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Slat al-Azama (Lazama) Synagogue at Marrakesh, Morocco
The Slat al-Azama (Lazama) Synagogue is located at 36 Derb L’Azen Nissim in the mellah of Marrakesh, Morocco. [1] It was founded in 1492 and is strongly associated with Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. [2]
Description
Bright chandeliers and Moroccan lamps illuminate the tall white walls. Brightly Colored carpets surround rows of chairs that line the walls and center of the main sanctuary. At the end of the room, a burgundy parochet (curtain) conceals the Torah ark. The synagogue is connected to a lush outdoor courtyard that features a similar blue and white tile aesthetic on its walls, fountain, and ritual hand-washing station. [3]
History of the Synagogue
Marrakesh's mellah (Jewish quarter) was established in 1557 when Sa‘di Sultan Mawlāy al-Ghālib issued a decree ordering Jews to move to the walled quarter. [4] By the 19th century, Marrakesh was home to the largest Jewish community in Morocco. [5] In the 1930s, roughly 25,000 Jews inhabited the city. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the population had decreased to less than 300. [6] As with all of the synagogues in the mellah, the Slat al-Azama synagogue was once part of a privately owned house. [7] The site also contains living quarters for visitors. According to Isaac Ohayon, the synagogue’s director, it once hosted 10-14 prayer services per day and over 500 people learned Torah there. [8] Due to the establishment of the state of Israel and the following exodus of Jews from Morocco, the synagogue now serves less than a hundred congregants. [9] In recent years, Kobi Ifrac founded a museum within the synagogue. The synagogue was restored around 2005. [10] Great efforts are being undertaken to restore other parts of the mellah as well. [11] After enduring closures due to the covid-19 pandemic, both the synagogue and museum are once again open to visitors. [12]
Sources
Notes
[1] Keith Drew, et al., eds, The Rough Guide to Morocco 12th ed, (Apa Publications, May 2019), https://www.perlego.com/book/967142/the-rough-guide-to-morocco-travel-guide-ebook-pdf.
[2] Tzvi Joffre, "Coronavirus Forces First Ever Closure of Centuries-Old Marrakech Synagogue: ‘we are Growing Smaller and Smaller,’ Said the Synagogue's Director. ‘we are the Last Guard, Holding the Keys of the Synagogue and Cemetery, Protecting them Until God has Mercy,’" The Jerusalem Post, September 30, 2020.
[3] Travel Dude, “Morocco: Jewish Synagogue in Marrakech,” Youtube, September 3, 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqL9Y6HSV1I&t=3s.
[4] Emily Gottreich, “Marrakesh”, in Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman, Consulted online on 09 August 2022.
[5] Tzvi Joffre.
[6] Emily Gottreich.
[7] Keith Drew, et al.
[8] Tzvi Joffre.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Michael Frank, “In Morocco, Exploring Remnants of Jewish History,” The New York Times, May 30, 2015, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/travel/in-morocco-exploring-remnants-of-jewish-history.html.
[11] AFP, “Historic Jewish Quarter of Marrakesh Sees Revival,” Egypt Today, October 31, 2017. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/6/30291/Historic-Jewish-quarter-of-Marrakesh-sees-revival.
[12] Tzvi Joffre.
Works Cited
AFP. “Historic Jewish Quarter of Marrakesh Sees Revival.” Egypt Today. October 31, 2017. https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/6/30291/Historic-Jewish-quarter-of-Marrakesh-sees-revival.
Drew, Keith, Daniel Jacobs, Lizzie Williams, and Martin Zatko, eds. The Rough Guide to Morocco 12th ed. Apa Publications, May 2019. https://www.perlego.com/book/967142/the-rough-guide-to-morocco-travel-guide-ebook-pdf.
Frank, Michael. “In Morocco, Exploring Remnants of Jewish History.” The New York Times, May 30, 2015. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/travel/in-morocco-exploring-remnants-of-jewish-history.html.
Gottreich, Emily. “Marrakesh.” In Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World. Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman. Consulted online on 09 August 2022.
Joffre, Tzvi. "Coronavirus Forces First Ever Closure of Centuries-Old Marrakech Synagogue: ‘we are Growing Smaller and Smaller,’ Said the Synagogue's Director. ‘we are the Last Guard, Holding the Keys of the Synagogue and Cemetery, Protecting them Until God has Mercy.’" The Jerusalem Post. September 30, 2020.
Travel Dude. “Morocco: Jewish Synagogue in Marrakech.” Youtube. September 3, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqL9Y6HSV1I&t=3s.
Photos
David Berkowitz. “Lazama Jewish Synagogue - Mellah - Hay Essalam - Marrakech, Morocco (8138997209).” Under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
David Berkowitz. “Lazama Jewish Synagogue - Mellah - Hay Essalam - Marrakech, Morocco (8138996021).” Under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
Yamen. “Salat Al Azama Synagogue 03042022 012.” Under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International.
Yeudameir. “חצר בית הכנסת צלאת אל עזמה.” Under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International.
Jean and Nathalie. “Synagogue de Marrakech (1409247852).” Under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
TomiValny. “Al Azama synagogue of Marrakech.” Under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International.
Videos
Travel Dude. “Morocco: Jewish Synagogue in Marrakech.” Youtube. September 3, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqL9Y6HSV1I&t=3s.