Name of Monument:

Danan Synagogue (Slat Rabbi Shelomo Danan)

Location:

Jewish Quarter (Mellah), Fez, Morocco

Date of Monument:

Hegira 1091 / AD 1680

Period / Dynasty:

Alawid

Patron(s):

Mimon Bussidan, well-known Jew originally from Zawiyat Aït Ishaq (Middle Atlas).

Description:

In order to establish his authority over the country, Mulay Rashid, the founder of the 'Alawid dynasty (AH 1075–83 / AD 1664–72) had to fight against the Marabut brotherhoods, in particular the Dilai, whose zawiya was located near to the town of Khenifra in the Middle Atlas on the land of the Ait Ishaq, where a significant Jewish community lived.
In AH 1076 / AD 1666, Mulay Rashid took Fez from the Dilai and decided to make it his capital. He undertook the revitalisation of the town by restoring it and repopulating it. To do so, he moved in elements of the Arab Cheraga tribe from eastern Morocco, whom he enlisted in his army, and he brought a large part of the Jewish community of Ait Ishaq to relaunch economic activity in the town and take on certain administrative functions. This migration involved the expansion of the Jewish Quarter (mellah) and it resulted in the construction of a new synagogue.
This new temple, erected by Mimon Bussidan around AH 1091 / AD 1680, owes its name to Rabbi Shelomo Danan (1847–1928) who officiated there at the beginning of the 20th century.
The building originally consisted of three naves backing on to the rampart of the mellah, which constitutes its eastern wall and is home to the huge hekhal, the cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept.
A fourth nave, with a lower ceiling and an azara (women's gallery), was added subsequently.
Later still, the synagogue was endowed with a teba (altar) raised up on steps, which included an elegant wooden lectern and a wrought-iron balustrade overlooking the prayer room.
The entrance, originally located in the enclosure wall, was blocked up at the time of the construction of the fourth nave, and henceforth access was gained from the opposite side through a very plain door, a square hallway that leads to the teba and the fourth nave.
Restoration work undertaken at the end of the 20th century brought to light a mikvé (ritual bath) beneath the synagogue, from which a trapdoor leads to an underground water course. The faithful would go there during the festival of Rosh Hashanah to 'to shake off their sins in the water'. This mikvé, which was initially located outside the synagogue, was bricked in to enable the construction of the fourth nave.
The building's load-bearing walls are made of full bricks and lime mortar, with the exception of the eastern wall which is part of the adobe enclosure wall.
The octagonal pillars are made of full bricks and the floors are covered with green and white rectangular earthenware tiles set in a herringbone pattern.
The interior decoration is focused around the Torah cabinets, with the upper part being surrounded by a large band of sculpted plaster painted with geometric motifs, and the lower part with a band of ceramic marquetry in white and blue that reaches the floor via a high step that runs all round the room.
The synagogue is no longer used as a place of worship and, being classified as an historic monument, it is open to the public.

To kickstart the economy and reinforce the government, the 'Alawid Mulay Rashid moved a part of the Middle Atlas Jewish community to Fez, which he had recently conquered. A new synagogue was erected in the extended Jewish quarter.
The original three naves were later complemented by an altar with a wooden lectern, an iron balustrade, and a fourth nave with a women's gallery. There is a ritual bath in the basement. In the prayer room, the painted plasterwork and ceramic inlays of the Torah cabinets are the main decorative elements.
The synagogue is no longer sacred and is now open to the public.

How Monument was dated:

Information provided by Simon Lévy, General Secretary of the Foundation of Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage.

Selected bibliography:

La Synagogue Danan restaurée, Foundation of Judeo-Moroccan Cultural Heritage, Casablanca, undated.

Citation of this web page:

Kamal Lakhdar "Danan Synagogue (Slat Rabbi Shelomo Danan)" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2025. 2025.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;ma;Mon01;34;en

Prepared by: Kamal LakhdarKamal Lakhdar

Linguiste et sociologue de formation, c'est en autodidacte que Kamal Lakhdar s'est adonné aux études d'histoire du Maroc et du monde arabo-musulman, en axant tout spécialement ses recherches sur l'histoire de Rabat.
Sa carrière de haut fonctionnaire l'a conduit à occuper des fonctions de premier plan auprès de différents ministères. Il a notamment été membre du cabinet du ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur, conseiller du ministre des Finances, conseiller du ministre du Commerce et de l'Industrie, directeur de cabinet du ministre du Tourisme, chargé de mission auprès du Premier ministre et directeur de cabinet du Premier ministre.
Parallèlement, Kamal Lakhdar mène des activités de journaliste et d'artiste peintre – il a d'ailleurs été membre du Conseil supérieur de la Culture.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Laurence Nunny
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: MO 43