Ettedgui Synagogue, Casablanca

The Ettedgui Synagogue stands as one of the most important witnesses to Casablanca’s Jewish past. It was built in 1920 by the Ettedgui family, a prominent Jewish family active in the city’s commercial life, at a time when Casablanca supported one of the largest Jewish communities in North Africa.

During World War II, the building was damaged in 1942, when Casablanca was affected by Allied bombardments linked to Operation Torch. As the city’s Jewish population declined in the following decades, the synagogue fell into disuse and gradually deteriorated. Restoration efforts began in the late 20th century and gained momentum under King Mohammed VI, as part of a national program dedicated to preserving Morocco’s Jewish heritage.

Architecturally, the synagogue reflects a blend of traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and early 20th-century urban design. The exterior is discreet, in keeping with the dense fabric of the Old Town, while the interior is more expressive, featuring horseshoe arches, carved plasterwork, decorative tile panels, and a central bimah arranged according to Sephardic tradition.

Today, the Ettedgui Synagogue functions both as a place of worship on special occasions and as a heritage and exhibition space. Its displays of photographs, documents, and cultural objects trace the social, religious, and economic history of Casablanca’s Jewish community, allowing the building to serve as both a sacred site and a living archive of the city’s multicultural past.