Synagogue ruins shine light on ancient community in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains

Israeli, Moroccan and French researchers found amulets at a ruined synagogue in Morocco, the last remnants of a bygone community

REMAINDERS OF A Jewish-Moroccan community that existed for centuries were recently found in a remote town in the Atlas Mountains, on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The small Jewish community of Tamanart lived there from the 16th century to the early 19th century. 

Along with the building’s walls, the researchers found Scriptures and pages from the synagogue’s genizah, a repository for damaged written matter and ritual objects, as well as a few paper amulets. One was meant to protect a woman in labour and her newborn, another a personal charm meant to protect its owner from trouble and disease. 

“The texts in these amulets are based on formulas found in the Book of Raziel, an ancient Kabbalist book,” says Orit Ouaknine-Yekutieli, a researcher of modern Morocco who teaches at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The book, which includes texts for charms, was in use by Jewish communities in Morocco.

Among other texts written on these amulets were a Kabbalist version of one of God’s names, as well as quotes from the book of Genesis and from the priestly blessing.

FULL STORY Synagogue ruins tell secrets of Jewish community in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains (Haaretz)

Photo: Shoham Yekutieli, left, Orit Ouaknine-Yekutieli, Adi Gura and Mona Goury Nacich at the site of the ruined synagogue (Haaretz)