Morocco – Jewish Heritage Tour – (Kosher)

Airport transfer to your hotel and visit of Casablanca City
Welcome to Morocco!
On arrival at Med V Casablanca airport, after
collecting your luggage, meet our agent at the
terminal 2 exit, that will accompany you to your
airport-hotel shuttle.
After check-in at the hotel, a visit to Casablanca will
be organized at 3:00 p.m.
Start with a visit to the Hassan II Mosque for a tour
to Africa’s largest mosque. Next, visit Beth El Temple,
the most beautiful synagogue in the country. Don’t
miss the colorful stained glass windows, gigantic
chandeliers and unique architecture with gold and
white plaster.
Finally, visit the Ain Diab, one of the city’s most
fashionable neighborhoods. Explore the scenic
promenade that lines the city’s waterfront, dotted
with stylish resorts and hotels.
Dinner will be served at the hotel, then Arvit

Visit to Rabat, Salé and Meknes city
After shaharit and a delicious breakfast, direction to
Rabat.
The coastal capital of Morocco since 1912, Rabat,
a bustling cultural epicenter. This modern and
unspoiled city is full of fascinating historical sites.
Your day begins with a visit to the Oudayas: a 12th
century kasbah named Al Mahdia in reference to
the first chief Al Mahdi Ben Tumurt. This kasbah was
originally a military fort, but in 2012 it was listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, explore the ancient
ramparts of the old medina with its narrow streets and
colorful courtyards which is home to a few Jewish
families. Then visit the royal palace, the parliament,
the modern city, the Hassan tower, the mausoleum
and the Rabbi Shalom Zaoui synagogue & the old
city of Rabat.
After arriving to Salé city (birthplace of Rabbi Hayyim
Ben Moses Attar, a famous 18th century scholar and
Kabbalist known in the Jewish world for his Bible
commentary titled "ohr hahayyim" visit to the Jewish
cemetery in Salé, where Ohr Hahayyim’s father and
grandfather are buried as well as Rabbi Raphael
Encaoua: former Grand Rabbi of Morocco, who
wrote famous books as Sefer Sh. U-t. Karne re’em.

Lunch break (lunch box) and direction Meknes.
Meknes, one of the Moroccan imperial cities,
nicknamed “Moroccan Jerusalem”: stop in front of
the majestic BAB MANSOUR, then “BAB LKHMIS” built in
the 17th century and visit of the Jewish Mellah, with its
narrow streets and colorful courtyards, then direction
Fez.
Check-in and dinner at the hotel then arvit.

After shaharit and a delicious breakfast,
rendezvous with a day tour to the visit of the oldest of the imperial
cities : Fez, known by the Hiloula of the Rif: Rabbi
Itshak Elfassi.
Fez is located in the plain of the Sais, The city is full
of minarets, remarkable monuments and sumptuous
old residences.
Begin your walking tour through the cobbled streets
of the medina, you will pass historic sites like the
Quaraouiyine Mosque, founded in 859 by Fatima AlFihri, it is the oldest working university in the world.
You will also see the elegant Nejjarine Fountain and
the Batha Palace, which is now an arts and culture
museum, with its peaceful Andalusian garden.
The medina of Fez is surrounded by an imposing wall,
the souks with medieval charm with narrow streets
and the many tombs and synagogues in the center
of the mellah.
After the lunch break (lunch box) visit of the Aben
Danan Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery_
Mausoleum of Lalla Soulika, martyred for her loyalty
to the Torah around 1830 in Fez
Return to the hotel, and dinner at the hotel then arvit

Visit to Ifrane, Azrou, Midelt, Errachidia and Merzouga desert.
After shaharit and a delicious early breakfast, our
first stop will be at the town of Ifrane for a tour of
Moroccan Switzerland, its beautiful landscapes and
architecture, without forgetting to take a souvenir
picture with the Atlas lion statue. Then, a quick stop
at the Azrou forest to observe the Barbary macaques.
On the way to Merzouga, we will make a stop at the
mausoleum of Rabbi Its’Hak Abe’Hssira in Toulal, then
in Midelt and Errachidia to enjoy the landscapes,
hear stories.
Once in Merzouga desert, one of the best destinations
in Morocco, known for its impressive golden sand
dunes and its magical sunset,
lunch break (lunch box) and free time for 4x4 and camel ride.
After sunset, dinner at the hotel then arvit

Visit to Rissani, Dades Gorges & city of Ouarzazate
After shaharit and a delicious breakfast, our first
stop will be at the dessert door in Rissani, then we
will continue to Dades gorges «the winding road in
Morocco». At this beautiful stage we will discover
the Daadès gorges, one of the must-see places
in Morocco, with its beautiful old kasbahs and
spectacular red canyons.
Continuation of the visit to Ouarzazate via the road of
the thousand kasbahs and the Dades valley famous
for its annual rose festival. Once in Ouarzazate we
will visit of the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, the most
spectacular fortress in southern Morocco, which
served as the setting for the making of many films
such as Gladiators.
Then, we will continue our way to Marrakech via the
Tichka Passage, offering an impressive landscape in
the heart of the Atlas Mountains.
Check-in at Atlas Medina hotel and dinner at the
hotel then arvit.

SHabbat in Marrakesh city
After shaharit and a delicious breakfast, your guide
will take you on a tour around the medina, you will
see the stalls of the old city before heading to the
Bahia Palace to discover its fantasies.
You will then stroll through the Jewish Quarter
(«Mellah»), where you will notice the difference in the
architecture of the neighborhood. You can discover
the hidden Saadian tombs, built during the reign of
Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur in 1557, and also visit some
of the shops in the souk to buy spices and Morocco’s
famous argan oil. Then we will visit Salat Al Azama
synagogue and the Jewish cemetery.
You will finally arrive at the Koutoubia Mosque,
completed during the reign of the Almohad Caliph
Yaqub al-Mansur (1184–1199), before experiencing
the electric atmosphere of Jemaa el-Fnaa, Africa’s
busiest market. You can taste freshly squeezed
orange juice while watching snake charmers, henna
tattoo artists, and water vendors.
Shabbat office and candle lighting, shabbat
dinner will be served at the hotel.

Day in Marrakesh
Meet at the restaurant in the morning for breakfast
and Shabbat morning prayers.
Shabbat lunch and dinner will also be served at the
restaurant.
Free afternoon to rest or to take a walk.

Visit to Essaouira city
After shaharit and an early breakfast, departure to
Essaouira city.
At your arrival, you will discover a completely
different side of Morocco. A beautiful Jewish town in
North Africa.
In the early 1950s: The Jewish community represented
65% of the population of Essaouira with 1,600 people
Jewish heritage is visible throughout the city.
Essaouira (formerly «Mogador») is a city classified as
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You will visit the port of Essaouira, the Kasbah, the
old mellah, the port of the navy «bab el marsa», the
craft center, the place Moulay Hassan, the beach
of Essaouira then the Jewish museum Bayt Dakira
located in the heart of the city’s old medina.
At lunch, grilled sardines will be served in the port of
Essaouira.
Many painted houses in Essaouira still have the Star of
David above the doors of Jewish houses. Rabbi Haim
Pinto’s house and synagogue have been preserved
as a historical and religious site.
Return to Marrakech and dinner at the hotel then
arvit.

Back to Casablanca
After shaharit and a delicious breakfast, departure to
Casablanca.
A last visit will be organized in the old Habbous district
near the Royal Palace in Casablanca. Explore this
part of the old town built during the French colonial
period.
After lunch (lunch box), visit Morocco Mall, the largest
shopping center in Africa.
Check-in at the hotel and dinner then arvit

Transfer to Casablanca Airport
Breakfast and transfer to Casablanca airport with
unforgettable memories and a unique experience in
Morocco.
End of program