Greetings!
Today, we met Solomon, one of the last eight remaining Jews in
Tetouan, Morocco. Were it not Saturday, he would have let us see the last remaining synagogue. Once home to thousands of Andalusian and Sephardic Jews, Tetouan supported 17 synagogues in its UNESCO World Heritage site.
Much earlier, Mauretanian Berbers and Phoenician traders occupied the city from the 3rd Century BC, and were augmented by refugees from Spain during the Reconquista prior to 1492.
More recently, the city and its surrounding area is undergoing changes. Buildings the are being renovated, and the Jewish quarter is being restored. Tetouan's many protectorate colonies have left their individual marks, but what remains is a rich tapestry of tolerance and shared adaptation.
On the way back to Chefchaouan, we stopped by a cannabis farm surrounded by corn a couple of feet higher just off the highway. Seventy percent of Europe's hashish is grown in Morocco, and the country is discussing paths to legalization for at least medicinal uses.
To see all of the photos taken today, click on:
Saturday, Sept 14th, Chefchaouen.
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