we venture outside the city of Marrakech today into the Ourika Valley not very far from Marrakech, lays the grave of rabbi Shlomo Bel Hench. His name has been associated with a number of legends and mysteries that marked the inhabitants of the region and his many visitors that come from all over the world.

Several accounts suggest that he was an emissary from the land of Israel, who came to Morocco to raise funds, before deciding to settle down in the Kingdom. It is believed that he died around the fifteenth century when the region of Ourika was home to a big Jewish community.

In the 1590s only, 300 Jewish families lived there and had «two synagogues, Jewish schools, rabbis to perform circumcisions, bar-mitzvahs, and weddings, and plenty of kosher food and matzah for Pesach»

Venerated by Jews and Muslims

«Rabbi Shlomo (Solomon) who was nicknamed ‘Ben Lhench’ remains one of the most venerated Jewish saints in Morocco, visited by Muslims who call him ‘Moul Asguine’».

«One day Rabbi Shlomo went to Marrakech on his mule to solve a conflict», a user recalled. His mission was successfully accomplished and while he was headed back home the sun started going down. «He did a gesture with his hand and waved at the sun which stopped immediately», the same source added. The legend goes that he made «time stop» and only after he reached his village that the sun started moving again.