Slat al-Azama Synagogue, Marrakech

The Slat al-Azama Synagogue, also known as the Lazama Synagogue, is a well-known religious site. Situated within the historic Mellah, or Jewish quarter, of the city, this synagogue holds historical significance as a place of worship for Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492, known as the Megorashim.

While the exact year of its establishment remains uncertain, it is traditionally believed to have been founded in 1492, coinciding with the expulsion of Jews from Spain. However, some scholars have questioned this date. The Mellah district, where the synagogue is located, was established later in 1557. The current structure of the synagogue has undergone modern restoration, and it continues to serve as an active place of worship for the local Jewish community.

The Slat al-Azama Synagogue is integrated into a larger building, originally a private house with a central courtyard, commonly referred to as a riad. This integration of synagogues into private homes was a typical architectural feature of synagogues in the Mellah of Marrakesh and other parts of Morocco. The synagogue exhibits traditional Moroccan decor, including zellij, which is mosaic tilework.

Notable renovations to the synagogue include the addition of a women's wing (ezrat nashim) on the east side, a feature that distinguishes it from other Moroccan synagogues where women traditionally worshiped separately at the entrance. The original wooden Torah ark has been replaced by a marble ark, which now stands adjacent to the eastern wall. Architectural notes from the 1950s by Yaacov Finkerfeld indicate that the interior was once divided into two naves by four columns, and on the upper floor, there is a yeshiva, a place of Jewish religious study.