Morocco Jewish Tour

Start your Jewish tour of Casablanca with a visit to the awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque, a stunning architectural feat that stands as a symbol of an Islam open to the world. During your tour, marvel at the intricate marble work, wood and stone carvings, and gilded cedar ceilings. Tour the Temple Beth-El synagogue, renowned for its stunning stained-glass windows, and visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism to gain a deeper understanding of the local Jewish culture. Then it’s off to the Habous Quarter in the New Medina, with its mix of Moorish and European art deco architecture. Tour the Temple Em Habanim and Neve Chalom temples before enjoying a delicious Kosher lunch. Head to Rabat and explore the unfinished Hassan tower Mosque and the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V. Visit the Chellah ruins, believed to have once been an important center of Jewish life, and finish up at the Kasbah Oudaya with its magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean.

We departed Rabat to explore the Jewish heritage of Tetouan, a city renowned for its centuries-old Spanish roots. The city is a wonderful classical example of the Andalusian style, especially in its well-preserved Mellah, an ancient Jewish quarter. This quarter is home to a majority of the local community, and many have continued to keep their customs, language and traditions. The Castilian section of the cemetery is another historical landmark of great interest, as it is the burial ground for the earliest settlers from Spain. Inside the Mellah, there are three active and vibrant Synagogues, the Synagogue Rabbi Isaac Ben Oualid being the oldest and most historic of them all. An interesting fact is that Tetouan was the location of the first Alliance Israelite Universal School, founded in 1862 when Morocco retook control from the Spanish. Satisfied from our cultural journey, we continued on towards the blue painted town of Chefchaouen for the night.

This day you will be able to take an immersive tour of Morocco and explore the alluring city of Chefchaouen, situated among the majestic Rif Mountains. Walking through the cobblestone streets, you can observe the whitewashed homes with red tile roofs, each tip splashed in a vibrant hue of blue. Then, make your way to the sacred city of Ouazzane, the revered destination of the annual Hiloulah pilgrimage of the Jewish faith. Here, you can pay homage to the shrine of Rabbi Amram Ben Diwan as well as explore the other lasting imprints of Jewish culture in Ouazzane. After lunch, a visit to Meknes awaits, colloquially referred to as the ‘Moroccan Versailles.’ The town is an excellent example of Jewish integration within its walls, from the Hebrew inscriptions still adorning the former Synagogues to the tomb of Rabbi David Benmidan. Don’t forget to visit the impressive Bab Al Mansour gate and the old and new Mellah! Your journey continues to the Roman city of Volubilis, with the first evidence of a Jewish settlement in Morocco, and ultimately ends in the ancient walled city of Fez.

Today, journey to the ancient Fez Medina, the spiritual capital of Morocco. Starting your guided tour at the impressive Royal Palace with its seven bronze gates, you will make your way to the Mellah, with its remarkable Mauro-Hispanic architecture. Afterwards, visit the old Jewish cemetery and the well-kept Ibn Danan synagogue to witness the importance of the Jewish community of Fez. In the ceramics quarter, observe the local pottery handicraft and view the old kilns. Walk through the bustling labyrinth of the old Medina, where you can see colorful tanneries, fresh fruit, mounds of spices, hand-woven Berber carpets, brassware, silverware, and traditional and modern jewelry. Don’t miss El-Attarine, El Bou Inania Medersas, and the breathtaking Karaouine university-mosque. End your sightseeing tour with a lunch at a traditional restaurant in the heart of the medina, nearby Nejjarine Square’s historic fountain and caravanserai, before returning to your hotel for the evening.

We leave Fez today to explore the Middle Atlas Mountains, and make a pit stop in Ifrane, more commonly known as the small Switzerland of Morocco. Breathtaking scenes of mountains and valleys will surround us, including the unique Maggot monkeys that call the cedar forest of Azrou home. After lunch at Midelt for their annual apple festival, we travel south to Errachidia, which takes its name from Prince Moulay Rachid, who founded the city in 1971. We make our way down Ziz Valley to Arfoud, a major center for Jews and caravan trading with sub-Saharan Africa since the 8th century. As a tribute, we’ll see the Jewish cemetery. We finish our journey at Merzouga, in the Sahara Desert, where we’ll be able to take a ride on a camel or 4×4 Jeep to witness the remarkable sunset over Erg Chebbi’s dunes. After a night of sleeping under the stars in a desert camp, our incredible adventure will come to end.

After enjoying breakfast at magical Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, we start our journey towards Ziz’s oasis and its old irrigation system. We drive through the arid terrain to Tinghir, the town that holds the iconic Todra Gorges. Here we will have the chance to explore the towering limestone cliffs, unique erosions, and lush vegetation while marveling at the Kasbahs of varying colors. We then move on to the charming town of Tineghir and its ancient Jewish quarter, Mellah. Concluding the day, we make our way through the Rose valley, which is abundant in small, pink Damascene roses, and the Skoura palm grove before reaching Ouarzazate, the so-called “Hollywood of Africa”.

Start your day with breakfast before heading out to visit one of the world’s largest cinematographic studios, Atlas. See breathtaking desert landscapes and learn how they were portrayed in fiction and non-fiction movies. After that, take a special trip to the Ait Benhaddou village, recognized by UNESCO in 1987 as a site of world and national culture. Many renowned movies were filmed here, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and Gladiator. Following lunch, continue your journey to Marrakech and explore the Jewish heritage, taking an optional tour to Rabbi David Oumouchy and David Lachkar. Lastly, travel through the scenic Atlas Mountains and arrive at the stunning pink city of Marrakech.

Today we visit the beautiful city of Marrakech, home to a lively Jewish population renowned for its merchants, artisans, and rabbinical studies. Our tour begins at the Mellah and its synagogues, including Negidim, built in the late 1800s, and Salat el Alzama, completed in the early 1900s. We will also visit the final resting place of Rabbi Hanania Ha-Cohen and Pinhas Cohen. Afterwards, we will venture to the 19th Century Bahia Palace and the 16th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic School to admire the intricate Zellij, cedar ceilings, and calligraphy. As we meander through the labyrinthine alleyways, we will explore the vibrant souks. We will then stop at the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, the 500-year old Saadian Tombs, and the Majorelle Gardens, an iconic Marrakech destination, known for its diverse botanical collection. To conclude our journey, we will end at Djemaâ El Fnaâ Square before we make our way back to the hotel.

We will be going to the coastal city of Essaouira in Morocco, a multicultural artistic center renowned for its beauty. Many famous people, such as Jimi Hendrix, Orson Welles, and the Rolling Stones, have been attracted to the city’s idyllic charm. You can explore the Jewish quarter, Mellah, which covers 10 percent of the town and see Jewish stars on the doors to the Mellah. Essaouira’s Medina, built in the 18th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is popular among Moroccan artists and musicians. Additionally, the city is the stage of the Gnawa music festival, an old spiritual art form of North-African Islamism. A committee of former inhabitants of Essaouira, mainly consisting of Jews, is currently rehabilitating the town, and the Jewish cemetery outside the city gates is well-maintained. Soon, the two historical synagogues “Slat Rabbi Haïm Pinto” and “Slat Attias” will be renovated as well.

We leave the beautiful city of Essaouira, venturing to Casablanca along the breathtaking coastal road. Our first stop will be in Safi, where we can explore the Mellah, a Jewish quarter, as well as the Oulad Ben Zmirou and Portuguese fortress. Then, it’s onto Oualidia for a delicious fish lunch and a breathtaking view of the bay. Afterwards we venture to El Jadida, to visit the 18th century Portuguese citadel, which later became the Jewish quarter. Finally, we reach the bustling economic capital of Casablanca in the evening.

Transfer to the Airport for your flight back home and fondly recall your amazing experience and the wonderful memories of your Jewish Heritage Tour in Morocco.