How Many Synagogues Are in Morocco? (+ 12 You Can Visit)

How Many Synagogues Are in Morocco?

Morocco has around 79 documented synagogue sites across 24 cities, according to the heritage archive Diarna. Roughly 12 to 20 remain active, most in Casablanca. The rest survive as museums, restored monuments, ruins, or buildings repurposed as homes and shops.

But the honest answer is that no single number tells the whole story.

After organizing Jewish tours to Morocco since 2018, I always include a synagogue trip as part of a travel experience – and for Shomer Shabbat guests visting Morocco this includes visiting a synagogue in Morocco for Shabbat prayers and usually a meal.

But despite there being 79 documented synagogues in Morocco, this doesn’t mean there are 79 synagogues to visit. A synagogue in Morocco today can be:

• A working congregation
• A restored monument
• A museum
• Converted into a shop or restaurant
• A ruin that only locals remember

It’s worth remembering that there were once an estimated 265,000 Jews living in Morocco before Jews left Morocco for France, Israel, Canada, the US and other countries. Today, there’s an estimated 2,500 Jews remaining in the country and most of them are concentrated in Casablanca.

Organizations like Mimouna are actively finding and restoring synagogues, but it’s a huge task to document and restore the hundreds of synagogues that once served over 250 Jewish communities in Morocco.

Below, you’ll see how there categories map to the confirmed synagogues still present.

Every Documented Synagogue in Morocco, by City

The table below lists all 79 synagogue sites recorded by Diarna, grouped by city. Status shows what a site is known to be today; "Unknown" means its current condition isn't documented in our sources.

Synagogue	City	Status
Agadir Synagogue	Agadir	Unknown
Synagogue at Al Hoceima	Al Hoceima	Unknown
Synagogue at Amzrou	Amzrou	Unknown
Synagogue (now a mosque), Amzrou	Amzrou	Repurposed
Synagogue (photographed), Amzrou	Amzrou	Unknown
Synagogue at Amizmiz	Amizmiz	Unknown
Synagogue at Arazane (1)	Arazane	Unknown
Synagogue at Arazane (2)	Arazane	Unknown
Synagogue, Casablanca	Casablanca	Unknown
Temple Beth-El	Casablanca	Active
Ettedgui Synagogue	Casablanca	Active
Benarrosh Synagogue	Casablanca	Unknown
Em Habanim School & Synagogue	Casablanca	Unknown
Maghen David School, Seminary & Synagogue	Casablanca	Unknown
La Haute Synagogue	El Jadida	Unknown
Synagogue at Er Rachidia (1)	Errachidia	Ruin
Synagogue at Er Rachidia (2)	Errachidia	Ruin
Synagogue at Er Rachidia (3)	Errachidia	Ruin
Rabbi BelHazan David Synagogue	Essaouira	Museum / heritage
Simon Attias Synagogue (Bayt Dakira)	Essaouira	Museum
Gallery Kasbah (former Slat Ruben El Maleh)	Essaouira	Repurposed
Slat Denar	Essaouira	Unknown
Café L'Horloge (former Slat Koriat)	Essaouira	Repurposed
Slat Judi	Essaouira	Unknown
Slat Bouljouad	Essaouira	Unknown
Slat Lkahal Synagogue	Essaouira	Unknown
Chaim Pinto Synagogue	Essaouira	Ceremonially active
Talmud Torah, Essaouira	Essaouira	Unknown
Talmud Torah, Fez	Fez	Active
Ben Saadoun (Roben Bensaadoun)	Fez	Active (seasonal)
Ibn Danan Synagogue	Fez	Museum / heritage
Slat al-Fassiyine Synagogue	Fez	Museum / heritage
Synagogue, Fez (1)	Fez	Unknown
Synagogue, Fez (2)	Fez	Unknown
Raphael Abensour Synagogue	Fez	Unknown
Synagogue of Derb el Kouass	Fez	Unknown
Raphael Kherdali (Botbol) Synagogue	Fez	Unknown
Slat Saba	Fez	Unknown
Synagogue at Derb Diyek	Fez	Unknown
Slat del Hamam Monsonego	Fez	Unknown
Synagogue next to Saba Fountain	Fez	Unknown
Slat Yehudah Ibn Attar	Fez	Unknown
Slat Elias	Fez	Unknown
Synagogue above Elias	Fez	Unknown
Ghirlane Synagogue	Ghirlane	Unknown
Synagogue at Ighil'n'Ogho	Ighil'n'Ogho	Unknown
Site where synagogue once stood	Ighalin	Ruin
Synagogue at Ifrane de Anti-Atlas	Ifrane	Unknown
Rabbi Meir Toledano Synagogue	Meknes	Unknown
Synagogue by Small Fountain	Meknes	Unknown
Old Synagogue at Ouirlane	Ouirlane	Repurposed
Synagogue (large modern), Oujda	Oujda	Unknown
Berdugo Synagogue	Rabat	Unknown
Talmud Torah Synagogue	Rabat	Museum / heritage
Buenos Synagogue	Rabat	Unknown
Elhalouf Synagogue	Rabat	Unknown
Rabbi Shalom Zaoui Synagogue	Rabat	Museum / heritage
Synagogue, Safi	Safi	Unknown
Slat del Haham	Sefrou	Unknown
Slat el-Kabira	Sefrou	Unknown
Slat Daniel	Sefrou	Unknown
Slat de Rabbi Raphael Moshe	Sefrou	Unknown
Slat de Meir	Sefrou	Unknown
Slat Zeghrira	Sefrou	Unknown
Yeshiva Etz Haim of Ozar Hatorah	Tangier	Unknown
Bendrihem Synagogue	Tangier	Unknown
Akiba Laredo Synagogue	Tangier	Ceremonially active
Rabbi Mordechai Bengio ("Etz Hayyim")	Tangier	Unknown
Avraham Toledano Synagogue	Tangier	Closed (1981)
Assayag (Rabbi Yehudah Azancot)	Tangier	Unknown
Moshe Nahon Synagogue	Tangier	Ceremonially active
Rabbi Messaoud Synagogue	Tangier	Unknown
Rabbi Yahya Synagogue	Tangier	Unknown
Swiri ("Shaarit Yosef") Synagogue	Tangier	Unknown
Synagogue at Taroudant (1)	Taroudant	Unknown
Synagogue at Taroudant (2)	Taroudant	Unknown
Synagogue at Taroudant (3)	Taroudant	Unknown
Tetouan Synagogue	Tetouan	Unknown
Timasla Synagogue	Timasla	Unknown

Which Synagogues in Morocco Can You Visit?

The synagogues you can visit in Morocco include Slat al-Azama in Marrakech, Moshe Nahon in Tangier, the Chaim Pinto Synagogue in Essaouira, and Ibn Danan and Slat al-Fassiyine in Fez. Most are restored heritage sites – hours vary, and a guide or advance arrangement helps.

Please note: visitable synagogues are not the same list as the active ones.

Most sites open to travellers are restored heritage buildings and museums, not working congregations. The active synagogues in Casablanca are places of worship first, so casual drop-in visits aren't the norm there.

During a regular private Jewish heritage tour of Morocco, it’s likely you’ll visit the famous synagogues such as Slat al-Azama synagogue in Marrakech. But that means visiting as a tourist – not necessarily for Shabbat prayers.

If you’re looking to take part in prayers, I will personally arrange this through my contacts at one of the three Chabad houses in Casablanca. One of my most popular guides in Morocco, Youssef Sebti, knows prominent Jewish families in Casablanca and will also arrange an authentic Jewish-Moroccan Shabbat meal.

I can also arrange for meals at one of our 10 recommended kosher restaurants in Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech. Catering will also be provided for when visiting sites outside of the big cities, where kosher restaurants typically are not available.

For more information on booking a kosher tour of Morocco, please contact me.

Slat al-Azama Synagogue (Marrakech)

Slat al-Azama is the most visited synagogue in Morocco and the anchor of any Marrakech Jewish itinerary. It sits in Marrakech's historic Jewish quarter, the mellah, founded by Sephardic Jews who arrived after the 1492 expulsion from Spain.

The synagogue functions today, though intermittently, and welcomes visitors around a central courtyard. It is the most known Moroccan synagogue by name, and a popular destination for a one-off visit or as part of a wider Jewish tour of Morocco.

Beth-El & Ettedgui (Casablanca)

Temple Beth-El is Casablanca's grand active congregation, often described as the last fully active synagogue in the city. Its stained glass and mid-century interior make it a landmark of Casablanca's Jewish history.

The nearby Ettedgui Synagogue was restored as part of the city's heritage-preservation work. Both are working synagogues rather than tourist stops, so visits are best arranged rather than assumed.

Ibn Danan & Slat al-Fassiyine (Fes)

Ibn Danan is one of Morocco's most important surviving synagogues and a highlight of the Fes mellah. Its 17th-century interior – carved wood, tilework, and a below-floor mikveh – is why it appears on UNESCO heritage listings.

Slat al-Fassiyine, restored in a major 2013 project, sits nearby and ranks among the oldest synagogues in Fez.

Moshe Nahon Synagogue (Tangier)

Moshe Nahon is often called Morocco's most beautiful synagogue, its interior dense with gilded arches, chandeliers, and painted detail. It is preserved and open to visitors rather than serving a regular congregation.

Tangier holds several other heritage synagogues, including the Rabbi Akiba (Moshe Laredo) Synagogue, which also welcomes visitors.

Chaim Pinto Synagogue (Essaouira) & The Old Synagogue (Ouarzazate)

The Chaim Pinto Synagogue honours a revered 18th-century rabbi and comes alive each year during the Hiloula pilgrimage, when visitors gather in his memory. It is a centrepiece of Essaouira's Jewish heritage and sites, even though no resident Jewish community remains in the city.

In the south, the Old Synagogue in Ouarzazate is preserved as a heritage site – a rare surviving trace of Jewish life along the old caravan routes.

Others Worth Knowing

A few more reward the curious traveller.

Isaac Ben Walid in Tetouan is a well-known heritage site in the old Spanish-Moroccan north. Rabbi Meir Toledano in Meknes and the Kahal Synagogue in Asilah round out the picture of a community that once stretched from the coast to the desert.

What Is the Oldest Synagogue in Morocco?

The oldest surviving synagogue building usually cited is the Ibn Danan Synagogue in Fez, founded on its present site in the 17th century. Older evidence exists: inscriptions at Volubilis point to a synagogue there in the 3rd century CE, though no building survives.

"Oldest" depends on definition, which is why sources disagree. A synagogue site, a standing building, and a continuous tradition are three different things.

The earliest evidence sits at Volubilis, the Roman city near Meknes, where 3rd-century inscriptions point to a Jewish presence and a synagogue. Nothing there stands as a synagogue today, so it counts as evidence rather than a building.

Among surviving buildings, Ibn Danan in Fez is the name cited most often, its present structure dating to the 17th century. Slat al-Fassiyine, also in Fez, has a contested older claim – some historians infer a pre-1492 foundation. In Marrakech, Slat al-Azama is traditionally dated to 1492, when Sephardic exiles arrived, though the current building came later.

So there is no single winner. The oldest evidence is Volubilis – the oldest surviving building generally cited is Ibn Danan.

Which Moroccan City Has the Most Synagogues?

Casablanca has the most active synagogues in Morocco today, with sources citing between roughly 12 and 20. Fez and Marrakech hold greater historic significance, with the largest concentrations of heritage synagogues, but far smaller living communities.

The answer splits by what you measure: active worship or historic heritage.

For active synagogues, Casablanca leads clearly. It holds Morocco's largest surviving Jewish community and its only cluster of working synagogues – PBS NewsHour reports 17, while the Atlantic Council cites 20 active synagogues alongside kosher restaurants, butchers, and Jewish schools.

This is why Casablanca is central to Casablanca's Jewish history both past and present.

For heritage, Fez and Marrakech dominate. Fez alone accounts for a large share of the documented sites, a legacy of its centuries as a centre of Moroccan Jewish scholarship. Marrakech's mellah was among the largest in the country.

The distinction matters. Casablanca is where Jewish life continue, but Fez and Marrakech are where its deepest history is written into the walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there active synagogues in Morocco?

Yes. Morocco has roughly 12 to 20 active synagogues, almost all in Casablanca, including Temple Beth-El and the Ettedgui Synagogue. Talmud Torah in Fez and Slat al-Azama in Marrakech also hold services, though less regularly. Active congregations are a much shorter list than the synagogues open to visitors.

Are there any synagogues in Marrakech?

Yes. The main synagogue in Marrakech is Slat al-Azama, in the mellah, founded by Sephardic Jews after 1492. It functions today and is the most visited synagogue in Morocco, with reviews and ticket information listed directly in Google.

Can tourists visit synagogues in Morocco?

Yes. Tourists can visit several Moroccan synagogues, with Slat al-Azama in Marrakech the most accessible. Most visitable sites are restored heritage buildings and museums, so hours vary and modest dress is expected. A guide or advance arrangement helps, especially for sites inside old mellahs or for working synagogues in Casablanca.

Is Morocco safe for Jewish visitors?

Morocco is widely regarded as one of the more welcoming countries in the region for Jewish travellers, with a long tradition of coexistence. For a fuller answer, see our guide on whether Morocco is safe for Jewish travellers.

How many Jews live in Morocco?

Fewer than 5,000 Jews live in Morocco today, most of them in Casablanca, down from a peak of around 250,000 in the 1950s. See our detailed guide on how many Jews live in Morocco today.

Explore Morocco's Synagogues with Shin Tours

Shin Tours specialises in Jewish heritage travel across Morocco, from the working synagogues of Casablanca to the restored monuments of Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier.

My team's private Jewish heritage tours of Morocco open doors that are hard to reach alone – arranging access, timing visits around opening hours, and telling the story behind each site. Many of these synagogues sit unmarked inside old mellahs, and a our local guides can help you meet local Jewish families and enjoy an authentic meal together.

I regularly organise kosher tours of Morocco too which include kosher restaurants, kosher catering and Shabbat prayers at active synagogues.

Start by requesting a free itinerary built around your interests, or get in touch for more questions.