On 20 February, the Moroccan Ministry of Culture announced the inclusion of three Jewish monuments in the city of Asilah, south of Tangier, on the official list of national heritage sites. This decision, which is part of the kingdom’s policy to preserve its multicultural heritage, concerns the Kahal synagogue, the historic Jewish cemetery, and a mikveh and oven adjacent to the synagogue. It follows a request submitted in January 2024 by the Moroccan Jewish community, which was keen to see these iconic sites receive official recognition and the protection provided by legislation on historic monuments.
Built in 1824, the Kahal Synagogue was for decades the heart of Jewish religious life in Asilah. Gradually abandoned, it had fallen into a state of advanced disrepair. It was only after an extensive restoration campaign that it regained its splendour. Reopened in 2022, it was accompanied by the restoration of the mikveh — a ritual bath in Judaism — and the associated hammam. This work has breathed new life into a heritage site of great historical and architectural value, which holds the memories of several generations.
The listing as a national heritage site is not merely a symbolic gesture: it provides these sites with legal protection against any unauthorised damage or modification and integrates them into a wider network of preserved sites. It also guarantees their transmission to future generations and enhances their visibility to the public, both in Morocco and internationally.
This decision is part of a broader movement to promote Jewish heritage in Morocco. The kingdom, home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa, has a rich and diverse heritage, the result of centuries of coexistence between Jews and Muslims. The mellahs, former Jewish quarters in cities such as Fez, Marrakesh, Essaouira and Meknes, are the most visible illustration of this. Once bustling with synagogues, religious schools and thriving markets, these neighbourhoods are now the subject of restoration programmes aimed at preserving their memory and architectural uniqueness.
At the same time, several historic synagogues have been restored in recent years. These include the Slat Al Fassiyine in Fez, renovated as part of a royal initiative, and the Beth-El in Casablanca, which is still in use and considered one of the strongest symbols of the Jewish presence in the city. The Jewish cemetery in Marrakech and various mausoleums complete this heritage, bearing witness to the cultural and spiritual richness of this history.
Since the adoption of the 2011 Constitution, which explicitly recognises the Hebrew component of national identity, Morocco has been stepping up its preservation projects, often in conjunction with the Jewish diaspora of Moroccan origin. An estimated 700,000 Israelis have Moroccan roots, many of whom maintain close ties with the kingdom and are actively involved in preserving this heritage.
The inclusion of the three monuments in Asilah in the national heritage list illustrates Morocco’s desire to protect all aspects of its history, whether Muslim, Jewish or Amazigh. It reinforces the image of a country committed to its cultural diversity and keen to pass on to future generations a narrative that is faithful to its pluralistic past. By bringing these places back to life, the kingdom pays tribute to those who frequented them and forges a link between eras, so that Morocco’s Jewish history continues to be told, stone by stone.
