Rosh Hashanah in Morocco

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated by Jews all over the world. It is also the birthday of the universe and the day God created Adam and Eve. 

But Rosh Hashanah in Morocco has a unique cultural flavour that reflects the country’s long and closely intertwined relationship with the Jewish people that have lived there. It is a time for the Jewish community to come together, family and friends but also to welcome others to share in their festivities and to promote religious tolerance and understanding.

Join us at Mint Tea Tours as we explore Rosh Hashanah and its importance to the Jewish community in Morocco. 

A Brief Overview of Rosh Hashanah.

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is a time for reflection, introspection, and prayer. The holiday is also known as the Day of Judgment, as it is believed that on this day, God judges each person’s actions over the past year and decides their fate for the coming year. It is furthermore called Yom Teruah; “The Day of Shouting” and is the first of the High Holy Days in Judaism. It is the beginning of ten days of penitence that ends with the festival of Yom Kippur. It is a National Holiday only in Israel and Ukraine. 

According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the day that Adam and Eve were created.

The Moroccan Jewish Community. 

The majority of native Moroccan Jews left the country to go to Israel, beginning in small numbers in the second half of the nineteenth century, but becoming an exodus soon after the Israeli State was officially founded in 1948. The Moroccan Jewish population reached its zenith in the early fifties when it is estimated that there were between a quarter of a million to a third of a million Jews in the country. By the end of late 1964, most of the Jews were gone, only approximately 5,000 were left.

Today, there are thought to be about 2,250 adherents of Judaism in Morocco, mostly in Casablanca but with smaller, aging populations elsewhere. But those that remain are fiercely loyal Moroccan subjects  They are proud of both their Jewish and Moroccan heritage and can date their history in Morocco all the way back to Roman times, almost two thousand years ago. They celebrate Rosh Hashanah in Morocco with great zeal and enthusiasm.

In Israel, there are over half a million Jews of Moroccan descent and there are other large populations of Moroccan Jews in the USA, France, Canada, Spain, and South America. Many of these visit their ancestral homes in  Morocco for Rosh Hashanah and there are often American Jewish students living and studying in the country at this time. 

Rosh Hashanah in Morocco is marked by traditional foods, prayers, and customs, some of which are unique to the Moroccan Jewish community.

Traditional Moroccan Jewish Foods for Rosh Hashanah.

Food plays a central role in the celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Morocco. 

Apples dipped in honey are consumed to symbolise hope for a sweet New Year. Pomegranates symbolise fertility and wine is drunk. The Talmud says,

“Let a man be accustomed to consume on New Year’s Day gourds, and fenugreek, beet leaves, and dates”

so these items are also commonly served.

 Here are some of the traditional Moroccan Jewish dishes that are prepared for the holiday:

• Challa: This is a round, braided bread that is a staple of Jewish holidays. It is often served with honey.
• Tzimmes: This is a sweet stew made with carrots, sweet potatoes, and dried fruits. Sliced carrots represent gold coins and symbolize abundance and prosperity.
• Couscous: This is a traditional Moroccan dish made with semolina wheat. It is often served with vegetables and meat and is a sign of unity and togetherness.
• Harira: This is a hearty soup made with lentils, tomatoes, and spices. It is a symbol of the hope for a fresh start in the New Year.

Prayers and Customs

In addition to the traditional foods, several prayers and customs are unique to the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.

• Sounding the Shofar: The shofar is a ram’s horn that is blown on weekday mornings during the month preceding the holiday. It is a call to wake the people from their moral “sleep”, to repent, and a reminder of God’s power and authority.
• Tashlich: On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, Jews go to a body of flowing water, pray, and symbolically cast off their sins by throwing bread crumbs, or stones into the water. This used to be a private matter carried out by individual adherents but today is often a social event performed in small groups. 
• Lighting Candles: Candles are lit eighteen minutes before sundown on the first night of Rosh Hashanah to welcome the New Year and symbolise the beauty of the festival. On the second day,  candles must not be lit until at least one hour after the time they were lit on the first day to ensure they are not alight on the same day. Candles should be placed where they can be easily seen. 
• Reading the Torah: The Torah is read in synagogue on Rosh Hashanah, with special emphasis on the sections that deal with the creation of the world and the role of humanity in it. There are also a lot of important prayers. 

The Unique Cultural Experience of Rosh Hashanah in Morocco

The celebration of Rosh Hashanah in Morocco is a unique cultural experience that reflects the country’s and the Jewish people’s rich and diverse shared history. The Moroccan Jewish community has a long and proud past, and the celebration of Rosh Hashanah is a testament to their resilience and commitment to preserving their traditions and customs.

For visitors to Morocco, the celebration of Rosh Hashanah is a fascinating glimpse into the country’s cultural diversity. It is a time when the Moroccan Jewish community opens its doors to the wider community, sharing their traditions and customs with others.

In conclusion, Rosh Hashanah in Morocco is a very special occasion that is not to be missed. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and community, and it exemplifies the vibrant and fascinating history of the Moroccan Jewish community.