On Rosh Hashanah, we gather at the synagogue to pray, reflect on the past year, and repent. The sound of the shofar evokes the binding of Isaac and signals our spiritual awakening. During the Tachilkh ceremony, we symbolically cast our sins into the water, signifying our desire for purification.
The Beth-El Synagogue (בית אל = House of G-od) was inaugurated on Rosh Hashanah 5757 (1). It is the heart of the Jewish community in Casablanca, bearing witness to faith, culture, and the long Jewish history in Morocco, dating back over 2000 years (2).
The synagogue is built in a neo-classical style. The interior decor incorporates elements of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, including gebs (3). Its colorful stained glass windows and majestic chandeliers are also remarkable.
(1) In gematria, the year 5757 (התשנז) has a numerical value of 762, corresponding to Zechariah 14:9: “And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day, the Lord will be one and his name one.
והיה יי למלך על כל הארץ ביום ההוא יהיה יי אחד
(2) The Jewish presence in Morocco dates back to the 2nd century BCE, notably in Volubilis during the Roman era. It was reinforced in the 7th century by the arrival of Jewish migrants from the Iberian Peninsula fleeing the Visigothic persecutions of the 7th century. Later, the Jewish population came under Muslim rule and was subjected to the status of dhimmis, occasionally facing persecutions. Despite this, the community provided refuge to Jews fleeing the Inquisition. At the beginning of the 20th century, with several hundred thousand members, much of the Jewish community left Morocco between 1950 and 1960.
(3) In Morocco, master craftsmen elevate plaster by sculpting and chiseling it to create genuine masterpieces, covering the upper walls, arches, and ceilings.