The Aben Danan Synagogue is located in the historic Mellah, the Jewish quarter of Fez. It is one of the last remaining synagogues in Morocco that has been preserved in its original state.

The architecture is influenced by both Jewish and Islamic elements. Here you can see the raised niche, which is separated from the main prayer room by a wooden screen with a series of arches. This was intended as a seating area for special members of the congregation. The bima, a platform from which the Torah was read during the service, is also located here. The old picture probably shows two rabbis or teachers supervising pupils who are engaged in religious study.

In the middle of the 20th century, the majority of Moroccan Jews emigrated. As a result, hardly any Jews still live in the old Mellah today. The Aben Danan Synagogue The synagogue began to fall into disrepair and was restored in the 1990s and reopened in 1999. Today, the Aben Danan Synagogue is an important monument to the once vibrant Jewish community of Fès.

Before photo:
Unbekannter Urheber, gefunden auf http://rol-benzaken.centerblog.net/rub-les-mellahs-du-maroc--11.html (accessed on 06/06/2025). Article de Ariel Danan, doctor in history