Beth El Synagogue, Gueliz (Marrakech)

Gueliz is the French-era Ville Nouvelle of Marrakech, a short drive from the walled medina and its mellah. As the city’s Jewish families moved out of the old quarter in the 20th century, community life followed them, and Beth El is where much of it now happens.

Chabad of Marrakech lists Beit El in Gueliz among the city’s synagogues, alongside Slat al-Azama (Lazama) and Al Fassayn in the mellah. Photographs published by the Jewish Community of Marrakech show the synagogue entrance next to the Beth Habad (Chabad) entrance, and its Torah ark.

Beth El has a large courtyard that the community uses for gatherings. On 21 May 2019, during Ramadan, it hosted an iftar (the evening meal that breaks the fast) for about 220 Jews and Muslims. Community president Jacky Kadoch told Morocco World News it was the third year the community had organised a Ramadan event. He invited the imam present to pray inside the synagogue, and the evening ended with a blessing for Morocco and its king.

Because Beth El is in regular use, it is the natural place for visiting Jewish travellers to pray in Marrakech. A Jewish group itinerary for late January 2025 offered optional Kabbalat Shabbat (the Friday-evening service that welcomes Shabbat, the Sabbath) and Shabbat-morning services here.

No service times are published online. The usual route is through Chabad of Marrakech or the Jewish Community of Marrakech, who can tell you when a minyan (prayer quorum) is expected. If you are planning a Shabbat in the city, we can choose a hotel within walking distance and arrange kosher meals; see our kosher travel guide.

Travellers sometimes expect Beth El to be a historic building. The synagogues with the old carved woodwork and tilework are in the mellah, where Lazama is the one most often visited. A good day combines both: the mellah, its synagogues and the Miâara cemetery in the morning, and a visit or service at Beth El later on. Our Marrakech Jewish heritage guide covers the whole city.