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Jewish cemeteries, Essaouira - Wikipedia

Captured 2025-11-22

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Jewish cemeteries, Essaouira - Wikipedia

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This Wikipedia page provides a detailed examination of the Jewish cemeteries in Essaouira, Morocco, documenting two significant burial grounds that serve as important historical and cultural landmarks for the city's once-thriving Jewish community. The page focuses on both the old cemetery (also known as the marine cemetery) and the new cemetery, offering insights into the Jewish heritage of this coastal Moroccan city. Located at coordinates 31°31′03″N 9°45′50″W, these cemeteries represent tangible connections to Essaouira's diverse religious and cultural past. The old cemetery, dating back to 1775, stands as the more historically significant of the two sites, dramatically positioned by the sea with only a single wall separating it from the ocean. This marine cemetery contains approximately 2,400 tombstones crafted from rocky stones and served as the primary burial ground for Essaouira's large Jewish community until around 1875. The cemetery's most notable feature is the mausoleum of Rabbi Ḥaim Pinto, which draws numerous visitors and underscores the site's continued religious significance. The cemetery also pays tribute to various rabbis who served the community, highlighting the important role of religious leadership in the historical Jewish population of Essaouira. The newer cemetery, established in 1892 and located opposite the old one, represents the continued presence of the Jewish community into the modern era, though it reflects the community's gradual decline over time. Interestingly, the page notes that as recently as 2010, writer Edmond Amran El Maleh specifically requested to be buried in the old cemetery rather than the new one, demonstrating the enduring spiritual and cultural significance of the original burial ground. The article includes several photographic elements showing tributes to rabbis, tombstones from both cemeteries, and the mausoleum of Rabbi Haim Pinto, providing visual documentation of these important heritage sites. The page is part of a broader Wikipedia framework documenting Jewish heritage in Morocco, as evidenced by the comprehensive navigation template that includes information about Moroccan Jewish history, culture, languages, communities, and institutions. The article cites academic sources and cultural organizations, including references to scholarly works on Jewish and Muslim migrants in the Maghreb and documentation from the World Monuments Fund, indicating its value for researchers studying Jewish diaspora history, Moroccan cultural heritage, and religious architecture in North Africa.

Citation (APA Style)

Jewish cemeteries, Essaouira - Wikipedia. (2025, 11 22). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_cemeteries,_Essaouira

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Domain en.wikipedia.org
File Size 389 KB
Archived 2025-11-22T01:02:29.475852
Document ID #41
Languages 5 available