Moroccan Jewish Heritage Tours

In Casablanca, there are more than 20 synagogues and areas for Moroccan Jews. On this Itinerary, we have included some of the most important old synagogues in Casablanca. You will visit Temple Beth-El, Temple Em Habanim, and Temple Neve Shalom. You will also visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism, the Jewish Mellah, and the Jewish Cemetery in Casablanca.

The most well-known synagogue in Morocco is Temple Beth-El, which should be the first stop on your Jewish tour of the country. The synagogues are easy to spot because they have stained glass windows and Bible verses carved into the walls. From the roofs of the synagogues hang huge crystal chandeliers. The beautiful Temple Beth-El in Casablanca, Morocco, is the center of the city’s growing Jewish community and is seen as the pinnacle of Jewish building. It is the main synagogue for the more than 5,000 Jews who live in Casablanca. Most of them live in the city’s newer areas.

After that, we will explore the Mellah of Casablanca. There are no longer any Jews living in the Mellah, but there are still kosher butcher shops all over the streets that look like a maze. You can visit the Jewish cemetery in the Mellah, and it is well worth a stop to see the well-kept white gravestones with Hebrew, French, and Spanish writing on them. A religious event called a hiloula is held once a year by the Jewish Community of Casablanca at the tomb of Eliahou, a Jewish saint. The Temple Em Habanim and the Temple Neve Chalom are two ancient synagogues in the Mellah neighborhood. The Temple Neve Chalom has been restored and now has a gallery of photos and temple lights.

After lunch, you can spend some time at the Museum of Moroccan Judaism. The museum is in Casablanca’s Oasis area. It opened in 1997 and is the only museum in the Arab world of its kind. The museum is all about Judaism. In 2013, repairs were made to the building that now hosts the museum. It used to be a Jewish house that could have held up to 160 Jewish children and teens.

At the end of the day, we will go to Rabat for the overnight.

After breakfast at your riad, we will go outside to see the Jewish Mellah of Rabat, where some Jewish families still live. From this spot, you can visit the Necropolis at Chellah and learn about its Jewish ties.

After lunch, we will leave for Meknes, where we will take a short tour of its Jewish Heritage Sites. You will have free time to walk around the Jewish neighborhood, which is known for its narrow streets and colorful gardens. The Jewish past is clear from the Hebrew epitaphs that were written during the Christian era and can be seen on the Meknes Zaouia, along with Greek writing. People make pilgrimages to this holy spot because it is still where Rabbi David Benmidan’s body is buried.

After exploring Meknes, we will head straight to Fes. 

Fes is one of Morocco’s four imperial cities and a notable site in the history of Jews in the Middle Ages. A well-known Talmudic teacher named Rabbi Isaac Alfasi lived there. We have included a free day in Fes because it is an important place for Jewish travelers to see, and it has a history of a Jewish community that lived a free life.

First, see the Mellah, which is almost 650 years old. It used to be home to more than 40 synagogues. This interesting area is near the royal palace. Another place you will visit is the nearby cemetery, which has the most graves of Jewish saints of any cemetery in Morocco. Silica is a well-known saint that buried.

After that, go to the Danan synagogue. It used to be one of many temples inside the Imperial city walls. The Thel Ibn Danan Synagogue is one of the oldest and well-kept synagogues in Morocco. It’s also a rare reminder of how important the Jews were in Moroccan history.

After lunch, we will have a walk around the old medina, which is the oldest in Morocco, where people still live now. Here, you will visit interesting attractions like Al Qarawiyyine University, the Chouara tanneries, and the Attarine and Bou Inania Madrassas.

Day 5 starts with leaving Fes and driving to Sefrou, once called “Little Jerusalem” for its large Jewish community. We will walk through the old Mellah and visit the Jewish cemetery and the shrine of Rabbi Raphael Moshe Elbaz.

After the visit to Sefrou, we drive south through the High Atlas Mountains, reaching an altitude of 1917 meters above sea level. Here, we will stop in the Ziz Valley, one of the biggest sources of dates in Morocco. By the late afternoon, we reach Merzouga, the Sahara Desert. Here, you will ride camels across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, stopping to watch the sunset from the top of a big dune. After that, we will ride the camels down the dunes to the desert camp, check into your accommodation, and then head for dinner. 

Finally, we will gather around the campfire for the local music. Free time to walk up the dunes to watch the stars.

Today, you can wake up early and watch the sunrise over the dunes, a quiet and beautiful moment worth seeing. After breakfast at the camp, we leave for Rissani, a town with a notable Jewish heritage. Here, you can visit the old Mellah and the tomb of Rabbi David Abuhatzeira.

We then travel through valleys, oases, and Berber villages, making panoramic stops until we reach the Todra Gorges, where the high canyon walls rise to 400 meters. You will have free time to walk around and enjoy the views. Upon arrival, we will visit the Taourirt Kasbah and walk inside to see an old Synagogue, also known as the Former Bet Knesset Synagogue. By the evening, we will take you to your hotel for check-in and rest.

After having breakfast, we will start visiting the rest of the Attractions in Ouarzazate. First, we will take you to see the Atlas Studios, where many famous movies were filmed. Next, we head to Ait Benhaddou, a beautiful fortress at the edge of the High Atlas Mountains. Here, we will also visit a Jewish heritage site inside the old ksar. Enjoy a hike up the Kasbah and through the narrow alleys.

From there, we drive across the Anti Atlas Mountains, stopping briefly in Taznakht, known for its handmade carpets, and in Taliouin, famous for saffron. Later, we continue to Taroudant, where we will spend the night. In the evening, you will have free time to relax or take a walk around this charming town, often called the “Little Marrakech.”

In the morning, we visit Taroudant, often called “the Little Marrakech” for its old Medina that looks like the red city. Since we are on a Jewish heritage Tour, we will take you mainly to visit the Mellah and a cemetery where Saint David Ben Baruk Cohen Azog is buried. You will also see one of the few clay synagogues in the world, built about 700 years ago, with Hebrew writing on the walls and Berber writing on the ark.

After visiting Taroudant, we travel through the green Souss River Valley, passing the famous Argan trees. First, we stop in Agadir for lunch and then head to Agadir Oufella for a great panoramic view. After that, we will continue along the Atlantic coast, passing by Taghazout, a popular place for surfers in Morocco. Finally, in the evening, we reach Essaouira, where your driver will take you to your accommodation to relax.

After almost a week of travelling nonstop, today is your chance to slow down and relax in Essaouira. This small coastal city is peaceful, clean, and easy to explore. It has a Long sandy beach, fresh seafood, and a calm atmosphere. After having breakfast, you can go deeper into the old city.

Essaouira also has a rich Jewish history and heritage in Morocco. Around the 18th century, the Jews made up about 40% of the population. While only a few synagogues remain from the original 25, you can visit the Bet Ha-Knesset Simon Attias Synagogue, which now also has a Jewish museum. The city is also home to two Jewish cemeteries. The older one contains the tomb of Rabbi Haim Pinto, a place of annual pilgrimage, while the second cemetery was built in the 1800s and holds the graves of many rabbis, thinkers, and artists.

In the evening, enjoy some free time to walk along the beach and watch the sunset before returning to your riad for the night.

Today, after having breakfast in Essaouira, you will have a free morning to walk around and relax.

Around the Afternoon, we will drive to Marrakech, the red city. We will drive to your accommodation and check in. We can include a visit to Majorelle Garden upon arrival.

Free evening to walk around the old city of Marrakech and explore Jamaa El Fna square, the beating heart of Marrakech.

Marrakech is one of the Imperial Cities in Morocco with a long history. On this Jewish Heritage tour, you will explore the Jewish Mellah, founded in 1558. Although Jews were not allowed to own land outside the Mellah, the community here lived with a degree of freedom. Today, around 250 Jews still live in Marrakech.

Like the other imperial cities in Morocco, Marrakech also has a Jewish neighbourhood called the Mellah. Here, you will also see the Bet-El Synagogue, an important gathering place for the Jewish community. Depending on your time and interests, you may visit the El Bahia/Badi Palaces, the Ben Youssef Medersa, and the Saadian Tombs. In the evening, you will return to your riad for the night.

After a rich 12 Day Moroccan Jewish Heritage Tour, we will take you to the airport in Marrakech or Casablanca.