Jewish historical sites

Essaouira is the site of an annual pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Chaim Pinto, whose home and synagogue are preserved as an historic and religious site. It is situated in the Mellah. The hiloula of Chaim Pinto is held in September. The entrance to the Chaim Pinto Synagogue can be seen on the picture.
In Rue Laalouj in the Kasbah, we find another Jewish historical site. It is the Simon Attias synagogue. The synagogue was built in 1882. Today the door is locked and the windows covered with bluepainted boards. Unknown for most, hopefully waiting for restauration.
The Jewish cemetery, just outside the city gates, is extremely well kept.

"Essaouira's mellah covers over 10 percent of the town, but Jews constituted almost 40 percent of the population in the late 1880's. Jewish stars on the doors to the mellah show the degree to which Jews were accepted in Essaouira, to the point that some of the richer Jews did not even live in the mellah. Commemorative plaques indicate the buildings in which synagogues were located. Former inhabitants of Essaouira, most of them Jewish, formed a committee to rehabilitate the town. An important member of the committee is King Hassan II's Economic Advisor, Andre Azoulay. " http://rickgold.home.mindspring.com/page21.html


Essaouira - Mogador Cemeteries
Searchable database of names and other identifying information from the cemeteries of Essaouira (Mogador)

Essaouira was founded in 1765. The oldest tombs date from 1776. These tombs are interesting. Contrary to Jewish tradition and Mosaic Law, they are sculptured with very marked human forms. These anthropomorphic tombstones sometimes bear epigraphic inscriptions and sometimes none. These monolithic tombstones are carved out of marine sandstone. http://www.iajgs.org/cemetery/morocco/essaouira-aka-mogador.html