BUILDING BRIDGES - MOROCCO 2023

February 20 - 28, 2023

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Morocco offers a fascinating opportunity to explore multiple dimensions of religion and culture in the Middle East/North Africa region. With distinctive Muslim practice and belief and being the site of Jewish communities for roughly 2,500 years, Morocco represents a nexus of Jewish, Arab, Berber, African, Spanish and French cultural elements and influences.

Our Sisters will be immersed in the rich culture and religious history of Morocco during a tour of Marrakech, Casablanca, Essaouira and rural Berber villages in the Atlas Mountains. We will learn how Islam, Judaism, and Christianity have evolved in the region over the years and how they have existed in harmony for quite some time. We will explore our overlapping traditions and beliefs as we visit sites such as Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque and the city's old Jewish quarter, which has over 30 synagogues.

We will enjoy this unique experience of bonding with our Muslim and Jewish sisters while learning about the Moroccan culture, architecture, food, daily life of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Morocco.

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    Trip Itinerary

    Included:

    7 nights’ accommodation (double occupancy) at 3-star hotels

    1 full time guide throughout the trip

    Pick up on arrival from Casablanca airport.
    Private Bus Transportation (except for Shabbat and old town)

    All Breakfasts.

    10 Meals -Lunch, dinner - as listed in itinerary.

    Entrances, sites, and honorariums for speakers

    Dedicated Pre-trip customer service and on-ground support

    All tips throughout the tour for drivers, guides, hotels

    Day 1 - Casablanca! Meet the tour guide and hear from a historian to learn about Morocco's ancient and recent history.  Group dinner.

    Day 2 - Casablanca to Essaouira!  Visit Hassan II mosque in Casablanca then continue to the Museum of Moroccan Judaism and the Jewish neighborshood in Casablanca.  Visit Bet El synagogue and meet with Isaac Oyayon, the synagogue's cantor.

    Day 3 - Essaouira! Take a short tour with guide to learn about Essouira and then meet with the Mayor of Essaouira or similar official.  Visit the Bayt Dakira, or the House of Memory, the former home of a wealthy trader, and now converted into a space dedicated to the historic coexistence of Morocco’s Jewish and Muslim communities, and meet with the Museum’s Director. Enjoy some time on your own to get lunch and to wander through the charming labyrinthine lanes lined with Portuguese, French, and Amazigh architecture. In the afternoon, meet for a debrief and then enjoy dinner and an evening of live Gnawa music, Moroccan and sub-Saharan African Islamic religious songs and rhythms that combine poetry with traditional music and dancing.

    Day 4 – Marrakech! Visit the El Badi Palace, The Palace of Wonders and Brilliance, which was commissioned in the 16th century. Take this opportunity to learn about the history of Marrakech. In the evening, meet with an Iman.

    Day 5 – Marrakech! Visit Gueliz Synagogue and meet with Jackie Kadosh, a leader in the Jewish Community in Marrakech. Visit Jemaa el-Fnaa, a square and market, then visit Medrasa Ben Youssef, formerly the largest Islamic college in Marrakech. Explore the historic Saadian Tombs and learn about their dynasty ruling in the 16th century. Stop in at a traditional Amazigh pharmacy and visit the Kutubiyya Mosque. Enjoy free time for lunch and Friday prayer. In the evening join the Jewish community in Marrakech for Shabbat.

    Day 6 – Marrakech! Visit the Synagogue in the morning and enjoy an optional walking tour with your tour guide of the Mellah Jewish quarter and visit the secret garden in the old town. In the early evening, meet with a speaker on interfaith in Morocco at your hotel, followed by a group dinner together.

    Day 7 – Marrakech and a trip to the Villages of the High Atlas Mountains! Meet and spend the day with the High Atlas Foundation, an organization that promotes sustainable development, women and youth empowerment, and interfaith relations. Visit some of the villages and women’s co-ops whom they work with and hear first-hand stories of the life-changing work the organization is doing in the villages of the High Atlas. Enjoy lunch with locals in a nearby village.

    Day 8 – Marrakech to Casablanca! In the morning, visit the Maison De La Photographie Museum or Dar Si Said Museum. Afterwards, take part in a cooking class and feast on your creations. After lunch, visit Bahia Palace, a late 19th century palace built by Si Moussa, the powerful Grand Vizier of Sultan Hassan I, featuring dazzling displays of zellij tiles, painted ceilings, ornate wrought iron features, opulent salons of the harem era, and a massive grand marble courtyard. In the evening meet with an Imam for a conversation on Islam in Morocco. Drive to Casablanca, and end the day together at a farewell dinner.

    Day 9, Departure

     

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