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62-683: Elharar [or El-harar] is a Jewish surname classically found among Moroccan Jews . Harar, "حرر", in Judeo-Moroccan Arabic means, "liberate". The Moroccan Arabic is different from the Arabic spoken in the Middle East. Therefore, the prefix "El" in the name Elharar is similar to the word "the" in Arabic, "ال" which is pronounced "al". Together, in Moroccan Arabic, the name Elharar means "The Liberators". This name comes from

124-547: A central space and four towers (one at each corner). The southern El-Briya Tower (originally known as al-Burayja ) was of local, pre-Portuguese origin and it was here that the Portuguese first took refuge when they arrived in 1502. One of the northern towers was later re-purposed as the base of a 19th-century minaret built for the nearby mosque. The cistern is located beneath the Citadel. The semi-subterranean chamber has

186-455: A cistern in 1541. It was designed by an architect named Miguel de Arruda but the construction work was delegated to João de Castilho. A round opening in the center of the chamber served to collect rainwater. The cistern is famous especially for the thin layer of water that covers the floor and creates fine and ever-changing reflections in the otherwise dark vaulted chamber. Its visual qualities are such that several movies have been filmed within

248-411: A fortress here in 1505, but evidence indicates that he did not carry this out, as when the Portuguese army passed here on their way to conquer Azemmour in 1513 they found nothing but the old tower. As Azemmour was difficult to access, the Portuguese returned and built a citadel at the more accessible Mazighan in the summer of 1514. This citadel was a rectangular building with four towers, one of which

310-446: A high degree of endogamy and were part of a larger Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish group. By principal component analysis, these North African groups were orthogonal to contemporary populations from North and South Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. Thus, this study is compatible with the history of North African Jews—founding during Classical Antiquity with proselytism of local populations, followed by genetic isolation with

372-403: A literal translation of Hebrew : חמין "hot"), also called dfina ( دفينة "buried"). There's also a kosher version of pastilla . Special foods are prepared for holidays, like the post-Passover Mimouna celebration, which features sweet delicacies and symbolic treats such as the mofletta , a sweet pancake served with butter and honey. Mahia , an aperitivo distilled from dates or figs,

434-457: A mosque be built, and the destroyed portions of the city were rebuilt during his reign in the early nineteenth-century. In 1820 the city was renamed al-Jadida , meaning 'The New'. The town underwent a revival and soon outgrew Azemmour as the most important city in the area. Alongside the Muslim population was also a community of Jews, who participated in the city's revival. At the beginning of

496-674: A protected religious minority distinct from the Muslim majority, and were prevented from participating in certain activities. However, dhimmis such as Jews were tolerated, following the Pact of Umar in the 7th century, unlike the policy of intolerance that Christians practiced toward Jews in the Europe of that time. The sultans restricted Jews to the mellahs, in what most see as an attempt to ostracize them and keep them from being exposed to insurgents; The sultans also, however, wanted Jews to be protected for political reasons, as an attack on minorities

558-419: A roughly square plan measuring around 33 to 34 metres (108 to 112 ft) per side, was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars and columns. The chamber is built in a late Gothic style known as Manueline , with a vaulted ceiling of brick masonry and stone ribs . Its original function is not clear. It may have been an armory, barracks, or granary, but it is recorded as having been converted into

620-549: A variety of reasons. Some have emigrated for religious reasons, some faced persecution, and others left for better economic prospects than they faced in post-colonial Morocco . With every Arab-Israeli war, tensions between Arabs and Jews would rise, sparking more Jewish emigration. By the time of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the majority of Morocco's Jewish population had emigrated. As a protectorate of France, parts of Morocco were heavily influenced by French culture, while

682-524: Is also unique among Sephardic customs. The Moroccan nusach has many unique components but has also incorporated numerous Ashkenazic customs due to the country's proximity and exposure to Europe. Some customs of the Moroccan nusach include: Moroccan Jews have held important positions in the Makhzen throughout their history . André Azoulay currently serves as an advisor to Muhammad VI of Morocco . In

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744-406: Is believed in Moroccan tradition to protect the couple from demons. The grandmother covers the henna, a dough-like paste produced by mixing crushed henna plant leaves with water, in order to lock in body heat and generate a richer color. Normally, the henna will dye skin orange for up to two weeks. In Moroccan folklore, the bride is exempt of her household duties until the henna completely fades. After

806-525: Is celebrated by many Moroccan Jews on the night following the last day of Passover. It has spread to be an almost national holiday in Israel where it is particularly prevalent in cities where there is a large concentration of Moroccan Jews like Ashdod, Ashkelon and Natanya. Many Rabanim have passed through and sojourned in Morocco leaving behind great influence. In 2008, a project to preserve Moroccan Torah and

868-401: Is closely tied to social and religious events, particularly Shabbat and holiday meals, and includes dishes such as couscous and tagine . The cuisine reflects influences from Arab , Berber , French and Spanish traditions, with an emphasis on spices, herbs, and vegetables. One of the most famous dishes of Moroccan Jewish cuisine is the traditional sabbath meal: skhina ( سخينة ,

930-502: Is currently broadcast in both English and French. The observer of a typical Moroccan Jewish prayer service will note the presence of Oriental motifs in the melodies. However, unlike the tunes of Eastern rites (Syrian, Iraqi, etc.), which were influenced by Middle Eastern sounds, Moroccan Jewish religious tunes have a uniquely Andalusian feel. Furthermore, just as Eastern liturgical melodies are organized into Maqams, Moroccan liturgy can be classified by Noubas. The Moroccan prayer rite itself

992-543: Is more rainfall than in summer. The average annual temperature in El Jadida is 17.4 °C (63.3 °F). About 372 mm (14.65 in) of precipitation falls annually. The city is a significant tourism destination thanks in part to its UNESCO-recognized historic heritage. A large five-star resort, the Mazagan Beach Resort, was opened in 2009 besides the nearby town of Azemmour, named in reference to

1054-496: Is traditionally associated with Morocco's Jewish community. Traditional Henna parties usually take place within the week before a special occasion, such as a wedding, Bnei Mitzvah , or baby showers. During pre-wedding Henna parties, the Matriarch of the family (often the grandmother) smudges henna in the palm of the bride and groom to symbolically bestow the new couple with good health, fertility, wisdom, and security. The henna

1116-648: The Andalusian classical music and introduced it into their Liturgical music . In his book "Jews of Andalusia and the Maghreb" on the musical traditions in Jewish societies of North Africa, Haim Zafrani writes: " In Spain and Morocco, Jews were ardent maintainers of Andalusian music and the zealous guardians of its old traditions .... " Moroccan Jewish cuisine blends local Moroccan flavors, culinary traditions from Jewish migrants, and kosher dietary laws . The cuisine

1178-596: The Church of the Assumption , both in a Manueline style. The city is a popular resort and destination for both Moroccan and international tourists. An important industrial complex, Jorf Lasfar , lies 20 kilometres to the south. El Jadida's other names and nicknames in other languages were: Cap Soleis, Portus Rutilis, Rusibis, Mazighen ( Arabic : مازيغن ), al-Breyja ( Arabic : البريجة ), Mazagão, al-Mahdouma ( Arabic : المهدومة ) and Mazagan. The city

1240-550: The Crémieux Decree . Algerian Jews were granted right of passage to France, and this only furthered the desire of Moroccan Jews to embrace French culture to the extent of the Algerian Jews. During the Moroccan struggle for independence in the 1950s, several promises were made to ensure equal rights to the Jewish community in a future independent Morocco, in part due to lobbying efforts of Moroccan nationalists in

1302-527: The Ethnological Museum of Berlin . Most Jews in Morocco lived in desolate areas during the late 1930s. This was in part due to increased taxation by the French protectorate. In 1936, Léon Blum , a Jewish man, was appointed as prime minister of France. This gave some Moroccan Jews hope that they may be able to become French citizens at some point, as Algerian Jews gained French citizenship with

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1364-481: The French Protectorate in Morocco (established in 1912), the city was developed as a tourist resort, one of the earliest initiatives to develop modern tourism in Morocco. By the 1930s it had a casino which was popular with European tourists and colonists. The importance of the city's port, however, declined as Casablanca grew into the major port and urban center of the country during this period. In

1426-837: The expulsion of Jews mandated by the Alhambra Decree , many Sephardi Jews migrated from al-Andalus to the Maghreb as refugees fleeing the inquisition in Spain and Portugal . They are referred to as the Megorashim , while the Jews already in Morocco are referred to as the Toshavim . Many Sephardic Jews settled in Fez and Marrakesh . In the following centuries, Conversos who had been banished to Iberian colonial possessions in

1488-404: The 11th-century Arab geographer al-Bakri . In 1502 a Portuguese captain, Jorge de Mello, landed at this location, allegedly driven here by a storm. He and his crew took refuge in an abandoned tower, called al-Briya or al-Burayja, to defend themselves against any potential attack by the locals. After returning to Portugal, he obtained permission from the Portuguese king, Dom Manuel , to found

1550-481: The 1980s a large industrial complex, Jorf Lasfar , was developed some 20 kilometres to the south. Aided by its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation since 2004, the city continues to be a tourist destination today. During the September 2023 earthquake that struck southern Morocco, the historic Portuguese church in the old city was damaged. As of 13 September, cracks were observed in the church's tower and there

1612-413: The 20th century, there were a number of prominent Moroccan Jewish Communists including Léon Sultan , Elie Azagury , Abraham Serfaty , and Sion Assidon . In the words of Emily Gottreich, "although the [ Moroccan Communist Party ] welcomed everyone, it held special appeal for urban educated elite; almost all of Morocco’s prominent Jewish intellectuals joined the party at one time or another." All ten of

1674-615: The Americas and the Atlantic reclaimed their Judaism and also resettled in Morocco. In the mid 19th century, Moroccan Jews started migrating from the interior of the country to coastal cities such as Essaouira , Mazagan , Asfi , and later Casablanca for economic opportunity, participating in trade with Europeans and the development of those cities. The Alliance Israélite Universelle opened its first school in Tetuan in 1862. After

1736-554: The Ancient Israelites from the Biblical times . In the case of Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews (in particular Moroccan Jews), who are apparently closely related, the minority non-Levantine component of their DNA is southern European . Genetic research shows that about 27% of Moroccan Jews descend from one female ancestor. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA of the Jewish populations of North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Libya)

1798-661: The Angel Bastion in the east, St Sebastian in the north, St Antoine in the west, and the Holy Ghost Bastion in the south. The fifth, the Governor's Bastion at the main entrance, is in ruins, having been destroyed by the Portuguese in 1769. Numerous colonial-era Portuguese cannons are still positioned on top of the bastions. The fort had three gates: the Seagate, forming a small port with the north-east rampart,

1860-675: The Ashkenazi and North African Jews of European mitochondrial DNA pools, but differences between both of these of the diaspora and Jews from the Middle East. In a 2012 study by Campbell et al., however, the Moroccan/Algerian, Djerban/Tunisian and Libyan subgroups of North African Jewry were found to demonstrate varying levels of Middle Eastern (40-42%), European (37-39%) and North African ancestry (20-21%), with Moroccan and Algerian Jews tending to be genetically closer to each other than to Djerban Jews and Libyan Jews. According to

1922-528: The Bull Gate in the north-west rampart, and the main entrance with a double arch in the centre of the south rampart, originally connected to land via a drawbridge. A ditch, c 20m wide and 3m deep, formerly filled with seawater, surrounded the fort. During the time of the French Protectorate the ditch was filled in with earth and a new entrance gate was opened leading to the main street, the Rua da Carreira, and to

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1984-448: The Portuguese destroyed the Governor's Bastion. Most of the Portuguese inhabitants were sent to the colony of Brazil , where they founded a new settlement called Nova Mazagão (the present Mazagão in the state of Amapá ). The city was then taken over by Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah in 1769 and remained largely uninhabited, having been dubbed al-Mahdouma ('The Ruined'). Eventually, Sultan Abd al-Rahman (r. 1822–1859) ordered that

2046-609: The Roman city of Volubilis , and the remains of a synagogue dating to the third century CE. In accordance with the norms of the Islamic legal system, Moroccan Jews had separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities (Muslim sharia , Christian Canon law and Jewish halakha law-abiding) were allowed to rule themselves under their own system. During the Late Middle Ages , and particularly after

2108-541: The Seagate. Along this street are situated the best preserved historic buildings, including the Catholic Church of the Assumption and the Portuguese cistern . The Citadel, located at the heart of the walled city, was the first permanent Portuguese construction on this site in 1514. It is a building with a rectangular floor plan measuring about 47 by 56 metres (154 by 184 ft), with three major rooms around

2170-720: The United States. A small community of around 2,000–2,500 Jews live in Morocco today. However, in a rapidly increasing trend, young men from the community are emigrating to Israel and France. As of 2017, according to The Economist , "No Arab country has gone to the lengths of Morocco to revive its Jewish heritage." The country has restored 110 synagogues and has the Arab world ’s only Jewish museum . More than 50,000 Israelis visit Morocco annually. The Jewish quarters in Morocco were called mellahs . Jews in Morocco were considered dhimmis under Muslim law, meaning that they were

2232-550: The bastions of the fortress. Another, the Church of Mercy ( Misericórdia ) was part of the Citadel. A number of synagogues also existed inside the old city, attesting to the importance of the Jewish community here in the 19th and 20th centuries. One prominently visible example is the Bensimon Synagogue, inaugurated in 1926 and attached to earlier structures in the northern corner of the former fortress. Its construction

2294-472: The bride and groom are blessed with the henna, the guests also spread henna on their palms to bring good luck. Although most Moroccan Jews tend to dress in styles of their adopted countries, traditional Moroccan clothing is sometimes worn during celebrations ( Mimouna , weddings, Bar Mitzvas, etc.) or even during more intimate gatherings, such as Shabbat dinner. Men usually wear a white jellaba ( jellabiya ) cloak while women wear more ornate kaftans . Mimouna

2356-541: The cavernous space, of which Orson Welles ' Othello is the best known internationally. The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption , a prominent building located south of the Citadel, was the main parish church of the Portuguese settlement. It was constructed or begun when the fortress was expanded in 1541. It has a nave, a choir, a sacristy, and a square-shafted bell tower. At least three other churches existed, though generally only partial remains of them are still present today. Two small churches were adjoined to some of

2418-557: The celebration in 2014, Rabbi Haim A. Moryoussef of Canada dedicated his book "Le Bon Oeil - Ben Porath Yossef" to the King Mohammed VI and offered him a handwritten blessing on parchment wishing him a healthy, long and successful life. Moroccan Jews constitute an ancient community with possible origins dating back to before 70 CE. Concrete evidence of Jewish presence in Morocco becomes apparent in late antiquity , with Hebrew epitaphs and menorah -decorated lamps discovered in

2480-616: The centuries of Jewish history . Moroccan Jews built the first self-made neighborhood outside the walls of Jerusalem ( Mahane Israel ) in 1867, as well as the first modern neighborhoods in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Tiberias. At its peak in the 1950s, Morocco's Jewish population was about 250,000-350,000, but due to the migration of Moroccan Jews to Israel and other nations, including Operation Yachin from 1961 to 1964, this number has been reduced to approximately 2,250. The vast majority of Moroccan Jews now live in Israel , where they constitute

2542-659: The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and due to domestic strife in the 1950s, the next several decades saw waves of Jewish emigration to Israel, France and Canada. Shay Hazkani found that of the 20,000 who performed aliyah in 1948-1949, 1,000 served in the IDF, of which 70% wished to return home. Only 6% managed to do so, given various bureaucratic obstacles like the Israeli confiscation of their passports and Moroccan resistance to their repatriation. Moroccan Jews emigrated for

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2604-415: The evacuation of Portuguese positions at Azemmour and Safi and concentrated on building a more defensible position at Mazagão instead. As a result, the Portuguese fortification was expanded into the larger walled fortress we see today in 1541. The Kingdom of Portugal would continue to control the city until 1769, when they abandoned Mazagão, their last territory in Morocco. Upon their forced departure,

2666-585: The following institutions: Office of Vocational Training and Promotion of Labor (OFPPT), including the following institutions: Others: The main football club of the city is Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi , currently playing in the Botola Pro 1 . Near El Jadida, are located the city of Azemmour in the northeast and the town of Sidi Bouzid in the southwest. Within a perimeter of around 120 km or less, are located Casablanca , Berrechid , Settat , Sidi Bennour , Oualidia , Youssoufia , Safi . El Jadida

2728-558: The founding members of the Israeli Black Panthers —a short-lived 1970-1971 protest movement that worked against "ethnic discrimination and the 'socioeconomic gap,'" a group inspired by anti-Zionist university students—were children of Moroccan immigrants. Mordechai Vanunu , a whistleblower who revealed information on Israel's nuclear weapons program and was later abducted by Mossad in Rome and incarcerated in Israel,

2790-417: The historic Portuguese fort. The resort was part of a wider strategy launched in 2001 by King Mohammed VI to boost tourism in Morocco by creating, with the help of foreign investors, large coastal resorts in El Jadida, Essaouira , Saïdia , and other cities on the Moroccan coast. The city is also a popular summer holiday resort for Moroccan families. Since the 1980s the city's economy has benefited from

2852-529: The history of the condition of Jews living in Morocco. Barbary pirates would kidnap and then ransom off their captives. Families and communities would buy the freedom of these kidnapped individuals. The families that would buy back the kidnapped individuals were given the surname "The Liberators". Therefore, the name "Elharar". Other derivations of the name depend on the movement of individuals but may include: Lhrar and Lehrer Moroccan Jews The immigration of Moroccan Jews to Israel has occurred throughout

2914-495: The large industrial complex at Jorf Lasfar, located some 20 kilometres to the south. The complex, managed by the Office Chérifien du Phosphore , is the main processing center for the region's phosphate reserves and its port is used for exporting its related products. It also serves as a base for other industries. The city houses many post-secondary academic institutions: Chouaib Doukkali University , including

2976-594: The region of Casablanca-Settat . It has a population of 170,956 as of 2023. The fortified city, built by the Portuguese at the beginning of the 16th century and named Mazagan ( Mazagão in Portuguese), was given up by the Portuguese in 1769 and incorporated into Morocco. El Jadida's old city sea walls are one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World . The Portuguese Fortified City of Mazagan

3038-517: The rise of Christianity and then Islam, and admixture following the emigration of Sephardic Jews during the Inquisition." Mazagan El Jadida ( Arabic : الجديدة , romanized :  al-Jadīda , [alʒadiːda] ) is a major port city on the Atlantic coast of Morocco , located 96 kilometres (60 mi) south of the city of Casablanca , in the province of El Jadida and

3100-489: The same is true of the portions of the country that belonged to Spain. Traditionally, the Jews were classified as being French-Moroccan or Spanish-Moroccan depending on where in Morocco they lived, and remnants of these classifications can be felt today. These differences are reflected in language, foods, last names and even liturgy. Early photographs of Moroccan Jewish families, taken in the early 20th century by German explorer and photographer Hermann Burchardt , are now held at

3162-782: The second-largest Jewish community, approximately half a million. Other communities are found in France , Canada , Spain , the United States and South America , mainly in Venezuela , Brazil and Argentina . The affection and respect between Jews and the Kingdom of Morocco is still palpable. Every year rabbis and community leaders across the world are invited for the Throne Celebration held every 30 July in Rabat. During

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3224-416: The study: "distinctive North African Jewish population clusters with proximity to other Jewish populations and variable degrees of Middle Eastern, European, and North African admixture. Two major subgroups were identified by principal component, neighbor joining tree, and identity-by-descent analysis—Moroccan/Algerian and Djerban/Libyan—that varied in their degree of European admixture. These populations showed

3286-507: The words of its Ḥakhamim was initiated. DarkeAbotenou.com was created by a few members of the Toronto Sephardic Community; devoting their time and effort to increasing global awareness of the customs and laws that Jews of Morocco live with every day. Daily emails are sent in both English and French containing the customs, laws, and traditional liturgy of both the French and Spanish parts of Morocco. This daily publication

3348-521: Was a risk of structural collapse. The design of the Fortress of Mazagan is a response to the development of modern artillery in the Renaissance. The star form of the fortress measures c 250m by 300m. The slightly inclined, massive walls are c 8m high on average, with a thickness of 10m, enclosing a patrolling peripheral walkway 2m wide. At the present time the fortification has four bastions:

3410-572: Was born in Marrakesh . In Israel, many Moroccan Jews have risen to prominence in politics such as Amir Peretz , Orly Levy , Arye Deri , Miri Regev and Naama Lazimi . Over the years, the Moroccan Jews' DNA was examined and studied by numerous studies, the general image of it showed that in terms of Y-DNA it was mainly from the same Levantine source as the vast majority of the world's Jewry, meaning that they too are descendants of

3472-399: Was not a ghetto and was not structured in a way similar to Jewish quarters in Europe. By the 1900s, most Moroccan cities had a mellah . Moroccan Jewry has developed as a hybrid of the many cultures that have shaped Morocco itself, namely Jewish, Arab, Amazigh, French and Spanish. Even before the arrival of Sephardi Jews to Morocco, Moroccan Jews performed and developed the traditions of

3534-407: Was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, on the basis of its status as an "outstanding example of the interchange of influences between European and Moroccan cultures" and as an "early example of the realisation of the Renaissance ideals integrated with Portuguese construction technology". According to UNESCO, the most important buildings from the Portuguese period are the cistern and

3596-520: Was renamed al-Jadida in 1820, meaning 'The New'. El Jadida traces its origins to the 5th century BC, when it was founded and settled by the Phoenicians . Prior to the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, an anchorage used by boats appears to have existed at the current site of El Jadida throughout the Middle Ages and in ancient times. The name Mazighan was first documented by

3658-567: Was seen as an attack on the Sultan's power. The Sultans thus restricted Jews to the mellahs for their safety, as well as to protect the Sultans' rulings from being tested by insurgents. The word mellah is similar to the Hebrew word for salt, melach (מלח); it refers to the salty, marshy area to which the Jews of Northern Morocco were originally transferred and where they gathered. The mellah

3720-617: Was sponsored by four brothers of the Bensimon family: Nessim, Messaoud, Abraham, and Mordechai. Located near the beach south of the old city and the port, this museum and exhibition space is dedicated to the memory of Moroccan soldiers and resistance to the French Protectorate regime. It is housed in a 20th-century colonial era building constructed in a "Mauresque" style. El Jadida has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification Csa ). In winter there

3782-507: Was the old tower that already stood here. The architects were two brothers, Diogo and Francisco de Arruda. The location then became known in the Portuguese language as Mazagão . During the next few decades the Sa'dids rose to power and began expelling the Portuguese from their coastal fortresses, with the most significant event being their expulsion from Santa Cruz (present-day Agadir ) in 1541. In response, King João III of Portugal ordered

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3844-593: Was the subject of further detailed study in 2008 by Doron Behar et al. The analysis concludes that Jews from this region do not share the haplogroups of the mitochondrial DNA haplogroups (M1 and U6) that are typical of the North African Berber and Arab populations. Behar et al. conclude that it is unlikely that North African Jews have significant Arab, or Berber admixture, "consistent with social restrictions imposed by religious restrictions," or endogamy . This study also found genetic similarities between

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