts, as well as signature carpets and gorgeous jewellery. When heading to Ouarzazate, locate a city that’s situated east of Agadir, and enjoy a couple of hearty hours roaming Taroudan’ts heritage.