Itinerary

1. Full-Day Jewish Heritage and Cultural Tour of Casablanca

   08:30 – 09:00 | Hotel Pickup and Introduction

   • Meet your guide at your hotel.

   • Receive a short briefing on Casablanca’s Jewish history.

   • Learn about the origins of the mellah.

   • Understand the Jewish community's move to the European district.

   • Explore Casablanca’s role as a multicultural port city.

   09:00 – 10:30 | Visit the Casablanca Mellah (Old Jewish Quarter)

   • Walk through the century-old mellah where Jewish life once flourished.

   • Experience the lively morning market.

   • Observe women in colorful jellabahs.

   • See vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables.

   • Navigate narrow and bustling alleyways.

   • See the contrast between kosher butchers and neighboring butcher stalls.

   • Observe horse meat sellers reflecting Casablanca’s diverse food cultures.

   • Visit the Jewish Cemetery.

   • View beautifully maintained white stone markers in French, Hebrew, and Spanish.

   • Learn about the annual hiloula honoring the saint Eliahou, still celebrated by locals.

   10:30 – 12:00 | European Quarter – Modern Jewish Community Life

   • Continue to the neighborhood where Casablanca’s 2,000 Jewish residents live.

   • Visit Beth El Synagogue, the largest synagogue in the city.

   • Learn that the synagogue seats 500 people.

   • Admire the architecture of the synagogue.

   • Understand its role as a major community center.

   • Pass by Jewish schools.

   • Pass by social service centers.

   • Pass by kosher restaurants.

   • Learn how the community maintains a vibrant contemporary identity.

   12:00 – 13:30 | Kosher Lunch Experience

   • Stop for lunch at a local kosher restaurant in the European city district.

   • Enjoy traditional Moroccan Jewish favorites.

   • Taste grilled fish, salads, or couscous, depending on the restaurant’s daily offerings.

   13:30 – 15:00 | Hassan II Mosque – An Architectural Masterpiece

   • Visit the Hassan II Mosque.

   • Learn that it is the second-largest mosque in the world.

   Special notes for this tour:

   • Learn about the Jewish community’s contribution to the mosque’s construction.

   • Note that the mosque was inaugurated in 1994.

   • Enjoy guided access to the prayer hall.

   • Visit the ablution rooms.

   • Walk along the breathtaking oceanfront esplanade.

   15:00 – 16:00 | Sidi Belyout Shrine (Optional Cultural Stop)

   • Visit the shrine of Sidi Belyout, Casablanca’s patron saint.

   • Discuss how some Jewish Casablancans visit the Muslim shrine annually.

   • Understand Casablanca’s unique interfaith traditions.

   16:00 – 17:00 | Corniche and Atlantic Coast Walk

   • Relax during a scenic walk along the Corniche.

   • Enjoy cafés along the coastline.

   • Take in panoramic sea views.

   • Experience fresh Atlantic air after a day of cultural exploration.

   17:00 – 17:30 | Return to Hotel

   • Return to your hotel.

   • Debrief with your guide.

   • Ask questions about Casablanca’s multicultural history, past, and present.