Fez opens museum dedicated to Moroccan Jewish culture

Fès opens a museum dedicated to Moroccan Jewish culture

The Museum of Moroccan Jewish Culture opened its doors on Monday 12 October 2026 in the heart of the Mellah of Fès. The institution highlights an essential component of the national heritage. It aims to preserve the memory of Moroccan Judaism and to promote the history of coexistence between Jews and Muslims.

The project stems from a royal initiative launched in April 2019 during a visit by King Mohammed VI to Fès. This approach formed part of the programme for the rehabilitation and enhancement of the old medina. The Mellah, founded in 1438, is among the oldest organised Jewish quarters in Morocco, anchoring the museum in a long history.

The land on which the building was erected was donated by the Jewish community of Fès, demonstrating its direct involvement. The design also involved the Moroccan Jewish community, notably through Serge Berdugo, founding president of the Foundation for Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage.

The architecture respects traditional Moroccan codes and integrates into the historic setting of the medina. Covering more than 1,700 m² of total floor space, of which approximately 1,200 m² are exhibition areas, the museum offers a varied collection of ritual and everyday objects, archaeological, ethnographic and artistic pieces, as well as rare archives and manuscripts.

The works, completed in March 2023, were carried out by ADER-Fès in consultation with the National Museum Foundation. The public funding of this museum is presented as a historic first in an Arab-Muslim country for a museum institution entirely dedicated to Hebrew culture as a component of the national heritage.

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