Morocco’s Jews and their legacy
Morocco is aiming to enshrine Judaism as part of its national identity: the House of Memory in Essaouira is one step towards realising that goal. The nation’s Jewish legacy has also been added to the national curriculum. Abdessamad Jattioui reports from Essaouira
For the first time in Moroccan history, the legacy and history of the country’s Jews is being taught in the nation’s schools. The move followed the opening of the Jewish House of Memory in Essaouira by King Mohammed VI. The exhibition is located in the rooms of a restored Jewish temple. This is an absolute paradigm shift, says Moroccan-Jewish singer Susan Haroush, who was jointly responsible for the exhibition s design. This house offers a completely new opportunity to discover something about the shared history of the Moroccans, Jews and Muslims, she says.