Octobre 2022 – June 2023:
A major achievement in the context of inter-institutional and international partnerships
Exhibitions on Judaica, held in Essaouira and New York, were realized within the framework of an agreement signed between several Moroccan institutions. This fruitful collaboration includes the Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Mohammed V Foundation, and the Fès-Meknès regional Chamber of Crafts. The common objective was to enhance the value of the crafts sector and capitalize on the Mimouna association’s 16 years of expertise in protecting and promoting Judeo-Moroccan heritage.
This program is organized under the Rebuilding Our Homes Banner, a USAID-financed initiative that is implemented by Mimouna Association and other American and Moroccan NGOs. Thanks to the collaboration with Ms. Zhor Rehihil, Ms. Meriem Ghandi and Ms. Deborah Gutierrez, we were able to train 68 craftsmen from Fez, Meknes, Sefrou, Essaouira, Asfi, Rabat and Salé. This training program has enabled us to pass on to new generations of Moroccan craftsmen the Jewish facet of Moroccan culture, and to highlight the importance of the plurality of our Moroccan identity, rich in its diversity.
The opening of the traveling exhibition in Fez in June 2022 was a resounding success, encouraging the Mimouna association to present its exhibition simultaneously in April and May 2023 in New York, at the Centre for Jewish History in Manhattan, and at Bayt Dakira in Essaouira. These exhibitions have been made possible by strong partnerships and a shared vision of preserving heritage and promoting intercultural dialogue.
The exhibition will benefit from a North American tour that will take in Montreal, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles and Mexico City, thanks to ongoing cooperation with our international partners.
These exhibitions mark a crucial step in our mission to promote cultural diversity and harmonious coexistence. Thanks to these inter-institutional and international partnerships, we have been able to provide a platform for Moroccan artisans to showcase their skills and share the richness of Jewish-Moroccan culture with the world.
