Archeology Archives | World Jewish Travel

Unveiling Centuries of History: Embark on a 14-Day Morocco Jewish Heritage Tour from Casablanca

Are you seeking a journey that transcends time and culture, weaving through centuries of rich history and heritage? Look no further than the 14 Days Morocco Jewish Heritage Tour, starting from the iconic city of Casablanca, curated by Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Delve into the heart of Morocco’s Jewish legacy, where ancient traditions, vibrant communities, and breathtaking landscapes await.

Exploring Casablanca: Gateway to Morocco’s Jewish Heritage

Begin your immersive journey in Casablanca, a bustling metropolis steeped in history and culture, with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Kickstart your adventure with a visit to the famous Hassan II Mosque, a majestic symbol of Islamic architecture. Then, wander through the picturesque streets of the old medina, where echoes of the past resonate in every corner.

Tracing Jewish Footprints in Rabat and Tangier

Continue your odyssey as you travel to Rabat, the capital city adorned with splendid architecture and historical landmarks. Explore the mellah, the ancient Jewish quarter, where synagogues and museums narrate tales of resilience and tradition. Next, venture to Tangier, a city brimming with intrigue and allure, where Jewish heritage intertwines with Moorish influences. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of the medina and discover hidden gems at every turn.

Immersive Experiences in Fez: A Time Capsule of Jewish History

Step back in time as you arrive in Fez, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its medieval charm and authenticity, with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Wander through the mellah, a vibrant hub of Jewish life, and witness the legacy of centuries-old synagogues and communal spaces. Engage with local artisans in the bustling souks, where traditional crafts and aromatic spices tantalize the senses.

Journey Through the Atlas Mountains: A Scenic Adventure

Embark on a scenic drive through the majestic Atlas Mountains, where panoramic vistas and quaint villages await, with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. En route to Marrakech, pause at Berber villages nestled amidst verdant valleys, and savor authentic Moroccan cuisine infused with regional flavors.

Majestic Marrakech: A Fusion of Culture and Tradition

Arrive in Marrakech, the vibrant city pulsating with energy and vitality, with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Explore the historic Jewish quarter, where architectural marvels like the Lazama Synagogue offer glimpses into Morocco’s multicultural heritage. Lose yourself in the kaleidoscope of colors at the iconic Jardin Majorelle, a botanical oasis that captivates with its serene beauty.

Culminating in Casablanca: Reflections on an Enriching Journey

As your 14-day odyssey draws to a close, return to Casablanca, where it all began, with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Reflect on the myriad experiences and encounters that have enriched your understanding of Morocco’s Jewish heritage. Bid farewell to this enchanting land with a newfound appreciation for its timeless allure and cultural diversity.

Embark on Your Journey Today

Embarking on the 14 Days Morocco Jewish Heritage Tour promises an unforgettable adventure filled with discovery, enlightenment, and cultural immersion with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency. Whether you’re tracing your ancestry or simply seeking to unravel the mysteries of Morocco’s past, this transformative journey awaits. Book your tour now with Morocco Best Sahara Tours Travel Agency and embark on a voyage of a lifetime through the heartland of Jewish heritage in Morocco.

Western Wall Tunnels

Discover the remarkable Western Wall Tunnels in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem. As an integral part of Jewish cultural heritage, the site offers visitors an unparalleled journey back in time. These well-preserved tunnels, adjacent to the Western Wall, bear testimony to the architectural brilliance of ancient builders, and their discovery has facilitated a deeper connection to Jewish history. Explore notable areas including Warren’s Gate, the closest accessible point for Jews to the Holy of Holies, and the Little Western Wall, a tranquil and less frequented part of the wall. The Western Wall Tunnels resonate with the echoes of Jewish heritage, providing a tangible link to the past.

A Journey Through Time

Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of history and tradition as you traverse the Western Wall Tunnels. Unearth stories of Jewish rebels’ courage during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE and experiences wrapped in the mystique of Kabbalistic traditions. The tunnels serve as a solemn reminder of the destruction of the Second Temple, representing a pivotal event in Jewish history eternally memorialized in stone. As you navigate the passageways, each layer of their ancient history is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the Jewish people. The Western Wall Tunnels await your discovery.

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All from : <https://english.thekotel.org/gallery/>

with Morocco Best Sahara Tours

Welcome to Morocco Best Sahara Tours

At Morocco Best Sahara Tours, we are your trusted Morocco Tour Operator and Travel Agency. With a passion for exploration and a deep understanding of Morocco’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage, we are here to guide you on unforgettable journeys through this enchanting country.

About Us

Established Tour Operator in Morocco

Morocco Best Sahara Tours is not just another tour company; we are a well-established Tour Operator in Morocco with years of experience in curating exceptional travel experiences. Our team is composed of dedicated experts who are deeply rooted in Moroccan culture, history, and traditions.

Expertise in Moroccan Heritage

Our in-depth knowledge of Moroccan heritage allows us to offer you a unique perspective on this captivating land. We pride ourselves on showcasing the rich tapestry of Morocco’s past and present, ensuring that your journey is both enriching and enlightening.

Offering Tailor-Made Tours

No two travelers are the same, and that’s why we specialize in Tailor-Made Tours. We believe that your journey should reflect your individual interests, preferences, and dreams. Let us craft a personalized itinerary that matches your desires and exceeds your expectations.

3: Our Services

Morocco Desert Tours

Embark on a mesmerizing adventure to explore the Sahara Desert, one of the world’s most iconic landscapes. Our Morocco Desert Tours will take you on a journey through vast dunes, oases, and ancient villages, offering an opportunity to experience the magic of the desert.

Jewish Heritage Tours

Discover the rich Jewish heritage of Morocco with our thoughtfully curated Jewish Heritage Tours. Explore historic sites, synagogues, and engage in cultural immersion as we unravel the fascinating stories of Morocco’s Jewish community.

Customized Tour Packages

Our Customized Tour Packages cater to your specific interests and preferences. Whether you seek cultural experiences, thrilling adventures, or serene relaxation, we have a package that suits you perfectly. Our expertly crafted itineraries ensure every moment is well-spent.

Morocco Desert Tours

Explore the Sahara Desert

Embark on an awe-inspiring journey into the heart of the Sahara Desert. Traverse golden sands, camp under the stars, and witness breathtaking desert landscapes that will stay with you forever.

Departures from Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fes

Convenience is key. Our Morocco Desert Tours depart from Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fes, making it easy for you to join us on your preferred route.

Unforgettable Desert Adventures

Our desert adventures promise unforgettable experiences, from camel treks to encounters with nomadic communities. Let us guide you through the mystical Sahara.

Jewish Heritage in Morocco

Experience the Rich Jewish Culture

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Jewish culture of Morocco. Our tours provide unique insights into the history, traditions, and contributions of the Jewish community in Morocco.

Visits to Historic Sites

Visit historic synagogues, Jewish quarters, and other significant sites that bear witness to the enduring legacy of Moroccan Jews.

Cultural Immersion

Engage in cultural exchanges and connect with local Jewish communities, fostering a deeper understanding of Morocco’s diverse tapestry.

Tour Packages

Diverse Tour Packages to Suit Your Preferences

Our tour packages cater to a wide range of preferences. Whether you’re seeking cultural immersion, thrilling adventures, or relaxation, we have the perfect package for you.

Cultural, Adventure, and Relaxation Tours

From culturally rich experiences to adrenaline-pumping adventures and tranquil relaxation, our tours cover a spectrum of experiences to fulfill your travel desires.

Expertly Crafted Itineraries

Our itineraries are meticulously designed to ensure that every moment of your journey is captivating, educational, and enjoyable. Let us take care of the details while you focus on making memories.

Why Choose Us?

Local Expertise

Our team consists of local experts who possess intimate knowledge of Morocco, its culture, and its hidden gems. We are your gateway to authentic Moroccan experiences.

Personalized Experiences

We believe in the power of personalized travel. Your journey with us is uniquely tailored to your interests, ensuring a trip that resonates with you on a personal level.

Professional Tour Guides

Our professional tour guides are passionate about sharing Morocco’s beauty and history. They are dedicated to making your trip informative and enjoyable.

Exceptional Customer Service

Your satisfaction is our priority. From the moment you contact us to the end of your journey, expect exceptional customer service and support.

Customer Testimonials

Quotes and Feedback from Satisfied Clients

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear what our satisfied clients have to say about their Morocco Best Sahara Tours experiences. We take pride in the positive impact we’ve had on our travelers.

Reach Out to Plan Your Moroccan Adventure

Ready to embark on your Moroccan adventure? Reach out to us today and let’s start planning your dream trip.

Website: www.moroccobestsaharatours.com

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Phone & Whatssap: +2126 411 433 86 / +2126 523 665 24

We look forward to being your trusted partner in exploring the beauty and heritage of Morocco.

Or-Ahayim Hospital

The Hebrew name “Or Ahayim” literally translates as “Light of Life” — and a true light of life the hospital has been and remains to be for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Originally founded as a dispensary for the Jewish poor, the hospital, still funded and administrated by the Jewish community of Turkey, now serves the almost completely Muslim population of Balat, a sign of the commitment of Istanbul Jews to the city in which they live and have been rooted since early-Ottoman times and, in the cases of those who can claim Romaniote origins, far longer.

The Or Ahayim Jewish hospital in Balat was founded and built in the last decades of the 19th century. Its construction and original endowment was funded by large donations from wealthy Istanbul Jewish families, as well as by masses of small coins placed into collection boxes by Istanbul’s far more numerous Jewish working poor. The monumental former entrance way as shown above, built in 1898 to replace an earlier structure, was designed by Architect Gabriel Tedeschi who, if I am correct, was also the architect of the Ashkenazic Synagogue (built as the Austro-Hungarian Synagogue) near the Galata Tower on Yüksek Kaldιrιm in the Karakoy section of Istanbul. Today, Or Ahayim complex comprises the only buildings in Balat still standing on the shore side of the Golden Horn coastal road, on what is now a park but was once the site of a shore-front slum.

House of Kalontar

After the conquest of Samarkand by Russia (1868), the situation of the Jews changed for the better. A very curious fragment is found in one of the Russian editions of 1870 (published with the author’s notes): “The Jews occupy a special quarter in the north-eastern part of the city. The Jews here are not European. They are neat in clothes, and in life they are meek and hospitable. Under the emirs, they were oppressed and annually paid huge fees for the right to live in Samarkand. Between them is remarkable their old aksakal (old-timer) and kalontar (head of the community) with the name of the prophet Moses (Moshe) – an honest person and generally worthy of respect for the mind and influence on their co-religionists. It has a considerable fortune, a large and beautiful family, several houses and gardens. When in 1868 a gang of Kenegeses took him away and beat him half to death to protect the old man from new insults, several Samarkand citizens wrapped a turban on his head – a cloak forbidden to Jews, and brought him home. Calontar is now 55 years old. In his youth, he traveled to Western Europe and Palestine. In Samarkand he built a synagogue and a school, and therefore, I believe, some call him a rabbi. Although, in our opinion, he is just aksakal”.

Selestat Synagogue

Sélestat is an ancient community, which disappeared in the 16th century. It was not reconstituted at the 19th century. The oratory, dating from 1836 and installed at the Poêle des Laboureurs, was replaced by a synagogue, built in 1890. The latter, ransacked by the Nazis, was restored after the war without the original dome. The rabbinate of Sélestat dates from 1866 and replaces that of Muttersholtz.

In the 14th century the community was relatively large, judging by the size of the Jewish quarter. The synagogue was located in an alleyway, which is still visible today, next to the “pharmacie du Soleil” in the “rue des Clefs” (then “Judengasse”) and which connected with the “rue Ste-Barbe” (then “Schmiedgasse”). The name of Rabbi Ahron, to whom people came from Strasbourg to study the sacred texts, and especially that of his son, the famous Rav Schemouel Schlettstadt, who directed the yeshivah (talmudic school) of Strasbourg and is known as a compiler and decision-maker, have been preserved from this century.

The synagogue having been destroyed in 1470 to make way for the former St. Barbe arsenal, the community acquired, through the intermediary of the Magistrate, the former Poële des Laboureurs to establish its new place of worship. This building can still be seen at no. 3 Rue Ste-Barbe (rear part of the Boespflug building). The expression “auf der Judschul” (which previously referred only to the Place Ste-Barbe) was commonly used to designate the future Rue des Juifs, which became Rue Ste-Barbe in 1910.

After several waves of persecutions and expulsions, notably in 1349, during the Black Death, when the Jews of Western Europe were accused of having poisoned the wells, they were definitively expelled from Sélestat around 1650. However, Jewish merchants and showmen were authorized to come and practice their trade at the annual fairs as well as the weekly markets. This situation lasted until the Revolution. In 1622, on the other hand, the Jews of Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Scherwiller and Dambach founded the present Israelite cemetery in Sélestat. It had to be enlarged several times afterwards. This is where Reisel Sée, whose filial love was immortalized by the moralists of the Revolution, was later buried. In 1890, the architect of the city of Selestat, Alexandre Stamm (1835-1906), designed a new building.

It has a central plan, like many Rhine synagogues, and is in the Romanesque-Byzantine style. It is a beautifully colored building with alternating pink sandstone, light sandstone and brick. The dome on a drum “with oculus” which decorated it was destroyed by the Nazis in 1940 and was not rebuilt. During this restoration, the old ritual bath (Mikveh) from 1836, part of an earlier building, was discovered in the basement.

The Hebrew inscription above the main door means: “This is the door of the Lord. The righteous shall pass through it”.

Image credit:
© Ralph Hammann – Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
I, Olevy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Gironella Tower

Leaving behind the head of the cathedral, Alemanys street and Pere de Rocabertí¬ street lead to the former Caserna dels Alemanys, the site of an old military barrack today converted into a romantic garden amongst ruins and stretches of the wall. It is located on the highest point of the city and constitutes the vertex of the triangle where the former Roman Gerunda takes shape. It is in this complex where the Gironella Tower is situated, famous for serving as a refuge for Jews who were able to escape the slaughter and sacking of the of 1391.

The Girona Mikveh

In 2014, the mikveh was identified in the patio of the Museum of Jewish History. The original structure has been preserved even though in later rebuildings it was transformed into a cistern. It was a closed space which could be accessed by a door, leading to a hall, a tiled changing room and the pool. Access was gained by stepping over the threshold, which led to a landing made of stone slabs, and from there people could probably go into the pool through a flight of stairs integrated in the pool, now lost. The water was supplied from a natural source by filtration, and also from the tank situated in the courtyard, which collected rainwater and filled the bath. The function of the mikveh is the spiritual purification through total immersion of the body in the water.

Ancient Synagogue of Barcelona

The Synagoga Mayor de Barcelona was an ancient synagogue in the center of the city of Barcelona, Spain. Shlomo ben Adret was the officiating rabbi of this synagogue for about 50 years.
After many years of being used for other activities, the building at 5 Marlet Street was inaugurated as a synagogue and museum in 2002, thanks to the efforts of the Catalan historian Jaume Riera i Sans in locating the building based on documents such as the route of a tax collector and the specifications in the Talmud on how synagogues should be built. However, the synagogue was actually located at number 9 Salomó ben Adret Street, the adjacent house, and not the one currently promoted as the former synagogue. Currently, the building is not used for daily prayers, but is used for community festivities.

MUHBA El Call Jewish Quarter Museum

The headquarters of the Barcelona History Museum in the Call, inaugurated in March 2015, is located in the middle of the old Jewish quarter, where once stood the house of Jucef Bonhiac, a veil weaver. It is a building of medieval origin where original remains from the 13th and 14th centuries are preserved. The space of the Museum of History of Barcelona
El Call, distributed in three areas, aims to present the history and heritage of the the history and heritage of the Call in a global way. Area I explains the topography of the Call, area II explains the history of the Call and area III shows the cultural legacy of the Call.

Site Tag: Archeology