Jewish pilgrimage in Morocco #11 : Its'Hak Abe'hssira, the Jewish saint of Toulal

In this series, Yabiladi revisits the great Jewish pilgrimage sites in Morocco, visited annually by thousands of faithful and travelers alike. In this episode, discover the story of the Abe’hssira family and Rabbi Its’Hak whose sanctuary is located in Toulal, near Errachidia.

Revolution Day, a Moroccan holiday created by king Mohammed V and nationalists

Revolution Day was the result of negotiations held between the Palace and nationalist figures. Nothing was left to chance: from the significant date to the speeches of King Mohammed V and Fqih Basri. In other words, everything was agreed upon beforehand.

Jewish pilgrimage in Morocco #10 : Rabbi David Halevi, the saint of the green palm tree 

His hilullah is celebrated every year on Lag B’Omer by Moroccan Jews who come to visit his tomb in Draa. Rabbi David Halevi is a Jewish saint who is venerated by both Jews and Muslims.

Djellabas, skirts or shorts … what did Moroccan women wear in the past ?

Throughout history, Moroccan women’s clothes were influenced by their lifestyle, culture and identity. But were they less conservative than nowadays ? To historians, the story of what our foremothers wore in the past is more complicated than that.

Jewish pilgrimage in Morocco #9 : David Ben Yamin, Beni Mellal's saint and his many miracles

Rabbi David Ben Yamin is buried in Beni Mellal with his wife, a female saint called Lalla Kherwi’a. In the small city, he is known for his many miracles and he is venerated by both Jews and Muslims.

TELMA, the story of Morocco’s first and short-lived television channel

TELMA was Morocco’s first television channel, which started operating a few years before the country broke free from the French. The channel, which was mainly influenced by the French, had a short-lived experience and was rejected by Moroccans.

Jewish pilgrimage in Morocco #8 : Yahya Lakhdar, the saint of Sidi Eddahbi

The grave of Rabbi Yahya Lakhdar lays in Sidi Eddahbi, a small village near Ben Ahmed visited every year by the Jewish community in Morocco. The Jewish saint is known for his many legends.

Throne Day, when nationalists «invented» Morocco’s first civic celebration

In November 1933, Moroccans celebrated the first Throne Day, honoring sultan Mohammed ben Youssef. The holiday was introduced by nationalists and inspired by an Algerian poet, aimed at countering the symbols and rituals imposed by the French.

Ahmad Al-Mansur, the Moroccan sultan who was obsessed with conquering America

In 1601, sultan Ahmad Al-Mansur couldn’t hide his obsession with America. The Saadi ruler wanted to conquer the New World and make Moroccans populate the land with the help of Queen Elizabeth I.

Jewish pilgrimage in Morocco # 7: Shlomo Aben Danan, Fez’ most famous Dayans of all time

Rabbi Shlomo Aben Danan is one of the most famous Dayans the city of Fez has ever had. The Jewish saint lays in the city’s most renowned synagogue.