Disappearing Diaspora: Deterioration and Restoration of Marrakech’s Lazama Synagogue

Abstract

This paper examines circumstances where religious practices challenge the survival of tiny diasporic communities. The persistence of such diasporic communities might be undermined by the need to fulfill religious practices that are insurmountable due to their small size. Using microscopic anthropological lenses, the paper focuses on a specific synagogue in Marrakech that innovatively mutates in its functioning to persevere and overcome the hurdles posed by religious practices. Practically, the synagogue let into its space non-Jews, by offering them varied services. Although that act of crossing community boundaries seems to undermine the local singular character of the community, the fact that it invokes shared cultural intimacy with Muslims attenuates these threats.