Jewish Heritage in Morocco, Moroccan Jews

The history of Moroccan Jews

The history of Jews is one of the longest and continues recorded histories all over the world. And Morocco is part of that history; however, Morocco was a home to the Jewish people who came from everywhere especially from Spain, France, Portugal. there were about 250,000 to 350,000 Jews in the kingdom before the call of Israel to the Jews people to join the new state. Also, Morocco at that time had the largest community of Jewish on its land between all the Muslim countries. But in 2017 according they were only 2000 of Berber Jewish. The king Mohammed V; still now considered a hero for many Jews because of defending them since the very worst time of the Jews in the history (the time of Nazi evil) and in the time in which many countries asked Moroccan kingdom to deport the Jewish people; however, Mohammed V delivered his famous speech along the kingdom in which he said “there are no Jewish citizens, there are no Muslims citizens, they are all Moroccans”. So, the history of Jews in Morocco is more than an ancient period and it was ended; the Jews heritage is being saved till now and maintained.

Where the Moroccan Jewish were live, in Morocco

As it’s known here in Morocco, people were immigrating from the interior of the country to the big cities. however, the Jews people chose to immigrate award the coastal cities especially to Essaouira, Mazagan, and Asafi exactly in the mid 19th century, and later some of them chose to go to the capital economic city ‘Casablanca’. Additionally, and because they were well educated and they were speaking French greater, that was the key for them to open to the Europe and work with them in the kingdom. Before that time Moroccan Jews were everywhere in the kingdom such as the Sahara Desert.

Reasons why Jews of Morocco Immigrated to Israel

There are lot of wrong stories about the main reasons behind the left of Jews to Morocco. First, there are some stories says that Moroccan Jews were immigrated because of religious reasons. The second reason, is that some of them faced persecution. Nevertheless, and while you are searching on the history of the Moroccan Jews, the first thing you should ask yourself about when you read some suspicious facts is the heroic exploits of the Kingdom of Morocco in containing the Jews people and protecting them from the Nazi persecution. And of course, the main reasons why the Jews left to Israel are:
First, to respond to the call of their people in Israel who they want to build a land for them gathering all the Jewish from all over the world. Second, because the economical factor was very essential for some of them, they find it great opportunity to start their life again in better economic conditions. In addition, Morocco was the best country for the Jews between all the other countries which contained them. And also, if the Jews were treated badly in Morocco, why the Jews heritage in Morocco still being preserved till now as well as the relationship of the Moroccan, Israeli Jews with the kingdom still persisted.

Some of the preserved Jewish heritage in Morocco

Mellah in Morocco refers to the Jews Quarters which we can find it in several cities, the following are some of these cities:

Jewish Heritage in Ifran

it was an important city for the Moroccan Jews, there are some stories which says that ‘Ifran’ (a city located in the Anti-Atlas Mountains) was a center for the caravan trade between Morocco and Sudan. But when Morocco had its independence, the Jews left to Israel, leaving behind a wonderful heritage especially in the village of ‘Souk Oufallah’. Where, we can find lot of old Jews houses and some of the Hebrew writer as well as the Jews cemetery in which a famous patriarchs were buried such as ‘Yousef ben Meymoun-Waylili El-Jlili’ and ‘Yousef ben Sbatt’. And if you have been in Morocco, you can visit the ‘Mellah Oufrane’ (a Jews Neighborhood in Ifran).

Jewish Heritage in Fes

Ibn Danan Synagogue is one of the famous synagogues in Morocco and which located in the capital city of science ‘Fes’, and which was built in the 17th century by Mimoun Ben Sidan (a wealthy merchant from the town of Ait Ishaq). And also, we can find the Mellah there is a story which says that the word Mellah came from a place in Fes was a Souk (market) for sealing the salt and the Moroccan Jews were living there.

Jewish Heritage in Essaoira

the Jewish were 40 percent of the city’s population in the 17th century, the thriving and productive Jewish community was deeply adapted into Moroccan society, and the Mellah played an essential role in Essaouira’s economic development. Essaouira has long been a symbol of tolerance, with Jews and Muslims coexisting in peaceful community. It’s a tourism destination for the Jews and their descendants to visit the Jews heritage in Morocco. Also, Mogador or the Mellah make the city widely known because that place was an economic port for the Eruopean countries and it was being threatened to be colonized by the empire of Portugal.

Jewish Heritage in Casablanca

Museum of Moroccan Judaism is located in Casablanca became a pilgrimage destiny for lot of Jewish all over the world especially for those who are interested in the history of Jews. The museum was established in 1997, it is the only museum devoted to Judaism in the Arab world and officially opened its door Mohammed VI of Morocco on December 20, 2016. The museum talks about the history of Jewish and it shows how their life was looking like in Morocco.

Jewish Heritage in Marrakech

The Slat al-Azama Synagogue or Lazama Synagogue is one of the best-known synagogues in Marrakech, Morocco. It is located in the historic Mellah of the old city; Mellah in Marrakech is representing the big traditional souk (market) in the Red city (another name of Marrakech). We can find also the Taoulat El Miara, it’s a Jews heritage cemetery, The cemetery is located on a residential street, but there is Hebrew script on the gate to signal the entrance.

Jewish Heritage in Meknes

The Rabbi Meir Toledano Synagogue it’s located in Meknes city, Morocco. The story of the synagogue says that a Family from Spain exactly from the city of “Toledo” and who was living in Meknes decided to rebuild it; so that, it was named after them ‘Toledano’. There is the new Mellah and which located in the Medina of Meknes as well as there is the new Jewish cemetery (you can visit the oldest Mellah and the oldest cemetery of Jewish it’s still preserved).

Jewish Heritage in Tetun

the Isaac Ben Walid Synagogue, it’s a Jewish synagogue and which can be found in Tetuan, Morocco. It is named after Rabbi Isaac Bengualid (was considered one of the greatest Moroccan Rabbis and also, he has two volume-book about the history of Jewish in Tetaun. Also, was built in the new mellah south of the medina of Tetuan, and this was a result of creating a big mosque in the old Mellah by Sultan Slimane ( Alawid Sultan of Morocco between 1792 to 1822).

Jewish Heritage in Tangier

the Moshe Nahon Synagogue it is located in the city’s Mellah, and also is one of the few open synagogues in Tangier between all the other synagogues in the city. It was built by Moshe Nahon, a banker and active member of the Tangier Jewish community, in 1878. The synagogue architected on a Spanish way, it’s a piece of art.

We cannot mention all the Jewish heritage in Morocco only in one article because the history of Moroccan Jewish is really huge and need lot of books to be talked about.

Traditional Jewish food in Morocco

Of course, the Moroccan cuisine is known between the top world—cuisines. Indeed, the most served recipes in Morocco are Taginne, Coscus, and Pastila etc. However, the Moroccan Jewish cuisine can be little different where the Jewish like most the country’s abundant fruit and vegetables, lamb, almonds, walnuts, olives, and olive and argan oil. They usually use spices and condiments such as: cinnamon, cumin, Ras el Hanout (a magical mixture of the best spices), ginger, saffron, paprika, garlic, preserved lemon, and olives. The main ingredients for their Tagine are the fruits and meat, and in their couscous, they may use vegetables, onion with meat.