Slat al-Azama Synagogue
The Slat al-Azama Synagogue or Lazama Synagogue (
History
The synagogue was associated with
On September 8th, 2023, the synagogue and surrounding Jewish quarter were damaged by an earthquake. No casualties were reported.[8]
Architecture
The synagogue is integrated into a larger building which consisted of a private house with a central courtyard (popularly referred to as a riad).[1][2][7] This integration of a synagogue into a private home was typical of most synagogues in the Mellah of Marrakesh[6] as well as in the Mellah of Fez.[9] The synagogue itself has traditional Moroccan decoration such as zellij (mosaic tilework).[1]
The east side was renovated after the 1950s, with the addition of a wing for women (ezrat nashim), which is unique in Morocco where tradition dictates that women stay in a separate room at the entrance of the synagogue.[10] The original wooden Torah ark has been replaced by a marble ark, which is located next to the eastern wall. Notes drawn in the 1950s by architect Yaacov Finkerfeld demonstrate that the space mentioned above did not exist for women and that the interior was divided into two naves by four columns. On the upper floor there is a yeshiva.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Lazama Synagogue | Marrakesh, Morocco Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ a b c "Morocco is a trove of Jewish history if you know where to go". AP NEWS. 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ Stiefel, Barry L. (2015). Jews and the Renaissance of Synagogue Architecture, 1450–1730. Routledge. p. 54.
- ^ Deverdun, Gaston (1959). Marrakech: Des origines à 1912. Rabat: Éditions Techniques Nord-Africaines.
- ISBN 2747523888.
- ^ a b The Rough Guide to Morocco (12th ed.). Rough Guides. 2019. p. 318.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ Ran, Gido; Marrakesh; Eichner, Itamar (2023-09-10). "Although whole in body, some in Marrakesh Jewish community left destitute following quake". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- JSTOR 991758.
- ^ a b "Las sinagogas marroques". 2009-10-25. Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2020-11-30.