The Al Fassiyine Synagogue or Slat Al Fassiyine (Hebrew: בית הכנסת סלאת אל פאסיין; Arabic: بيعة صلاة الفاسيين) is a synagogue located in the Mellah of Fes el-Jdid, within the historic medina of Fez, Morocco. The Slat al-Fassiyine Synagogue was one of the few synagogues where the non-Sephardic rituals of the toshavim (indigenous Moroccan Jews) continued up until the 20th century.[1][2]
| Al Fassiyine Synagogue (Slat Al Fassiyine) | |
|---|---|
 The synagogue interior, in 2021 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Fez |
| Country | Morocco |
  Location of the synagogue in Morocco | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°03′12″N 4°59′27″W / 34.0532°N 4.9908°W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Date established | c. 13th–15th century (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
History
editSlat al-Fassiyin ("Prayer of the Fessis" or "Prayer of the People from Fez") is reputed to be the oldest synagogue of the Mellah of Fez and one of the oldest in continuous use. It is thought to have been built during the Marinid Sultanate (13th-15th centuries).[1] Its current building dates from the 17th century.[3] In 1791–92, Moulay Yazid expelled the Jews from the Mellah and turned Slat al Fassiyine into a prison.[4] However, after a short period, he allowed them to go back.
Decline
editThe synagogue continued being used actively through the end of the 1950s,[4] when most of the Jewish community left the country for Israel, France, and Montreal (Canada). After Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956, the synagogue fell into disrepair and was eventually turned into a carpet-making workshop, and later a boxing gymnasium.[5][6]
Restoration
editThe synagogue was reinaugurated in February 2013 by the Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane,[7][8] with the funds for the restoration coming from the German government, the Jewish community of Fez, the Foundation for Moroccan Jewish Cultural Heritage,[9] and the Moroccan government.[5]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b Gilson Miller, Susan; Petruccioli, Attilio; Bertagnin, Mauro (2001). "Inscribing Minority Space in the Islamic City: The Jewish Quarter of Fez (1438-1912)". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 60 (3): 310–327. doi:10.2307/991758. JSTOR 991758.
- ^ Le Tourneau, Roger (1949). Fès avant le protectorat : étude économique et sociale d'une ville de l'occident musulman (in French). Casablanca: Société Marocaine de Librairie et d'Édition.
- ^ "Slat Al Fassiyine Synagogue: A Witness to Jewish Culture in Morocco". Morocco Jewish Times. November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "Nouvelle vie pour la synagogue «Slat al-Fassiyine»". L'Economiste (in French). February 12, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Hadioui, Simo (November 14, 2019). "Slat Al Fassiyine Synagogue: A Witness to Jewish Culture in Morocco". Morocco Jewish Times. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "6 Moroccan Cities Where Jewish Culture Flourishes". The Forward. February 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Miller, Elhanan. "Morocco's Islamist PM inaugurates refurbished Fez synagogue". Times of Israel. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Islamist PM conveys king's message at Moroccan synagogue reopening". World Jewish Congress. February 15, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Golden Age of Morocco's Jewish Community will never Die". The North Africa Post. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
External links
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Media related to Slat El Fassiyine Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons