The coastal city of Essaouira drew one of its largest religious gatherings of the year this past weekend, as more than 2,000 Jewish pilgrims from Israel and around the world arrived to mark the 180th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Haim Pinto, one of the most revered figures in Moroccan Jewish history.
The commemoration, known as a hilloula, was led by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto, grandson of the late religious leader, and was attended by a personal representative of King Mohammed VI, alongside the regional governor and several Moroccan officials. Authorities deployed a large security presence starting Thursday, securing the roads leading into the city and the grounds surrounding the ceremony as hundreds of officers managed the steady flow of visitors.
In a moment closely watched by attendees, Rabbi David Hanania Pinto offered a special prayer ahead of the commemorative dinner for the health and protection of King Mohammed VI, addressed in his capacity as Commander of the Faithful. The prayer was translated live for the Moroccan officials present, underscoring the historic bond between Morocco’s Jewish community and the monarchy, a relationship that has endured across generations.
Preparations for the pilgrimage, which has become a fixture on Morocco’s religious tourism calendar, began weeks earlier through close coordination between event organizers and local authorities. Direct flights were exceptionally permitted to land at the airport nearest Essaouira to accommodate pilgrims arriving from abroad.
The gathering concluded with a series of traditional rites, including prayers of remembrance and visits to Rabbi Haim Pinto’s tomb at the city’s Jewish cemetery, where thousands gathered late into Saturday night. In remarks delivered after one of the prayer services, Rabbi David Hanania Pinto praised the respect shown by Moroccans toward Jewish religious customs, before participants departed Sunday morning for the airport to begin their journeys home.
The annual tribute forms part of a broader effort to preserve Judeo-Moroccan heritage, an aspect of the country’s history that Moroccan authorities frequently highlight as a symbol of the religious coexistence at the heart of national identity.
