Tour of Mystical Morocco

Exciting Jewish Heritage Tour of Mystical Morocco December 22, 2011 – January 1, 2012 Once again, Jewish Heritage Tours will be sponsoring an exciting and unforgettable all-inclusive excursion, both this winter and next summer. This year, we have chosen the very warm climate of Mystical Morocco. The rich Jewish heritage in Morocco will be explored and studied during the trip. Once again, a leading Talmid Chacham and scholar will accompany the tour: Rabbi Dr. Nosson Dovid Rabinowich, Professor of Medieval Jewish History, and noted author and lecturer.

Morocco was home to many great Rabbis and Kabbalists including R’Yitzchak Al-Fasi (Rif) (1013-1088), the Rambam (1160-1165), R’ Joseph Gikatila and the Ohr Ha’Chaim Ha’Kadosh (1698-1742). Their works and contributions will be discussed in-depth. In addition, many of the gravesites of the most important Tzaddikim in Morocco including, of course, the great miracle worker, Rebbi Amram ibn Diwanne near Quezzanne, will be visited and their contribution to Jewish life in Morocco discussed.

The personable and knowledgeable local tour guides will help the group appreciate this land of contrasts, known for its magnificent Imperial cities, palaces, mosques, exquisite gardens, colorful markets, white sandy beaches, rich culture and history, archeological wonders and hospitable people. Rabat, Fez, Meknes, Vollubilis, Marrakech, Azamour, and Sali are the major cities to be visited on this trip.

The first Shabbat of well-deserved rest and study will be spent in Marrakech, the home of a warm wonderful Jewish community. The Chief Rabbi of Morocco, Rabbi Moshe Gabbai, will address the tour at the Friday night Seudah. Rabbi Dr. Rabinowich will deliver a major Drasha in Hebrew on Shabbat afternoon at the Slat La’azama Synagogue in the mellah, perhaps second only to the Altneu Schul in Prague as the oldest existing synagogue in the world that has never ceased to function.

As with all Jewish Heritage tours, three strictly kosher meals will be served daily. All hotels are four-star deluxe, land travel includes ultra-modern air-conditioned buses and all air travel will be handled by the excellent and reliable Royal Air Morocco. Direct flying time to Morocco from New York is under six hours. It's hard to imagine that such an exotic, mystical and exciting country could ever be so close!

The tour’s sponsors noted that special discounts are available for schools that will be sending at least three students and one set of parents on this once-in-a-lifetime Jewish Heritage Tour.

In addition to the mixed clientele these tours always attract, many groups of singles have already registered for this tour. Rabbi Dr. Rabinowich remarked that the warm, friendly, and yet stimulating atmosphere of this particular tour makes for an ideal way to make new acquaintances, especially for intelligent and educated singles.