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MARRAKECH
Mellah and Miâara
Marrakech once was the home of a large Jewish population, today there are only about 250 left.
The Mellah was established in 1558. The establishment of a Mellah was due to Muslim sensitiveness, not allowing Jews inside the medina walls, allegedly because of their use of interests on loans. The Jews were not allowed to own land or property, and only permitted outside the Mellah barefoot, and definitely not on horseback.
There are several synagogues around the Mellah, mainly interesting for being totally unremarkable. This may well be the only natural result of the way Jews were treated.
Right next to it lies the cemetery, known as Miâara with a large plain of white tombs, most with Hebrew writing, some even with images of the deceased. These grounds date back to the early 17th century. There are 11 Jewish marabouts, tsadik, buried here.
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