Jewish Tour

After passing through customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Casablanca is Morocco's largest city and is located on the Atlantic Ocean with a population of over 3,299,000. Casablanca is a European style city known as the city of incredible contrasts. Visit one of Casablanca's most popular tourist sites, the King Hassan II Mosque. This beautifully designed structure is known as the largest in Morocco and also holds the world's tallest minaret. After visiting Casablanca, you will find that the city captures an atmosphere of traditions, thousands of small crafts, and trades in the maze of alley and workshops. Overnight at Hotel

Today and after your breakfast, you’ll start a sightseeing tour of Casablanca with local guide. Nestled within the protection of the ochre-coloured ramparts, is a gleaming white city featuring a minaret that reaches up to touch the clouds. We explore the "The White City”, driving through the wide avenues and walking the narrow streets of the Medina. Your first treat is a panoramic drive through the city of Casablanca to view the Royal Palace, the architecture of Place Mohamed V, Anfa, the residential area and explore the romantic beachfront with its world-famous shops, restaurants and nightclubs. We will visit the famous Hassan II Mosque (exterior). Recently built, it is the largest in the world outside Mecca. Then we will visit the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) with its temples and synagogues such as Beth-El, the largest synagogue and an important community Center. The Jewish cemetery in the Mellah is open and quiet, with well-kept white stone markers in French, Hebrew and Spanish. We will visit the Museum of Moroccan Judaism of Casablanca; this is the first Jewish Museum in an Arab country. The Museum of Moroccan Judaism is about 3 miles from the city Center: It displays collections of religious books, costumes, artifacts reflecting the role that the Jewish community has had in Morocco.  When fundamentalist bombers attacked properties and businesses in 2003 it sparked the country’s largest protest demonstration in history, marching under the banner “Jews and Muslims, we are all citizens, we are all Moroccans”. Website:   www.casajewishmuseum.com Then drive to the Imperial “garden city” of Rabat; check-in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Rabat is the political capital of the Kingdom since 1912. The well-planned city consists of broad tree-lined avenues, a landscaped central park, and impressive quarters for the foreign embassies and ministries. Breakfast at the hotel. visit to the Kasbah of the Oudayas, the Great Mosque, the unfinished Hassan Tower, the magnificent Mohammed V Mausoleum. (The Mausoleum also holds the tomb of King Hassan II, son of Mohammed V**). Next visit the Jewish quarter with its narrow lanes and colourful courtyards, the near-by Mellah has a beautiful synagogue just inside its gates, while the main synagogue is found a few blocks onward in the New City. You will drive past the ramparts and the walls of mechouar that encompass the Royal Palace. Outside the city walls of Rabat, we will visit another walled city, the ancient ruins of Chellah, where Jews are believed to have lived during the time of the Phoenicians.   **Revered by his subjects, Mohammed V defied the orders of the Vichy government during WWII when they required Moroccan Jews to wear the Star of David on clothing and he subsequently saved his Jewish subjects the fate of their European brethren. Jews of Morocco, even those who have emigrated to other countries, hold a special reverence for Mohammed V, who refused to distinguish between his subjects, and even insisted that Moroccan Jews be present at the festivities during the celebration of Coronation Day. When this provoked the anger of the civil servants at the French Residency, Mohammed V replied: “I in no way approve of the anti-Semitic laws and I refuse to be associated with an action I disapprove of. I insist on informing you that, as in the past, the Jews are under my protection and I refuse that any distinction be made among my subjects...   You might be interested to visit the private Belghazi Museum. The Belghazi Museum is the first private museum on the African continent. Three generations of the Belghazi family have amassed a vast collection of traditional Moroccan pieces, consisting of Andalusian, Jewish, and Islamic arts and crafts.  The display changes periodically but basically consist of 17th century carpets, Jewish temple furnishings, wedding clothes, doors & ceilings dating from the 10th century, intricate jewellery, musical instruments, unusual pottery and embroidery, and weapons.  The Islamic exhibition features pieces of measurement tools, planispheric astrolabes dating back to the 15th century, copper compasses (19th century), solar compasses (16th century), ancient weapons, ancient Berber jewels in addition to precious manuscripts, including the smallest-size Koran (27 millimeters) written in black and red and dating back to the 17th century.   Departure for Meknes. Travel through lush rolling hills studded with the fertile plains of ancient olive groves and vineyards. Known as Moroccan Versailles" Meknes was founded at the end of the 17th Century by Moulay Ismail, where the Jewish presence is evidenced by Hebraic epitaphs dating from the Christian era as well as Greek inscriptions that still appear in local Synagogues. You may wish to visit the aging Talmud Torah in the Jewish Quarter and the 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 sightseeing tour of the city, your journey will continue until you reach Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in all of Morocco. Afterward, you will visit the extensive ruins at Volubilis, once the Roman capital of North-western Africa, which is an archaeological site.   Arrival at Fez in the evening. Overnight at the Hotel  

Breakfast at your hotel, the whole day will be devoted to the sightseeing of Fez, the oldest cultural and spiritual imperial city of Morocco, which was founded in 790 B.C by Moulay Idriss II. Spend a memorable morning taking a special look at the Jewish history and culture of traditional Morocco. Fez is among the best-known cities in medieval Jewish history. Indeed, it was one the home of one of the most influential Talmudic scholars of all times, Rabbi Isaac Alfasi, as well as of Maimonides in the years 1160 to 1165. Highlights will also include the Mellah with all its Synagogues. Visit of Bhalil featuring the cemetery of Safroud where Rabbi Lahou Harroch and Rabbi Raphael Moshe Elbaz are buried. The mellah of Fez is over 650 years old. This picturesque neighbourhood adjoins the royal palace, noted for its recently constructed bright brass doors. Jews took shelter in this palace during the 1912 pogrom. The nearby cemetery contains the tombs of more Jewish saints than any other cemetery in Morocco. One of the more important saints is Lalla Solica.The Synagogue of Roben Ben Sadou, built in the 1920's, is decorated with exquisite plaster carving reminiscent of the decoration of traditional mosques and medersas. Visit the recently restored Aben Danan synagogue. In the afternoon we will explore Medieval Medina, the Medersas, the El Qaraouiyyin Mosque, Mausoleum of Moulay Idriss II the founder of Fez in the ninth century who encouraged the Jews to move to Fez and the sumptuous Nejjarin fountain, then we will visit countless souks and the famous tanneries.   Overnight at the Hotel

Breakfast. Day at leisure or full day excursion.   Departure for a historically significant destination often overlooked:  Ouezzane. A sprawling town positioned just at the southern border of the Rif Mountains; it was once a place for Andalusia Jewish refugees.   is the most significant religious man to come out of the area, and many of the Jewish faith make annual pilgrimages to his tomb. Afterward, you will visit the extensive ruins at Volubilis, once the Roman capital of North-western Africa, which is an archaeological site.   Return to fez after visiting Moulay Idriss: the holiest Muslim site in all of Morocco. Overnight in fez.

After breakfast, we will leave Fez 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. Stop lunch in small town of Midelt, we will continue south along the Ziz River until it finally dies out in the Sahara Desert and you arrive at Erfoud, this town was the major Jewish population center of the Tafilelt, where Jews lived and financed the caravan trade with Sub-Saharan Africa from as early as the eighth century. Jews worked as merchants and artisans as late as the twentieth century.   Highlights will include also the Jewish cemetery; it is sandy but otherwise well-preserved   Overnight in ERFOUD.

Erfoud is a town in eastern Morocco that is a popular location for filmmakers due to the beautiful views of the Sahara Desert. It is a French-built administrative town built in the thirties.   Erfoud is the home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Morocco with ancient Berber fortress set in palm groves as far as the eye can see.   Visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th century Ksar and a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. Continue to the ruins of the 17th century Ksar Abb as fortress which was used as a place of exile for the wives of dead sultans and unwanted family members. Switch to a 4WD vehicle to traverse the spectacular dunes of Erg Chebbi which were featured in the film Lawrence of Arabia. Experience a camel ride and spend time walking among the majestic dunes and witness the magnificent sunset. Night under the tent.

No one ever regretted   getting up at 5 am to witness the unique sunrise: admire and watch the pink disc of the sun appearing over the gigantic dunes of Merzouga. Depart for Tinghir with a detour to the inspiring Todra Gorges, where you can stop for tea or lunch You approach via palm grove oases and actually cross a stream to get there! 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 the visit of Tinggi, we will head to Ouarzazate 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. In Kelaa Mgouna also, many products extracted from roses are to be expected.   We will continue our tour to Ouarzazate

as the Hollywood of the Kingdom, center of the country’s film industry, and many movie and TV stars stay in the area when filming. (The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, Babel, Gladiator and many other biblical motion pictures were filmed in this region).  Despite the activity of the filming, the town itself is dusty and basically serves as a central point to make excursions to the surrounding areas.   Visit of Ouarzazate including, Kasbah Taourirt, considered as one of the most beautiful kasbah in Morocco. 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.   Depart to Marrakech, with a detour to visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, which you may recognize as the location of numerous films (Gladiator, the Mummy, Jesus of Nazareth, Babel, et al). One of the largest kasbahs in Morocco this is sure to impress and give you a feeling of how tribes lived and protected themselves in former times.   Then, depart via the Tizin Tichka Pass of the Atlas Mountains to exotic Marrakech.   Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will have a full day city tour of Marrakech 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. Our city tour of Marrakech will also include the defining landmark of the city, the 12th century tiled minaret of the Koutoubia. Next to it, the Saadian tombs and Menara garden. Later we will enjoy sometime walk around the famous Jemaa El Fna square with its snake charmers, fortune tellers and acrobats… Optional Dinner in a typical Moroccan restaurant with show.   Overnight in Marrakech.

Breakfast transfer to Essaouira for full day, Essaouira: Formerly known as Mogador, the quaint fishing village has a Portuguese influence. Visit the bustling fish market, and the ramparts and bastions which served as the location for the Orson Welles film version of Othello. Visit the fortifications and the excellent factories which sell locally carved and polished thuya wood products. Today the town is considered a resort area and is known for windsurfing., but a generation ago there were thousands of Jewish inhabitants in the town. Even though today there are only a few families left you can visit the mellah where you can see the blue and white painted houses with the Stars of David above the doorways of former Jewish homes. Essaouira is the site of an annual pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Haïm Pinto died 1845. whose home and synagogue are preserved as an historic and religious site. Tomb of Rabbi David Attar. The hiloula of Haïm Pinto is held in September.   Return to Marrakech!   Overnight in Marrakech.

Check out of the hotel, Morning departure to Marrakech Airport for your return flight