The Lazama Synagogue, or Slat al-Azama, is the main synagogue still in use in the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter of Marrakech. Tradition links it to the megorashim, the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 who joined the Jewish communities of Morocco; no document confirms this date, however, and the Mellah itself was only created in 1558. The current building dates from the early 20th century and has been renovated several times. It is laid out around an open-air courtyard, with the prayer hall on one side and, in the neighbouring rooms, the Jewish Museum of the Mellah. Damaged by the earthquake of 8 September 2023, the synagogue has remained a place of worship and also welcomes visitors.
Highlights
The courtyard
Tiled in blue and white zellige, planted with trees and centred on a low fountain, it leads to every room in the building. On the walls, some of the ceramic patterns form Stars of David. The synagogue is part of a group of dwellings, and a few families still live around the courtyard.
The prayer hall
Rows of wooden benches face the holy ark, which holds the Torah scrolls; the original wooden ark has been replaced by a marble ensemble topped by the Tablets of the Law. The walls are covered in zellige up to half their height and hung with memorial plaques. A women's gallery was added during renovations in the second half of the 20th century, an arrangement that is rare in Moroccan synagogues.
The Jewish Museum of the Mellah
The rooms around the courtyard display old photographs of Jewish families from Marrakech and the Atlas, prayer books, documents and texts on the life of the community. An aerial map details the nearby Miâara Jewish cemetery.
The upper floor and community life
The upper floor houses a yeshiva (a school of religious study) and community rooms. The Jewish community of Marrakech now numbers only about 200 people, but the synagogue still hosts services and celebrations, including bar mitzvahs and weddings of families from abroad.
Infos pratiques
Tips
A contribution of around 10 dirhams per person is requested at the entrance, payable in cash (prices noted in October 2026). Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. The entrance, in a narrow lane, is easy to miss: passers-by often offer to take you there for a tip, or claim it is closed in order to lead you elsewhere. Follow the sign reading "Slat El-Azama Synagogue – Musée juif du Mellah" instead. Another small synagogue in the district, known as the Neguidim, is sometimes open to visitors for a donation of your choice; the Mellah's other prayer rooms cannot be visited.
How to get there
Rue Talmoud Torah (Derb Manchoura), in the heart of the Mellah, in the south-east of the medina On foot: about 5 minutes from Place des Ferblantiers, the main entrance to the Mellah, and about 20 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna square By petit taxi: ask for "Place des Ferblantiers", then continue on foot through the lanes of the Mellah
Opening hours
Nearby
Comments
No comments yet.