Jewish Tour Heritage of Morocco

14 Nights/ 15 days

The Kingdom of Morocco has long been a land of tolerance and coexistence. The 2,500 year old Moroccan Jewish community has a magnificent and little-known history and culture rooted in Africa and the Muslim world, and this tour is designed to uncover this great history and help our guests, be them Jews or non-Jews, to learn a lot about the open Moroccan society that co-existed and still co-existing with all ethnic and religious groups.

Day 1: Casablanca airport - Hotel

Meet at your arrival to Casablanca airport, you will have a warm reception by our driver/guide who will assist you with your luggage to your comfortable vehicle. On the way to Casablanca city center, the biggest city in Morocco and its economic capital, you will get a general introduction about the tour and the great Jewish history in Morocco which will be the main headline of this experience. Check in at the hotel, relax for some time, then we will start our discovery of Casablanca. Visit to the Hassan II Mosque, dramatically sited at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque was built by the late King Hassan II at the end of his 40- year reign; this astounding edifice is larger than Saint Peter’s in Rome and capable of accommodating 80,000 worshipers. It is also the third largest Mosque all over the Islamic world and its minaret is the tallest ever. After that we will tour the highlights of Casablanca including the architecture of Mohamed V Square, the French-built Habous Quarter and the Gates of the Royal Palace.

Day 2: Casablanca - Rabat

After breakfast at your hotel, we will begin our day with a visit to the Jewish Museum in Casablanca, the first Jewish Museum in an Arab country: visits to the museum are only possible from Monday to Friday. After that we will visit the neighborhood that is home to most of Morocco’s Jewish Community then stop by the cultural centre and the Bet El synagogue. There will be an opportunity to have lunch at one of the small kosher restaurants in this part of town before leave in a 60 mile drive to Rabat, the administrative and political capital of Morocco. Some part of the day will be dedicated to enjoy a visit to the entrance to the Royal Place in Rabat with its lovely gardens and beautiful buildings. After the palace, we will move to Mohamed V Mausoleum, the burial ground of the late two Alaouite kings ’ Mohamed V & Hassan II. It was Mohamed V ’ grand father of the actual King Mohamed IV - who achieved independence for Morocco in 1961, and he was revered by both Muslims and Jews alike. Mohamed V bravery in the face of the occupying Vichy regime during WW2 saved Moroccan Jews from the fate of their European brethren. Overnight in Rabat

Day 3: Rabat - Meknes - Volubilis - Fez

After breakfast, we will continue our discovering of Rabat. Today’s trip will take us to Chella Necropolis where excavations of the Roman settlements have produced evidence of a Jewish community. We will move to the Mellah where about 6000 Jews used to live under the reign of sultan Moulay Slimane in the beginning of the 19th century. In Rabat, we will also spend some time in Oudaya Kasabahs, Rabat’s old Medina, before continuing our trip to Meknes where a community of about 15000 Jewish resided in middle of the 20th century. In Meknes you we will find evidence of a great Jewish history. We will visit the Mellah and see the many streets labeled with Jewish names. You may wish to visit the aging Talmud Torah in the Jewish Quarter and the new Mellah (Meknes had two of them: the original one and the 20th-century new Mellah). Visit the tomb of Rabbi David Benmidan, who was the "Patron of Meknes" and is another pilgrimage shrine. In the new Mellah there are 11 synagogues of which eight are still in use today. After Meknes, we will leave to the Roman ruins in Volubulis, which is an archeological site and is among the most extensive in the world. Nearby, we will find Moulay Idriss. Moulay Idriss is the most venerated Muslim site in Morocco and it is said that five trips to this holy city is of equal Merit to the pilgrimage for those without the means to make go to Mecca. We will head to Fez, the Medina where Rabbi Isaac al Fasi, a great Talmud scholar, lived in the 12th century. Overnight in Fes

Day 4: Fez

In Fes, we will spend a memorable day taking a special look at the Jewish history and culture of traditional Morocco. Explore the mellah (Jewish district) of Fes, founded in 1438 and once home to tens of thousands of Jews, 40 synagogues, the Bet Din, communal ovens, ritual baths and schools. Visit the recently restored Ibn Danan synagogue, the oldest extant synagogue in Fes. Until very recently abandoned and decaying, its restoration was part of a comprehensive UNESCO project to preserve the monuments and fabric of medieval Fes. Its renovation in February 1999 was attended by over 400 people from all over the world. In Fes also we will visit the vast Jewish cemetery opposite the gates of the Royal Palace and the nascent Jewish Museum at the Em HaBanim synagogue. Fes is the city that makes you step back six centuries into the medieval world when the narrow and cobbled streets were and are still filled with ancient mosques and towering green-glazed minarets. Our walking tour of Fes also includes the Medrassa (Koranic University) Attarine, Foundouk Nejjarine, the shrine of Moulay Idriss II, countless souks and the famous tanneries. Overnight in Fes

Day 5: Fez - Ifran - Azrou - Erfoud

After breakfast, we will leave Fes and its magnificent history heading to the magical south of the Morocco. In some small villages in the south, we will come across Jewish Heritage as quite good numbers of the Jews used to live all over the south of Morocco in co-existence with the local Berbers of the area. We will leave through the scenic Middle Atlas Mountains and charming cities of Ifrane and Azrou. The latter is very famous for its craftsmanship. We will continue south along the Ziz River until it finally dies out in the Sahara desert and you arrive at Erfoud. Overnight in Erfoud

Day 6: Erfoud - Tingdad - Tinghir

We will have an optional early wake up for an excursion by 4wheel drive to the legendary golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, considered by desert aficionados to be perhaps the largest dunes in the Sahara. Witness the sun rising on the backs of the sand cruisers, the camels, from the east over the desert dunes: one of the greatest sights of Morocco. After sun rise, we will get back to the hotel in Erfoud for breakfast and shower before continuing our tour heading to Tinghir via Tinjdad. In the north of Tinghir, we will enjoy a great time in the famous Toudgha Gorges, a 300m cut deep wall into the mountains of the High Atlas and one of the rarest landscapes all over the world. There will be an optional lunch in Toudgha Gorges and free time there before getting to the hotel for overnight.

Day 7: Tinghir - Ouarzazate

After breakfast, we will start the city tour of Tinghir where a good number of Jews used to live during the 20th century. We will visit the Jewish quarter, the area where Jews used to live in co-existence of the local Berbers, and the Jewish Cemetery. After time we will enjoy some time walk along the very beautiful valley and on the banks of the river to appreciate the beauty of a very long oasis of more than 40 km rich with palm trees and many sorts of fruits. After the visit of Tinghir, we will head to Ouarazazte through the route of the one thousand and one Kasbahs. On the way, we will pass via the Dades Valley, one of the longest valleys in Morocco, and El Kelaa M’Gouna. The latter is famous for cultivating roses, and every year, there is a big festival celebrating this beautiful crop. The festival always attended by thousands of people from all parts of the world and every year, the local people elects the most beautiful lady of the area and crow her. In Elkella Mgouga also, many products extracted from roes are to be expected. We will continue our tour to Morocco’s Hollywood Ouarzazate for overnight

Day 8: Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou - Taliouine - Taroudant

The city tour of Ouarzazate includes Tourirt Kasbah, considered as one of the most beautiful kasbahs in Morocco and Tifoultout Kasbah with its remarkable views over the valley. Continue the trip to the wonderful fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, the most spectacular fortress village in the south of Morocco and the film making village where many great films were shot. Continue west through the Souss Valley to the ochre-hued walled town of Taroudant for overnight.

Day 09: Taroudant

In the morning, we will have an excursion to the nearby village of Arazan to visit a very special site normally closed to the public: a tiny adobe-synagogue believed to be the only adobe synagogue in the world. Hebrew prayers are painted on its earthen walls and its Ark is adorned with Berber decoration. This little gem is one of the best-kept secrets in Morocco and it is a poignant reminder of a now-vanished world. We will explore this village to enjoy the rare opportunity to witness first-hand how one lives in rural Morocco. Return to Taroudant and explore the bustling marketplace of the walled city. Taroudant, also called the "Grandmother of Marrakech", is a very beautiful city located in the Sous Valley. It is a very distinguished city through its surrounding ramparts, and it is very well known for its craftsmanship. Taroudant offers a special charm to the visitors, and the very narrow streets along the old medida are so magical. We will have time to wander along the souks to enjoy the marveling talents of the craftsmen. Overnight in Taroudant

Day 10: Taroudant - Agadir - Essaouira

We will leave Taroudant through the very lovely coasts of the Atlantic Ocean towards Essaouira. On the way we will pass through Agadir where we will spend some time to discover the secrets of this great city. Agadir is one of the biggest cities in Morocco and it is very famous for its lovely beaches. We will continue continue our tour through Taghazoute to Essaouira for overnight.

Day 11: Essaouira

You will have a full free day in Essaouira to relax and enjoy this splendid small city on your own. Essaouira is a very welcoming and attractive city with a beautiful old Medina that never ceases to seduce its visitors. The attractiveness of Essaouira is reflected in its beautiful architecture, cultural treasures, curving sandy beaches, and stunning combination of ocean views. Essaouira is also very rich with artisan charters and has a big fishing port. Overnight in Essaouira

Day 12: Essaouira - Marrakesh

Late in the morning and after relaxing for some more hours in Essaouira, we will leave to Marrakesh, the red city and one of the most beautiful cities ever. Marrakesh is a fascinating city with a great Jewish history. The Jewish community in Marrakesh was originally known as Hevra Kadisha, and many individual Jews have lived in what is now Marrakech since the time of the Phoenicians. A Jewish community has existed since at least the time of the Spanish Inquisition, and before WWII, the Jewish population was more than 40,000. Overnight in the hotel in Marrakesh

Day 13: Marrakesh

After breakfast, we will have a full day city tour of Marrakesh to discover its rich Jewish Heritage along with some other historical monuments of the city. Our city tour will include the former and current synagogues within the Mellah near which we will also find an original Jewish cemetery, several centuries old. The cemetery is now below ground-level, completely covered, and hidden by a second "generation" (level) of graves. The current cemetery, at ground level, dates back about 200 to 300 years. Though the cemetery is still in use, it is extremely full and has only one small area remaining for future burials. There are no divisions for Orthodox or other branches Judaism, but only for Jewish burials. Our city tour of Marrakesh will also include the defining landmark of the city, the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia. Next to it, we will enjoy sometime walk around the famous Jemaa El Fna square with its snake charmers fortune tellers and arrays of food. Overnight in Marrakesh

Day 14: Marrakesh - Casablanca

We will have a free morning in Marrakesh to relax or wander on your own for few hours. In the afternoon, we will leave to Casablanca for overnight in the hotel.

Day 15: Casablanca airport

After breakfast, transfer to Casablanca airport for your departing flight.