Fez opens Museum of Moroccan Jewish heritage
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In Fez, Morocco, the National Foundation of Museums opened a museum dedicated to the history and culture of Moroccan Jewish communities.
The museum, located in the historic Mellah (Jewish quarter) established in 1438, displays artifacts like circumcision chairs, marriage contracts, and religious garments, illustrating the religious and daily life of Moroccan Jews. The National Foundation of Museums funded the project, marking the first time an Arab-Muslim country has publicly funded a museum solely dedicated to Hebrew culture.
The museum’s construction, completed in March 2023, was launched in April 2019 alongside the restoration of the Al-Batha Palace, now the Museum of Islamic Arts. Officials described the simultaneous launches as representing an integrated vision of Moroccan heritage and its diverse influences. The museum’s permanent exhibition, spanning 1,700 square meters, explores 2,500 years of Jewish presence in Morocco through seven thematic sections, including displays on religious practices, community life, and traditional crafts.
Serge Berdugo, of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco, emphasized the museum’s importance as a “place of national memory” and a testament to Morocco’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. King Mohammed VI initiated a broader program in 2013 to restore Jewish religious sites throughout Morocco, resulting in the rehabilitation of nearly 180 cemeteries and shrines. The new museum joins existing Jewish museums in Casablanca, Tangier, and Meknes, furthering the preservation and presentation of Morocco’s Jewish history.
