Do you know what a mellah is and what are the main examples in Morocco? That is the aim of this post, following the informative line of the articles dedicated to other aspects of Moroccan architecture and urbanism: kasbahs, riads, medinas… Take note because there are not many of them left and their historical and religious interest can encourage you to discover them.
Jews in Morocco
Morocco is probably the Muslim country that has the best relationship with the Jewish people, with whom it has been living together for many centuries. It is considered that their arrival in this territory (the former Tingitania Mauritania) dates back to the first century A.D.after the exodus that followed the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem, in the time of the Roman Emperor Titus.
It is true that tvery few residents remain today (no more than 5,000, according to some estimates), but that is (no more than 5,000, according to some estimates), but that is due more to the AliyahThe Jewish community of Israel, that is to say, the massive migration of Jews to the new state of Israel since its proclamation in 1948. For this reason, even today there are still synagogues and kosher shops that serve this small Jewish community, as well as tourists of this religion.
Mellah: the Jewish quarter in Morocco
The Jewish population traditionally lived in separate separate quarterswithin the medina or outside of it, but almost always close to the ruling close to the ruling classesespecially the sultan. This was due to the high level of preparation of the members of this community, which led them to hold strategic positions such as doctors or bankers.
The aforementioned separation was usually made by a fence or wall, and the entrances to the enclosure were guarded by guards of the sultan. In these mellahs or Jewish quarters, the population not only resided but also lived in the performed a wide variety of professional varied, including goldsmith workshops and more everyday commercial activities.
This was the case, at least, until the 19th century. In the following century, however, the urban expansion of cities with the so-called “ville nouvelle” or expansions led many Jews to move to these new neighborhoods, which offered greater comforts.
Main mellahs of Morocco
The mellah of Fez is considered the most important of all, nourished by numerous Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. And in fact, it can be considered the origin of all of them, including its name: mellah could be translated as saline and the Jewish quarter adopted this name because it was developed on one of these salt mines. Fortunately for the visitor, walking through this mellah is still a very interesting cultural experience, as it preserves a typical architecture, with facades of large wooden balconies.
Another mellah worth mentioning is that of Essaouirawhich housed one of the largest and most important Jewish communities in Morocco. This neighborhood has places to visit that are a real tourist attraction for travelers, such as its synagogues (Slat Lkahal, Simon Attias, Bel Hazal or Chaim Pinto) or its spectacular cemetery.
Also worth mentioning is the mellah of a small and not very touristic city, but attractive for travelers interested in Jewish culture. It is the mellah of AzemmourThe church, which housed some 2,500 people in the sixteenth century, according to some estimates. Its most emblematic place is still preserved: the shrine of Rabbi Abraham Moul-Niss, a rabbi venerated in his burial place.
In addition to these three mellahs, other Jewish neighborhoods in Morocco can be traced, for example, in Rabat o Tetouan. However, these neighborhoods have now lost their original function, and the highest concentration of Jewish citizens is now in Casablanca, the country’s most populous city.
