Morocco opens first state-funded museum dedicated to Jewish culture in Arab world

Local media said the exhibition galleries explore communal institutions, including synagogues, Hebrew schools, and rabbinical courts.

The new Museum of Moroccan Jewish Culture opened its doors in the city of Fes on Monday, marking the first time in history that an Arab-Muslim country has allocated public funds to establish a museum entirely dedicated to Jewish culture.

According to Morocco's National Foundation of Museums, the 1,700 square meters space invites visitors on a journey into the heart of Moroccan Jewish life and Judaism through a rich and diverse collection of ritual and everyday objects, archaeological, ethnographic and artistic artifacts, archives and rare manuscripts, crafts, traditions, as well as practices and testimonies handed down through the 2500 of Jewish history in the country.

Exhibition galleries display Jewish religious artifacts from Arab World

Local media said the exhibition galleries explore communal institutions, including synagogues, Hebrew schools and rabbinical courts, as well as traditions associated with birth, bar mitzvahs, weddings, funerals and religious holidays. Objects on display include Torah scrolls, prayer shawls, marriage contracts, circumcision chairs, bridal costumes and jewelry.

Traditional crafts also feature prominently, including a reconstructed jeweler’s workshop, tools, silver ornaments, textiles, regional clothing and musical instruments. Audiovisual and digital installations complement the collections, while dedicated spaces will host educational activities for children and school groups.

The front of the building features a brass inscription in four languages: Arabic, Amazigh, Hebrew, and French.

The museum was designed with the involvement of the Moroccan Jewish community, represented in particular by Serge Berdugo, Founding President of the Foundation for Moroccan Jewish Cultural Heritage.

Construction of the museum was initiated by King Mohammed VI during his visit to Fez in April 2019, as part of a program to rehabilitate and showcase the old medina.

The Museums Foundation said the museum "forms part of King Mohammed VI's vision," which places "great importance on preserving and promoting all components of Moroccan identity, in their diversity and complementarity."

The work, completed in March 2023, was carried out by ADER-Fez in consultation with the National Foundation of Museums.

The opening of the Museum of Moroccan Jewish Culture on Monday was attended by Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Khalid Aït Taleb, Wali (regional governor) of the Fez-Meknes region and governor of Fez Prefecture; Serge Berdugo, Founding President of the Foundation for Moroccan Jewish Cultural Heritage; Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Foundation of Museums; and several other prominent figures, including ambassadors, directors and university presidents.