Casablanca is home to the only Jewish history museum in the Arab world – the Morocco Jewish Museum. Half a century ago, more than a quarter of a million Jews lived in Morocco, but only a handful remain today. The museum serves to celebrate the centuries of Judaeo-Muslim culture and history in Morocco.

Although the first mentions of Jewish presence in Morocco date back to the 2nd century BC, it was in the 7th and 8th centuries AD that the Jewish people actively settled in North Africa. Morocco was going through an Islamisation period at the time, initiated by its then-ruler Isdris I. Isdris II, the son of Isdris I’s son, later guaranteed the Jewish people a safe and warm welcome in the city of Fez, offering relaxed laws and favorable economic conditions.

Their story, however, spans various countries and continents. In the 1490s, another wave of Jews arrived in Morocco, this time from Spain and Portugal. An official order had been issued that banished them from both countries, forcing hundreds of thousands of Jews to take refuge in close-by Northern Africa. For centuries, they made substantial contributions to Morocco’s economy, trade, and culture.

Casablanca’s Moroccan Jewish Museum has an inspiring mission of showcasing the past and present of the tension-filled, enigmatic, complex story of the relationship between Jews and Muslims. Collections in the museum weave these narratives through things like art, customs, and architecture. Casablanca is also home to over 30 synagogues, many kosher restaurants, and Jewish schools, making it an ideal location for the museum as the Jewish heritage is alive in the present, not the past.

The museum celebrates the cultural similarities between Jewish and Muslim communities. To name a few, the clothing worn by Jewish women was inspired by Morocco’s traditional patterns and textiles; both Jewish and Muslim poets used a form of poetry called Qasida, developed centuries ago; the same legends were told by both groups and more.

Many museums in Europe and the United States celebrate Jewish history and culture, but for the time being, the Moroccan Jewish Museum is one of a kind in the Arab world. The museum’s director, Zhor Rhihil, says that similar museums must be constructed in the Arab world in order to preserve this fundamental part of history.

Learn More:
The Story of Moroccan Jews