Temple Beth Shalom Journey to Morocco

• Depart the United States for Casablanca, Morocco.

• Arrive at Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca.
• Drive into Casablanca to the hotel to pick up the early arrivals.
• Begin with a viewpoints tour of the city.
• Visit the Beth El synagogue, often considered the centerpiece of a once-vibrant Jewish community, with its stained-glass windows and other artistic elements.
• Guided visit through the recently-renovated Museum of Moroccan Judaism.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Festive welcome dinner with leaders of the Casablanca Jewish Community.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit the Casablanca Mellah.
• Guided visit to the Hassan II Mosque, inaugurated in 1994 and one of the largest in the world outside of Mecca
• Lunch at the home of Dorith Benmoha, former country director of the Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
• Enjoy a relaxing getaway and check out Ain Diab (also known as The Corniche), a stunning promenade along the Atlantic coast and near the city center.
• Explore bustling markets filled with unique items like handmade crafts, beautiful fabrics, and aromatic spices.
• Dinner and evening on own.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Drive to Rabat.
• Guided visit through Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and visit the Jewish Quarter, the Oudayas Gardens, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and Hassan Tower.
• Lunch on own.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Dinner with a member of the Moroccan Jewish community leadership

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Depart Rabat for Meknes to visit the Bab Monsour Gate and the Jewish Quarter.
• Drive to Volubilis, ancient Roman city
• Lunch en route on own.
• Continue to Fes.
• Arrive in Fes with a short viewpoints tour.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Dinner and evening on own.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Begin the day at the Fes Jewish Cemetery and the graves of Rabbi Yehuda Ben Attar and Solika the Righteous.
• Continue to the Fes Mellah, the once-Jewish Quarter, including the Ibn Danan 17th century synagogue and a view of the King’s Palace.
• Guided visit through the Medina, including visits to Maimonides House, with special focus on Maimonides the physician.
• Lunch on own in the Medina.
• Embark on a guided visit through the Fes Medina and the largest Medieval Souq (market) in Africa, with its exotic architecture, carpet shops and artisans.
• Visit the only active Fes synagogue, followed by dinner with members of the Jewish community.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Flight to Marrakech.
• Introduction to Marrakech at the Djemaa El-Fna Square with its street vendors and snake charmers.
• Lunch on own.
• Check in to the hotel.
• Free afternoon for rest, relaxation and self-exploration.
• Time for Shabbat preparation.
• Kabbalat Shabbat at the Marrakech synagogue and festive home hospitality Shabbat dinner.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech’s most famous landmark and the Jewish cemetery.
• Continue by foot to the Medina (Old City) and Mellah (former Jewish Quarter), include the Lazama Synagogue, the remnants of Jewish communal buildings and the Bahaia Palace
• Guided walk through Marrakech, including a return visit to the Djemaa El-Fna Square, the bustling central square in the medina, and the Saadian Tombs.
• Lunch on own.
• Continue to the Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa, an architectural treasure nestled in the heart of the ancient Medina of Marrakech, for a throwback to a fascinating era where art, knowledge, and culture flourished
• Return to hotel.
• Havdallah, followed by a show and dinner.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Board 4×4 vehicles to depart the city.
• Drive to Agafay Desert with magnificent views over the desert and the Atlas Mountains.
• Stop along the way at Lake Lalla Takerkoust, for tea with local residents
• Lunch in the desert.
• Return to Marrakech.
• Free afternoon for rest and relaxation.
• Dinner and evening on own.

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit the Majorelle Garden, constructed over a period of 40 years by French artist Jacques Majorelle.
• Depart for the Ourika Valley in the High Atlas Mountains with a visit to the grave of the Tzaddik Rabbi Shlomo ben Hensh, and hear the story of Hananiyah Elfassie, one of the last Berber Jews.
• Continue through the lush Ourika Valley and visit one of the Berber villages of Setti Fatma, with an opportunity for a short mountain walk and view of the waterfalls, with lunch on own.
• Return to Marrakech.
• Free afternoon for rest, relaxation and last-minute shopping.
• Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.

• Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
• Depart for Casablanca Airport (3 hours)
• Return flight to the United States.

Program is subject to change, pending confirmations.