Essaouira Mogador is a town at the Atlantic coast of Morocco
Essaouira

 
En langue française
 

 

The Jews

 

The Jewish population

When the Jews began to disperse throughout the Roman empire after the dissolution of the Jewish state in 70, many settled in Mauretania including part of modern-day Morocco.
In the 7th century the Jewish population of Mauretania received as a further accession from Iberian peninsula those who wished to escape west-Gothic legislation. At the end of the same century, at the time of the great Arab conquests in northwestern Africa, there were in Mauretania, according to the Arab historians, many Jews.

"The Jews are the first non-Berber people who came to the Maghreb and have continued to live there until now" (Haim Zafrani )

More about the history of the Jews in Morocco is found in External links and The Jews and the "Mellah"

The Star of David, a Jewish symbol carved in sandstone on this portal in Jrayfat

Old building with the Jewish star


"The accession to the throne of Yazid, on the death of Mohammed III in 1789, led to a terrible massacre of the Moroccan Jews, having refused him their support in his fight with his brother for the succession".....

......... "In Mogador, strife arose between the Jews and the city judge on the one hand, and the Moorish citizens on the other; the dispute was over the question of Jewish garb. Finally the Jews were ordered to pay 100,000 piasters and three shiploads of gunpowder; and most of them were arrested and beaten daily until the payment was made. Many fled beforehand to Gibraltar or other places; some died as martyrs; and some accepted Islam."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Morocco

"The condition of the Jews has always been better in Mogador than in many other parts of the empire, as the sultans—especially those of the Sherifian dynasty—in many instances favored them. An exception, however, was made in this respect by the sultan Muley Yazid, who in order to convert ten Jews of Mogador tortured them for ten days by repeatedly hanging them head downward in a dry cistern and bastinadoing them. When the news of the death of Muley Yazid came, some of them had expired and one had embraced Islam; the rest were set free."
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?
artid=695&letter=M#ixzz1QHtFFHNb

Rabbis in Mogador

Yahya, from Agadir
Jacob Bibaz, from Rabat;
Abraham Coriat, author of "Sefer Zekut Abot" (went to Leghorn in 1793)
Hayyim Pinto (d. 1845)
David ibn al-Hazzan (d. 1828)
Joseph ben Jacob Almalih, called Joseph al-Kabir
(d. Jerusalem 1837)
Abraham Coriat II., author of "Sefer Berit Abot"
Joseph ben Aaron Almalih
Abraham ibn 'Attar
(d. 1882)
Moses Cohen (emigrated to the city of Morocco)
Abraham Sabah (d. 1903)
Judah ben Maniel, Mas'ud Knafo Joseph ibn 'Attar
(1904)

Read more: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.
jsp?artid=695&letter=M#ixzz1QHu7O62m

 


The last Jew of Essaouira and the exodus that changed Morocco
( abc.net.au/news/2018-06-20)

Meet the ‘last Jew’ of Essaouira
(Dafina.net 197472017)

Morocco's Jews: Hospitality or Hostility?
VIDEO BBC

 


 

Jeune huif marocain

NEWS

‘Essaouira Debates’ Discuss Morocco’s Diversity, Jewish History
Morocco Worldnews - Feb 16, 2021

Essaouira fait renaitre
son patrimoine juif oublie

(Dafina.net 6/9 2018)

2018 World Monuments Watch
Jewish Quarters of Essaouira
#WorldMonumentsWatch

La ville d'Essaouira célèbre son judaïsme
Le Matin 29 October 2017


At the end of 19th century, the Jewish community in Essaouira amounted to 7700 people in the Mellah and 700 in the two Kasbah.

In the new constitution adopted in 2011 in the context of the Arab spring , his majesty King Mohammed VI established the "Hebrew distinctive charactreristic" of Morocco as " one of the age-old pieces " of "its national identity"" and he called for "the restauration of all the Jewish temples " in the Kingdom. Source: Le Guido - le magazine d' Essaouira. Edition media business Essaouira No. 38 2013

La reine de Mogador 1922

La Reine de Mogador 1922

 

Jewish musicians

Jewish musicians

 

"Jews first arrived to the land now known as Morocco over 2000 years ago. Protected under the Islamic Principle of Tolerance since the 7th century, they flourished, holding high positions in trade and government. The Star of David was a symbol shared by all Moroccans, appearing on currency and even the national flag. During the Holocaust, when asked for a list of Jews, King Mohammed V declared, “We have no Jews in Morocco, only Moroccan citizens.” Jews and Muslims were united by culture and kingdom."

http://dafina.net/gazette/article/
exodus-jewish-morocco-par-aaron-vincent-elkaim-photos-magnifiques

 


A famous inhabitant of Essaouira, the adviser of the king to the foreign affairs, André Azoulay who is of Jewish confession, has said that his birthplace Essaouira is, “the single place in the Arab world equipped with a population mainly Jewish until 1930, could be used today as example for the dialogue between the Jews and the Moslems throughout the world

 

Today the State of Israel is home to nearly 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent, around 15% of the nation's total population.

 

During the 19th century the Jewish population in Essaouira grew from 4,000 to 12,000 from 1830 to 1912, and declined to about 6500 in 1936.This is attributed to the decline of commerce and other economic activity during the French Protectorate era in Mogador in favor of Casablanca and Agadir.
The immigration trends of the 1950s and 1960s caused the Mogador Jewish community to dwindle. A new era began for Essaouira.
In the early 1970s most of its Jewish community members resided in USA,Canada, Europe and Israel. By 2005, the community had almost disappeared.

A Jewish man

"The expenses of the community came from taxes on kosher meat, on imported products, and from various donations from international sources. Many religious schools, a yeshiva, and several English-French Jewish schools were founded in Essaouira in the 1800s. In the early 20th century, the Jewish population in Essaouira was still higher than the Muslim population, and urban life was regulated by the Jewish calendar. While in 1901 the Jewish community counted 19,000 people, the number went down to 5,000 at the beginning of the French Protectorate and continued to decline during the 1950s and 1960s.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5278591


The Untold Stories of the Jewish Quarter of Essaouira

A documentary film about coexistence in the city of Essaouira

Sous les vents de Mogador (documentaire) **فيلم وثائقي حول التعايش بمدينة الصوير

 


Juifs du Maroc Fastes et facettes

"For over 1200 years, Jews and Muslims lived together in Morocco and cooperated in the development of its cultural and artistic wealth. This video reflects the nesting and sensitivities which in Moroccan land, are reflected in the culture and Jewish art: common themes and motifs in jewelry, costumes, music, singing, poetry, everyday life. If you believe that peace is a necessity; If you are tolerant, respectful of the difference of each other."


External link:

Historic Catastrophe : the Agony of Essaouira
(GEOFFREY BILLET PHOTOGRAPHY Article Jul 25, 2019)

 

 


 

Essaouira had a Jewish quarter too .... 


Inside Jewish Morocco 


AL JAZEERA WORLD (VIDEO)
Return to Morocco
The story of Morocco's Jewish community
told from the perspective of those who have left, stayed or are now returning.


Mogador rabbins 1888

Mogador rabbins 1888

Rabins of Mogador

Left to right: R. Benisty, R. Abraham Bensoussan, R. David Knafo, R. Benabou et R. Moshé Bensimon

Wise men in Mogador 1910

 

Mogador Jews

Street in the "Jews Town" Mogador

Mogador-Street in the mellah

Read more about the Jewish quarters- the Mellah


DHIMMI - A contract under domination.

The concept of dhimma that applies to Jews and Christians stipulates submissive behavior towards Muslims. The dhimmi must meet a series of prohibitions: do not carry a gun, do not ride a horse, do not build new places of worship, do not raise your voice at ceremonies or may not resemble the Muslims in their clothing. Source: En francais DHIMMI !!! (Dafina.net)

 


 

Juifs du Maroc "Visages et personnages"


 

Histoire des juifs - Résumé depuis 750 av. J-C jusqu'aux conflit israélo-palestinien


A_Jewish_house_in_Mogador_by_Darondeau_1807_1841.}} |Source="Sur les Traces de Castello Real" Omar Lakhdar p.192 |Author=Darondeau (1807-1841)


 

Liens externes en français:


Mogador Judaica, par Lakhdar Omar

JUIF DU MAROC
(Blog de la vie quotidienne de la Communauté Juive au Maroc d'aujourd'hui mais aussi d'antan.)

LA DÉCOUVERTE DES JUIFS BERBÈRES AU MAROC

(Daniel J. Schroeter . In Relations Judéo-Musulmanes au Maroc : perceptions et réalités,
edited by Michel Abitbol, Paris: Editions Stavit, 1997, pp. 169-187 Dafina.net

JUIFS ET BERBERES DU MAROC

«Les Juifs du Maroc - Bibliographie Générale» Résumés Annotations Recensions,
par Dr. Arrik Delouya
(Dafina.net)

Pèlerinages juifs au Maroc

Les juifs marocains, plus grande communauté juive du monde arabe
( Dafina.net )

Sur les traces des tsadikims au royaume du Maroc ( Dafina.net)

L’exode des Juifs du Maroc
(
Dafina.net)

Le judaïsme marocain est bien vivant ((Dafina.net)

Le calendrier hébraïque (Dafina.net)

La culture en partage (Dafina.net)

Les Juifs du Maroc au cours de l’histoire (Dafina.net)

HISTORIQUE DE LA PRESENCE DES JUIFS AU MAGHREB (Dafina.net)

Hanoucca des Juifs du Maroc : Textes, Recettes, Traditions et Guide Pratique

A propos de l’émigration juive et du patrimoine judéo-marocain Simon Levy :
“Les juifs marocains ont été victimes d’une décision politique”

Hanoucca des Juifs du Maroc : Textes, Recettes, Traditions et Guide Pratique

LE JUDEO-ESPAGNOL
Les Juifs espagnols et l’origine des Juifs du Maroc
Histoire de l’immigration juive au Canada

Les Juifs Espagnols du Maroc

L’exode des Juifs du Maroc

«2000 ans de vie juive au Maroc» - Azoulay :
«Le judaïsme marocain signe une nouvelle page de son histoire»

.
Plus que 5 000 juifs au Maroc contre 300 000 en 1948

L’histoire enchantée des Juifs du Maroc

Sur les traces des Juifs du Maroc

Histoire : Les raisons politiques et culturelles du départ des Juifs du Maroc

LES PAYS ARABES OCCULTENT L'HISTOIRE DE LEURS JUIFS

L’origine des Juifs d’Afrique du Nord, par le Professeur Yigal Bin-Nun

Il etait une fois le Maroc : LES JUIFS DANS LES REGIONS NON URBAINES,
par David Bensoussan

LES PREMIERS HABITANTS JUIFS DU MAROC AUTREFOIS

Charles de Foucault et les Juifs du Maroc

Histoire des Juifs du Maroc, par Victor Cohen

Les Juifs du Maroc au cours de l’histoire

Archives de l'Etat d'Israel sur les Juifs du maroc

Juifs du Maghreb : De la conquête arabe à la décolonisation, par Jacques. Taïeb

Histoire : Les raisons politiques et culturelles du départ des Juifs du Maroc

Il resterait un peu plus de 2000 juifs au Maroc selon une étude

L’image des juifs dans les proverbes marocains

Signes distinctifs imposés aux Juifs durant l'histoire (Dafina.net)

Maroc, terre juive Maroc, (Dafina.net)

LES PREMIERS HABITANTS JUIFS DU MAROC AUTREFOIS

LA COUTUME JUIVE MAROCAINE DE L’ACIER DITE TAHDID

Pourim des Juifs du Maroc

Hanoucca des Juifs du Maroc : Textes, Recettes, Traditions et Guide Pratique

Les coutumes des juifs Marocains - Customs of Moroccan Jews

Les juifs du maroc, The Jews of Morocco, De Joden van Marokko, اليهود المغارب

Jewish Moroccan Heritage - Musee d'Art Juif Marocain

Les noms de famille des Juifs d'Afrique du nord et leur origine

La communauté juive du Maroc, par Soly Anidjar

Histoire des Juifs du Maroc, par Alain Amiel

L’histoire du judaïsme marocain: Archives du Maroc et Mémorial de la Shoah

L'unique langage judéo-arabe

Heurs et malheurs des juifs marocains

Les tribunaux Rabbiniques au Maroc

HISTORIQUE DE LA PRESENCE DES JUIFS AU MAGHREB

Cercle de Généalogie Juive

L’origine des Juifs d’Afrique du Nord, par le Professeur Yigal Bin-Nun

"Si les juifs ont quitté en masse le Maroc, c'est parce qu'ils avaient peur"

Essaouira : L'histoire des juifs racontée par le «dernier juif» de Mogador

La fantastique Histoire des Juifs du Maroc

Essaouira, un haut lieu du judaïsme Marocain (Dafina.net 05/05/2019)

LE STATUT DES JUIFS MAROCAINS

HISTORIQUE DE LA PRESENCE DES JUIFS AU MAGHREB

CHRONIQUE DE MOGADOR : L'AMOUR DU DÉSIR
par Ami Bouganim

The last Jew of Essaouira and the exodus that changed Morocco

 

In english:

Historic Catastrophe : the Agony of Essaouira
(GEOFFREY BILLET PHOTOGRAPHY  Jul 25, 2019)

In Morocco, Exploring Remnants of Jewish History 

 


VIDEOS

Juifs et juives du Maroc - visages de nos ancetres maurice-el-medioni (Video - Dafina.net)

Juifs du Maroc, clichés et passé ( Video chansons Dafina.net )

Juifs du Maroc Fastes et facettes
( Video Dafina.net. "Pendant plus de mille deux cents ans, juifs et musulmans ont cohabité au Maroc...")

La communaute juive du Maroc. VIDEO (Dafina.net)

Les synagogues du Maroc (Video Dafina.net)

Les écoles juives au Maroc 1950-1953 (Dafina.net)

La vie quotidienne des juifs au Maroc - Video rare (Dafina.net)

Video: Inside Jewish Morocco ( Dafina.net VIDEO)

LES JUIFS DE MAZAGAN - EL JADIDA (Dafina.net VIDEO

Les plus belles juives marocaines (Dafina.net VIDEO))

Juifs du Maroc Fastes et facettes (Dafina.net VIDEO))

Sur les traces des tsadikims au royaume du Maroc (Dafina.net VIDEO)

Juifs du Maroc, Old pics (Dafina.net VIDEO)

Video: Inside Jewish Morocco

Les juifs du sud marocain et leur Alya (UniverseTorah.com)
VIDEO

This film traces the life of the Jews of southern Morocco at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, among the Berbers, in the 50s and their departure to go to Israel. The great wave of Alya Jews of Morocco was during the years 1954-1955. The delegates of the Jewish Agency organized the departures on the spot. The Alya had started legally since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and ended with the declaration of independence of Morocco in 1956. During this period 35,000 Jews arrived in the country.

 

 

 



The rabbins of the town Mogador


Old man

Old man


Jews amazigh

Young jewish woman


Star of David on a stamp from 1896

There are rumors that the Sultan of Morocco at that time , Mulai Abd al-Aziz IV, wanted to marry the daughter of the head of the Jewish community and that would report this as the Star of David appears on coins and stamps of that period.

Source: Timbre rare de Tétouan, 1896 avec une etoile de David (Dadina.net

 

Culture


The Jews