Morocco Restores Historic Jewish Cemetery in El Jadida, Preserving Cultural Heritage

The royal decision to renovate the Moroccan cemeteries including the Jewish cemeteries and funeral sites has not taken long to be implemented. This is evidenced by the rehabilitation of the Jewish cemetery of El Jadida, threatened by coastal erosion.

Indeed, for two years, several works carried out have made it possible to give this place of eternal rest a new appearance. These are, according to Libération, actions of weeding, restoration of degraded tombs, sealing, renovation of the perimeter wall, replacement of doors, whitewashing and other improvements.

Seduced by the quality of the work carried out, the members of the Jewish community of Morocco seized the opportunity to celebrate the Hilloula festival, in honor of the holy Rabbi Ihya Haïm Assouline whose tomb is a place of pilgrimage for the community.

It should be noted that the Jewish cemetery of El Jadida, which is located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, near the Portuguese city, covers an area of more than two hectares, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, at the time of the creation of the city.

It represents a great vestige of the past, a place of memory, as well as a source of information on the old families who lived in the city, although some very old tombs, due to the wear and tear of time and coastal erosion, no longer bear any indication of the deceased, observes the same source.