Jewish life in Morocco began in antiquity and legends relate about the settlement of Jews in Biblical times. Epigraphic evidence shows the existence of Jews in Morocco in the early centuries of the Common Era. Jews lived there with the Berbers long before the Muslim Arabs conquered North Africa. They succeeded in converting several Berber tribes and in establishing a powerful community. Under Arab rule Jewish life underwent ups and downs. A period of decline starting in the 14th century was followed by a flourishing era with the arrival of the Jews expelled from Spain. An exciting and interesting meeting of the local and the Sephardi Jews led to religious and cultural clashes and symbiosis. Morocco became a center of mysticism and a haven for the conversos. While Jews lived in their special quarters, the mellahs, they developed a rich and fascinating way of life. From the 18th century European influence affected deeply Jewish life and with the establishment of the French protectorate the Jews of Morocco underwent a serious transformation. Our visit will concentrate on the remains of a fascinating Jewish past besides sites of general historical interest. The seminar will examine the history, religion, culture, folklore and customs of Moroccan Jewry.       

 

Mon            Arrival in Casablanca.  Drive to Rabat, capital of the nation since independence.

Jan 08       Orientation and kosher dinner.                                                                       RABAT                                                  

 

Tue              Lecture: The Berber Jews of North Africa: Mythical Origins, Archeology and

Jan 09        Ethnography, S. Sabar

                     Visit 12th century Tour Hassan, the minaret built in Almohadic times, and

                     Mohammed V Mausoleum.                  

                     Visit R. Shalom Zawi Synagogue in the Mellah (the Jewish Quarter). 

                     Proceed to Udaya Gardens and the Kasbah (the Fortress).  Kosher lunch boxes.

                     Drive to Fez, the spiritual, intellectual and cultural capital of Morocco.

                     Vegetarian dinner.                                                                                           FEZ 

 

Wed             Lecture: Under Islam: Art and Culture between Morocco and Spain, S. Sabar

Jan 10         Visit the Mellah and the synagogues Ibn Danan from 17th century and Sadun from

                    1926 and others. Observe further Jewish remains in the Mellah.

                     Visit the Jewish cemetery.

                     Proceed to King's Palace, one of the most sumptuous complexes in Morocco.

                     Visit the Medina (the original Arab part of a Moroccan town). 

                     Vegetarian lunch in the Medina.

                     Visit the so-called Maimonides House. View the tannery.

                     Kosher dinner.                                                                                                  FEZ

  

Thu              Depart for Meknes where we visit the Mellah, the synagogue and the 600

Jan 11           years old cemetery.

                     Visit Bab al Mansour, a famous gateway in Meknes, the Olive Market and view

                      the Stables of Mullah Ismail.

                      Kosher packed lunch. 

                      Continue to Marrakesh, an imperial city with a strong Berber character.    

                                                                                                                                       MARRAKESH

                                                                                                                                        

Fri                 Lecture: A Taste of Honey: Jewish Education and Child-hood Rituals in Morocco,

Jan 12          S. Sabar

                     Tour the Mellah and 500 year old Aljama Synagogue. Proceed to Bahia Palace.

                     Visit the Majorelle Gardens and the Berber Museum.

                     Tour the Medina.

                     Shabbat services in the synagogue followed by a kosher dinner.       MARRAKESH

                          

Sat                Services in the synagogue.

Jan 13           Kosher Shabbat lunch.                                                                          MARRAKESH

   

Sun              Lecture: Magic and the Khamsa among The Jews of Morocco, S. Sabar

Jan 14          Visit the Beit El Synagogue in Marrakech.

                     Travel to Essaouria (Mogador), originally a Portuguese port. 

                      Kosher packed lunch.  

                      On the way, stop at a women’s cooperative of making Argan oil products.   

                      Visit the Jewish cemetery and Rabbi Haim Pinto’s grave.                  ESSAOURIA                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                     

Mon              Lecture: Woman of Valor: Images and Objects of the Sephardi Woman in Morocco,

Jan 15          S Sabar

                     Tour the Mellah and the synagogue. 

                     Visit the Synagogue Attias Museum, recently opened by Andre Azoulay,

                     the Jewish advisor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco.   

                      Continue to Taroudant.  Vegetarian dinner.                                        TAROUDANT                       

 

Tue                 Lecture: "You Don't Look Moroccan!" The Cultural Image of the Jews of

Jan 16            Morocco in the Land of Milk and Honey, S. Sabar

                        Drive through the Atlas Mountains via Taroudant, with its tawny brown circuit of walls.

                        Here we will see the Mellah.  Vegetarian lunch boxes.   

                        Drive to the 800 year old adobe synagogue in the Berber village, Khemis Arazane.        

                        Vegetarian dinner.                                                                                TAROUDANT

 

Wed                Morning flight from Agadir to Casablanca.

Jan 17             Visit the Main Synagogue.

                        Kosher lunch.

                        Tour the Hassan II Mosque, the world's fifth largest mosque and La Corniche.

                        Visit the Jewish Museum.  

                        Farewell kosher dinner.                                                                                 

                        Transfer to airport for late departure flight.                                          

                 

                                     PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Lecturer:

        Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History / Dept. of Folklore and Folk Culture,

                                                           The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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Price for land arrangements only:  USD 3495 per person in a double room

          ***EARLY REGISTRATION UNTIL May 24, 2023: USD 3445 per person in a double room***    

                                                                                                

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): USD 880

              Price is based on minimum participants

 

Price for airfare from Israel (Tel Aviv-Casablanca-Tel Aviv)   USD 780 (including airport taxes)

                          (Based on airfares in effect at time of publication and subject to change)

                          People joining us from abroad should meet us in the hotel in Rabat or at the

                          Casablanca airport at the arrival of the Air Maroc flight of the group coming from Israel.

 

Deposit:  USD 900 with registration, of which USD 450 is non-refundable.

                Remainder of payment is to be paid by Oct 15, 2023.   

                Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.                                                         

             

Cancellation fees:       

                Jun 1-Aug 31, 2023…………..………….……15%                 

                 Sep 1-Nov 7, 2023………..…….....................30%

                 Nov 8-Dec 23, 2023…….…...………..……...50%

                 Dec 24,2023-Departure..…..…….......….....100%                

                                                                                                          

 Trip includes:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

•   Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar

•   JHS Tour escort                                                                                                                                       

•   Local English speaking tour guides                          

•   9 nights accommodation in a 4 and 5 star hotels with daily buffet breakfasts, kosher and       vegetarian meals according to the itinerary.

•   Local transport by bus

•   Flight from Agadir to Casablanca

•   Entrance fees according to itinerary      

                

Not included in the price:                                      

• Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance (which also covers Covid)                                                         

• Tips Euro 95

• Entry visa fee to Morocco for those needing it.

                                                                          

Program subject to change:  All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to make

staff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions as

required by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic

changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be

predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

                    

Each participant needs to be vaccinated against COVID.

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Further information:

Contact Debbie:   Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503  Fax: 972.2.5700005

                               Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com.   www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com

                              The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem

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