Morocco's Jewish Legacy: The Mellah and the Makhzen

In this episode of The Story of Morocco, Lucas and Luna explore the deep history of Morocco's Jewish communities, from the Roman era to the rise of the Alaouite dynasty. They focus on the creation of the first mellah (Jewish quarter) in Fez in 1438, tracing how the Marinid sultan Abd al-Haqq II confined Jews to a walled district near the royal palace. The conversation unpacks the complex role of the Makhzen (the Moroccan state) as both protector and persecutor: Jews served as key diplomats and merchants for sultans like Moulay Ismail, yet faced periodic violence and forced conversions. Lucas explains the legal status of dhimmis under Islamic law, the economic specialisation of Jewish artisans in metals and jewellery, and the cultural synthesis visible in Judeo-Arabic music and language. The episode also touches on the decline of Jewish life after 1912 and the mass emigration of 250,000 Jews to Israel between 1948 and 1967. Specific figures include Samuel Pallache, a 17th-century Jewish corsair and diplomat for Moulay Zidan, and Rabbi Shlomo Ben Lihoun, a saint venerated by both Muslims and Jews. The story is anchored in the physical remains of the mellahs of Fez, Marrakech, and Sefrou. #Morocco #JewishHistory #Mellah #Fez #Makhzen #Alaouite #Marinid #Dhimmi #SamuelPallache #JudeoArabic #Sefrou #Marrakech #MoulayIsmail #SultanAbdAlHaqq #NorthAfrica #JewishDiaspora #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo