New Jewish arrivals to Fez from Dila brought diversity to the Jewish community, however much of its Spanish character was lost. Eventually, the Spanish newcomers gained the upper hand, and many of their customs became the minhag of the community and they held the office of nagid established at the beginning of the 16th century.Īs Fez declined in political and economic importance in the late 16th century, many wealthy Jews left Fez. Ironically, the Spanish exiles and the Jewish natives of Fez feuded often. In 1492, the influx of Spanish exiles reinvigorated the community and it managed to survive.
When he appointed a Jew as Prime Minister in 1465, the town rose up in anger, assassinated the sultan and his minister and massacred most of the Jewish community. And yet, the sultan turned to the Jews of Fez to help straighten out the public finances. Mellah is Arabic for salt, and the community got the name because the Jews were forced to salt the heads of executed prisoners prior to their public display. During one such decline in 1438, the Jews were forced to live in a special Jewish quarter situated on the site referred to as the mellah in New Fez. Depending on the ruling dynasty, Jewish life alternated between freedom and prosperity and merciless persecutions. He had lived in Fez for five years after being uprooted from his home in Cordoba, Spain.Īfter these traumatic times, the welfare of the Jewish community was never certain. In fact, the most famous refugee from the Almohade terror in Fez was Moses Maimonides, who escaped with his family to Egypt in 1165. The invasions of the Almoravides and Almohades, fanatic Muslim sects, caused destruction and suffering to the Jewish community in Fez, just as it did throughout Andalusia. Sages such as Dunash Ibn Labrat, and Rabbi Isaac Alfasi spent most of their lives in Fez before they migrated to Spain. From the 9th to 11th centuries, its yeshivot (religious schools) attracted brilliant scholars, poets and grammarians. The golden age of the Jewish community in Fez lasted for nearly three hundred years. Though he was the most powerful person in the realm, his offense against the widely respected Jewish community caused a violent uprising throughout the town.
He forced his way into a public bath in the Jewish quarter (al-Funduk al-Yahudi), where she was at the time. According to tradition, in 860, the ruler of Fez became infatuated with a young Jewish woman. The influence they wielded and the respect they commanded are further demonstrated by a legendary tale that has been associated with the community. They paid an annual tax of 30,000 dinars, an indication of their wealth. Idriss II (808) admitted large numbers of Jews from Andalusia, whose commercial skills and wide regional contacts were instrumental in enriching his kingdom.
Jews played an important role in the commercial and cultural life of Morocco's capital city. This security inaugurated a prolonged period of prosperity that would peak in the 14th century under the reign of the Merinides Dynasty. After his death, further development was delayed until the 11th century when Prince Youseff Ibn Tachfine united both halves of the city and built a wall around Fez.
Under Idriss II, the fledgling city expanded and Idriss surrounded the left bank with walls. His goal was to convert all his subjects to Islam, but his son and successor was more tolerant. The estimated population in Fez is 300,000 with a tiny Jewish presence.įez was founded by Idriss I in the eighth century. Fez remained a commercial center for much of its history. The city is situated in a narrow valley and positioned on the old crossroads of caravan routes connecting the Saharan empires with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean shipping lanes. Virtual Jewish World: Table of Contents| Africa| Moroccoįez is located in the northeast part of Morocco between the Riff and the Middle Atlas mountains on the two shores of the wadi (valley) Fez.
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