Jewish Tours in Morocco 10 Days

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Day 1: Arrival in Casablanca, Jewish Heritage Sightseeing Tour and Guided City Tour:

Arrival at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca. Dinner at Kosher Restaurant in Casablanca. Visit Temple Beth-El, the Jewish synagogue in Casablanca. Beth-El, is considered the centerpiece of a once vibrant Jewish community. Its stained glass windows and other artistic elements are what attracts tourists to this synagogue. Option to visit Temple Em Habanim and Neve Chalom as time permits.

Day 2: Casablanca Jewish Heritage Sightseeing Tour, Then Take the Road to Rabat:

Visit the Moroccan Judaism Season in Casablanca The Jewish Season in Casablanca covers an area of 700 square meters, it is the first of its kind in the Arab world. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism in Casablanca is a museum of history and ethnography, created by the Jewish Community of Casablanca in 1997 with the support of the Moroccan-Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation. The Jewish Museum in Casablanca is hidden in a residential neighborhood and has a hidden treasure, as it is the only Jewish Museum in the Arab region. It uses world-class conservation standards for its national and international collections. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism presents religious, ethnographic and artistic objects that demonstrate the history, religion, traditions and daily life of Jews in the context of Moroccan civilization.

Visit the Jewish cemetery of Casablanca, Mellah and synagogues:

The mellah of Casablanca is young by Moroccan standards, not much more than a century old. It assaults the senses at night, with a sea of women in brightly colored djellabas carrying and selling fruits and vegetables through the narrow, narrow streets. Although Jews no longer live in the mellah, kosher butcher shops are found in the old market, along with other butcher shops selling horse meat. The Jewish cemetery at La Mellah is open and peaceful, with well-kept white stone markers in French, Hebrew and Spanish. Once a year, Casablancans hold a filoula, or prayer festival, at the tomb of the Jewish saint Eliahou.

The Jewish cemetery at La Mellah is open and peaceful, with well-kept white stone markers in French, Hebrew and Spanish. Once a year, Casablancans hold a filoula, or prayer festival, at the tomb of the Jewish saint Eliahou.

Casablanca’s 4,500 Jews live outside the mellah in the European city, where they worship at more than 30 synagogues, eat at kosher restaurants, entertain at community centers and attend Jewish schools and social service centers. Beth El is the largest synagogue and a major community center, seating up to 500 people.

Visit Temple Beth-El, the Jewish synagogue in Casablanca. Beth-El, is considered the centerpiece of a once vibrant Jewish community. Its stained glass windows and other artistic elements are what attracts tourists to this synagogue.

Exploring the well-equipped Ettedgui Synagogue in the Casablanca medina. The house of worship is located next to the El Mellah Museum, where paintings and photographs that trace the history of Judaism in Morocco are exhibited. It was one of a dozen synagogues that received funding for restoration and was personally attended by King Mohammed VI for its festive reopening. The original founders, the Ettedgui family, were once considered part of Casablanca’s bourgeois community. The land was registered in the 1873 cadastre and carried the legacy of the “Makhzen”, with the French protectorate hosting the construction of the synagogue in 1920. It was partially destroyed by mistake, during the Allied bombing in 1942. Ettedgui was then rebuilt in the 1980s with the complete reconstruction completed as part of the rehabilitation project of the old medina of Casablanca launched by the Sovereign in 2010. This synagogue is steeped in history and remains a symbol of openness and peace among Moroccan communities.

Visit the promontory of the Hassan II Mosque which offers beautiful views of Casa in the residential neighborhood of Afna. After touring the Mosque, head to Casablanca’s New Town, also designed by French architect Henri Prost.

Accommodation in a Boutique Hotel or Riad in Rabat.

Day 3: Guided Historical Tour of Rabat and City Tour on the way to Fes:

Visit Rabat and then hit the road to visit Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Visit the Royal Palace, the Hassan Tower which sits on the hill overlooking the Wadi Bou Regreg. It is a gigantic mosque, emblematic of Rabat and famous for its unfinished minaret where storks nest. Next door, visit the beautiful Mausoleum of Mohammed V decorated with stained glass, white marble and a wrought iron entrance with a staircase leading to an impressive dome. Visit the Jewish Mellah which today is home to very few Jewish families.

Exploring the nearby gardens and visit the Rabat Palace and visit the Necropolis in Chellah/ Kasbah of Chellah and Kasbah Oudaya.

Option to visit the coastal community of Sale, which is the birthplace of Rabbi Hayyim Ben Moses Attar. Attar was an 18th century Kabbalist born in Morocco in 1696 and known throughout the Jewish world for his biblical commentaries of mystical content.

Take the road to visit the imperial city of Meknes, “the Moroccan Versailles” and the Roman ruins of Volubilis “Walili”.

Panoramic view of Meknes – Start the visit with a panoramic view of Meknes, which offers a splendid view of the ancient Islamic medina with its many tall, towering minarets. Other sites explored include Bab El Mansour, Meknes Stables, Hedim Square, Thursday Gate and Moulay Ismail Mosque.

Explore the Jewish quarter of Mellah, with its narrow alleys and colorful courtyards. The presence of Jewish history is evident in Hebrew epitaphs dating from the Christian era. These epitaphs along with Greek inscriptions can be seen in the Jewish zaouia of Meknes, a pilgrimage site where the tomb of Rabbi David Benmidan still resides.

Meknes has a historic Jewish presence. It is the home of an ancient Hebrew epitaph dating back to the Christian era. Today there are still Greek inscriptions in the synagogue where the tomb of Rabbi David Benn Imdan, “the patron of Meknes”, is located. Each street is named after a Jewish rabbi and other well-known Jews who once occupied the city.

Eleven synagogues in total remain in Meknes, of which none are currently in daily use. You can visit 1-2 during your guided tour of Meknes’ Jewish heritage along with the local cemetery and a Jewish school.

Visit the historical sites of Meknes in the afternoon:

-Talmud Torah Syngagoue

-Jewish quarter and cemetery

-Royal Stables and Agdal Reservoir

-Musée Dar Jamaï, Museum

-Bou Inania Medersa

-Big door

-old medina

-Bab El-Khemis

-Kasbah of the 17th century

-Take the road to the Roman City of Volubilis.

Start your visit by discovering the fascinating Roman ruins adorned with beautiful mosaics and colorful tiles depicting Roman mythology. The ruins extend over several acres and what remains visible are several fragments of wall, parts of massive columns, the capitol, the basilica and a triumphal arch. The ruins reveal how the Roman Empire transformed the original Carthaginian settlement into a typical Roman city with mansions, an urban center, a triumphal arch and temples dedicated to the Roman gods. Start your visit in Volubilis and then take the road to Fes.

We will spend the night in a boutique hotel or Riad in Fes.

Day 4: Fes Historical Tour of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Jewish Heritage Sites:

Visit the Jewish and Muslim historical sites in Fes:

During this UNESCO guided historical tour of Fes, you will visit the Jewish heritage sites and cultural sites of Fes combining site visits at synagogues, universities, mosques, cemeteries, Mellah along with gardens and palaces. Your guide will offer you a connecting link between Muslim and Jewish Morocco.

Jewish history of Fes and historical Fes El Bali

Fes is one of the best-known cities in medieval Jewish history. Once the home of one of the most influential Talmudic scholars of all time, Fes was founded by Idriss I in the 8th century.

Fes (known as Fes El Bali) is one of the best-known cities in medieval Jewish history. Fes is the main spiritual center and ancient artistic and intellectual capital of Morocco, highly respected for its ancient and historic population that celebrated Jewish life. It was once the home of Rabbi Isaac Alfasi, the most influential Talmudic scholars of all time. Founded by Moulay Idriss in the 8th century, Fes is the main spiritual center and ancient artistic and intellectual capital of Morocco. Highly respected for its historical importance and its ancient Jewish population, which openly celebrated Jewish life, Fes is a must-visit city for all Jewish travelers. The name Fes has its origins in the word pickaxe (hand tool) which legends say that Idriss of Morocco used silver or gold to create the boundaries of the old city.

During this guided UNESCO Jewish heritage and culture tour of Fez, you will visit the Jewish heritage sites and cultural sites of Fez that combine visits to synagogues, medieval universities, mosques, cemeteries, a children’s school, the Mellah along with gardens and palaces. Your guide will offer you a connecting link between Muslim and Jewish Morocco.

The Jewish Mellah: Unlike the young Mellah of Casablanca, the Mellah of Fes is more than 650 years old. This picturesque neighborhood adjoins the royal palace, known for its recently constructed shiny brass gates. Jews took refuge in this palace during the 1912 pogrom.

The Jewish Cemetery: The nearby cemetery contains the graves of more Jewish saints than any other cemetery in Morocco. One of the most important saints is Solica, who was murdered for refusing to convert to Islam.

Maimonides: Throughout the ancient city of Fes, there are traces of ancient Jewish life, including the house of Maimonides, who lived in the city between 1159 and 1165. Suffering persecution from the Almohad dynasty, Maimonides emigrated to escape forced conversion. In the face of a declining population, the Jewish community of Fes is working hard to maintain its community spirit and preserve its heritage and traditions. The community centre, Center Communautaire “Maimonide”, is one of the best organized in Morocco, with a kosher restaurant and a modern synagogue on the premises.

The Danan Synagogue: The Danan Synagogue was once just one of several within the walls of Fes, and not the most elaborate. The Ibn Danan Synagogue is one of the oldest and most intact synagogues in Morocco. This synagogue, located in the heart of the mellah (Jewish quarter), is a rare survivor of a crucial moment in Moroccan Jewish history.

Synagogues of Fes Unmarked on their exteriors – dating back to the 17th century: among the most unique in the world. The Mellah of Fes once had 40 synagogues. See the vast, picturesque whitewashed Jewish cemetery next to the gates of the Royal Palace and the nascent Jewish Museum at the Em HaBanim synagogue.

Muslim sites of the old medina and shopping in Fes:

Al-Karaouine University
Zauia Moulay Idriss II
Give Bath

Weavers cooperative

We will spend the night in a boutique hotel or Riad in Fes.

Day 5: Guided Tour to Fes to Jewish Sefrou:

Visit Seffrou, the capital of cherries. Sefrou, south of Fes, was known as Little Jerusalem for its high percentage of Jews and its well-developed religious life. Following Moroccan independence, a rabbi from Sefrou was elected to Parliament. The mellah of Sefrou makes up half of the old city.

On the way to Sefrou, make a brief stop to visit the Bhalil Cemetery.

Sefrou was once an important center for Moroccan Jews and its white walled pedestrian medina is still characterized by its wooden balcony houses.

A good example of interreligious dialogue in Morocco can be witnessed in the city of Sefrou. In Sefrou, Muslims and Jews lived in good harmony from door to door and practiced their religious rituals in unison.

Afternoon option Gardens and Palaces of Fes:

Jnane Sbil Gardens:
Batha Museum and Andalusian Garden
Medersa of Bou Inania

Night in Fes.

Day 6: Fes Departure to Marrakech via Ifrane and Beni Mellal:

Take the road to Marrakech.

Along the way, stop to see the view of Ifrane University and take a short walk through the garden. Ifrane is nicknamed Morocco’s “Little Switzerland” for its architecture, cedar forest and winter ski resort options. Developed by the French during the time of the protectorate for its administration due to its alpine climate, this Moroccan town has a marked European style, as if it were an alpine town. Due to its elevation, the city experiences snow during the winter months and cool weather during the summer.

Enjoy coffee, tea and pastries in Ifrane at an open-air cafe.

Make a brief stop at Zaouia Cheikh. This is one of the 30 dams planned to be built in Morocco by 2030. Hassan II’s idea of building one dam a year to irrigate the country is carried out by the current King Mohammed VI.

Lunch at the Paris Hotel in Beni Mellal.

Accommodation in a Boutique Hotel or Riad in Marrakech.

Day 7: Marrakech Guides Historical Tour, City Tour, Yves Saint Laurent Gardens and Berber Museum, UNESCO Sites and Jewish Heritage Sites:

Visit Marrakech’s gardens, palaces and Jewish heritage sites.

Majorelle Gardens and Berber Museum

The Majorelle Gardens, formerly Jardin Bou Saf, are named after their original creator, Jacques Majorelle, the French expatriate artist who was born in Nancy France in 1886. In 1947 he opened his gardens to the public and during this time he also painted a magnificent roof space at the La Mamounia hotel. The gardens were later purchased by French fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Today the Majorelle Gardens house a unique collection of flora and fauna together with the Berber Museum.

The old spice market

The Rahba Kedima is a colorful market filled with a wide variety of spices from cumin, cinnamon, saffron, dried pepper and more.

The Jewish Mellah

Founded in 1558 by Moulay Abdallah, the Mellah district was designated as the Jewish quarter of Marrakech.

Bahia Palace

The El Bahia Palace in Marrakech is a beautiful building and an excellent example of 19th century oriental architecture that represents the trends and standards of the wealthy who lived at that time.

Visit the Marrakech Lazama Synagogue in the old medina. This Quarter was created in the Kasbah area in 1558. The Jewish community enjoyed autonomy even though Jews were not allowed to own any property outside Mellah and controlled the sugar trade. There are approximately 250 Jews still living in Marrakech, and most live outside the Medina.

Visit Bet-El Synagogue, Impasse Des Moulins (Central American) – Gueliz.

Rabbi Hanania Hacohen Cemetery. Visit the cemetery of Rabbi Hanania Hacohen, the burial place of Rabbi Mordekhai Ben Attar and Rabbi Pinhas Hacohen Azough, where the “patron saint of Marrakech” resides.

The Saadian tombs

The Saadian tombs in Marrakech date from the time of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603). The tombs were discovered recently (in 1917) and were restored by the Fine Arts service. The mausoleum comprises the corpses of about sixty members of the Saadi dynasty that originated in the Draa River valley.

Accommodation in a Boutique Hotel or Riad in Marrakech.

Day 8: Marrakech Free Day – Exploration of La Mamounia and Hammam Gardens/ La Mamounia Gardens Spa Experience:

Built in 1929, this famous historic hotel and gardens in the center of Marrakech is cared for by 40 gardeners who twice a year plant 60,000 annual plants to improve the grounds and keep the lawns immaculately trimmed under the citrus and olive trees, the garden of the desert. , rose garden and tropical garden, as well as the numerous fountains. The avenue of 200-year-old olive trees leads to the garden pavilion, where you can immerse yourself in peace and solitude with a cup of Moroccan mint tea.

Palmeraie Gardens & Museum by Abderrazzak Benchaabane

Abderrazzak Benchaabane is a Marrakech legend. Calm and soft-spoken, this renowned garden designer, ethnobotanist, perfumer, teacher, photographer, writer and editor. Within the converted stables and track buildings on the property Benchaabane houses his private collection of modern and contemporary Moroccan art.

Accommodation in a Boutique Hotel or Riad in Marrakech.

Day 9: Excursion from Marrakech to Essaouira Coast, Jewish Heritage Sites of Essaouira:

Depart for Seaside Essaouira, a seaside fishing village known for its Portuguese and Jewish history, along with charming hand-painted blue, white, and yellow houses, fresh seafood, and a community of artists.

The charming artists’ colony of Essaouira boasts beautiful whitewashed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries and delicious seafood. Once called Mogador by European sailors and traders, Essaouria is known for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival which attracts more than 300,000 people in June. It also has a long surfing beach called Plage de Safi.

Many of the painted houses in Essaouira still have the Star of David above the doors of Jewish houses. Every year, religious Jews from all over the world come to Essaouira for an annual pilgrimage to visit the grave of Rabbi Haim Pinto, who died in 1845. The filoula celebrating Rabbi Haim Pinto is held every September.

Today, Rabbi Haim Pinto’s house and synagogue have been preserved as a historical and religious site. The building is an active synagogue, used when Jewish pilgrims or tour groups visit the city.

A generation ago there were Jewish inhabitants in Essaouira, however today there is only one Jew named Joseph Sebag, whose descendants fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition along with other Jewish families. Jacky Kadoch is the president of the Jewish community of Essaouira.

He explore Essaouira’s main Jewish heritage sites composed of ancient history and great beauty: the Attia Synagogue (House of Memory), the Haim Pinto Synagogue, Bayt Dakira, the Jewish Mellah and the ancient Jewish cemetery marked by Cubist and Amazigh tombstones .

Night in Marrakesh.

Day 10: Marrakech Departure:

Departure from Casablanca or Marrakech airport.

– Lunches during the tour.
– Plane ticket to and from Morocco.
– Personal expenses and tips.
– Tickets to museums and monuments.