Jewish historical places
in Essaouira
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The Jewish cemetery, just outside
the city gates,
is extremely well kept.
The old Jewish cemetary to the right
before the wall was built.
In the fond Bab Doukkala
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The Jewish cemetery
Essaouira was founded in 1765. The oldest tombs
date from 1776. These tombs are interesting. Contrary to Jewish
tradition and Mosaic Law, they are sculptured with very marked
human forms. These anthropomorphic tombstones sometimes bear epigraphic
inscriptions and sometimes none. These monolithic tombstones are
carved out of marine sandstone.
International Jewish Cemetery
Project
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The grave of Rabbi Haïm Pinto
Essaouira is the site of an annual pilgrimage
to the grave of Rabbi Haïm Pinto,died 1845.
whose home and synagogue are preserved as an
historic and religious site. It is situated in the Mellah. The
hiloula of Haïm Pinto is held in September.
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The grave of Rabbi Haïm Pinto
in the old Jewish cemetary.
Annually, on the anniversary of Rabbi Pinto's death,
( 26 Elloul 5605, in the Jewish calendar)
Jews from around the world come on pilgrimage to pay at
the rabbi's grave in the Jewish Cemetery of Essaouira.
A sign at he Jewish cementary
Old graves
"Rabbi Haim Pinto’s reputation
was so great that all Morocco resonated with accounts of his miracles
and wonders,
and this from his most early years."
http://www.hevratpinto.org/
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Haïm Pinto
(Chaim Pinto)
Rabbi Haïm Pinto (1748–1845)
was the leading rabbi in Mogador.
Rabbi Pinto is
remembered as a man whose prayers were received in heaven in such
a way that miracles resulted.
"Rabbi Haim Pinto was born
in Agadir, Morocco on Tammuz 15, 5509 (July 1, 1749), on the Hilloula
of Rabbi Haim Ben Attar.
He was the son of the saintly and
venerated Rabbi Shlomo Pinto Zatzal, the descendant of
Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, known by the name of the Rif of
Ein Yaakov.
Rabbi Shlomo Pinto Zatzal
instructed Torah to his son, Rabbi Haim Pinto, when he was very
young. Unfortunately, Rabbi Shlomo Pinto passed away in 1761,
leaving behind him an orphan barely 12 years old. That same year
(1960), an earthquake completely destroyed Agadir, and numerous
Jews fled and settled in Mogador (Essaouira). Rabbi Haim Pinto
was to be found among the refugees. "
http://www.haimpinto.com/
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The entrance to the Chaim Pinto Synagogue in
the Mellah.
Died 28 September 1845 at the age of 96 years, Rabbi
Haim Pinto has been able to achieve one of its great
and noble dream in Essaouira. The construction of a synagogue
in which he spent much time in prayer to God and taught the
Torah.
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The Haïm Pinto Synagogue
On the ground floor the home
of Haïm Pinto and the synagougue at the first floor.
See pics below
The most symbolic subject in
that synagogue is a blue wooden cabinet, called an Ark,
holding scrolls containing the Five Books of Moses. It
dates back to the 1800’s
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The synagogue Slat Lkahal
in Mellah
The Simon Attias synagogue
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The synagogue Slat Lkahal
The Simon Attias synagogue
In Rue Laalouj in the Kasbah,
we find another Jewish historical site. It is the Simon
Attias synagogue. The synagogue was built in 1882.
Today the door is locked and the windows covered with bluepainted
boards. Unknown for most, hopefully waiting for restauration.
See location on Map of the Medina
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Jewish stars on the doors to the mellah show
the degree to which Jews were accepted in Essaouira, to the point
that some of the richer Jews did not even live in the mellah.
See also Symbols of doors
in Street Doors
Medina
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In May, there is a moussem commemorates
the saint Rabbi Nassim, who has his sanctuary in
the village of Ait Biyoud,(Meskala) about 40 km from
Essaouira.
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from the interior of the home of Haïm Pinto
Hiloula of Rabbi Nessim Ben Nessim
The Jewish community celebrates Hiloula
of Rabbi Nessim Ben Nessim
in the village Aît Bayyoud (Essaouira province).
It is a annual moussem with participation of several Jewish
pilgrims,
mostly originate from Essaouira , living abroad.
Sign at the entrance of the sanctuary
of Rabbi Nessim ben Nessim
in the village of 'Aît Bayyoud (Ait Bayoud, Ait Bayyoud,
Ait Bayot).
It is situated about 40 km south east of Essaouira.
Locate on map below!
The village Ait Bayoud
with the sanctuary of Rabbi Nessim ben Nessim
Show the map Essaouira
Natural bigger
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