For people interested in Moroccan Jewry, the name Haim Pinto would ring a bell.. the revered Rabbi Haim Pinto lived in Essouira and is buried there. His grandson was also called Haim Pinto and he was a pious and well known Rabbi in Casablanca. In the mellah of the old part of town, once teeming with jews now scarcely any, a friendly gentleman guided us past place de Belgique to a small street, formerly known as Rue du Commandant Provost. As we neared the house I could hear Hassidic chants coming in from a house nearby and was good to feel the presence of the piety of Rabbi Haim Pinto in his house. Casablanca at one time had one of the largest jewish communities in the Arab world. The cemetery is not well kempt unlike the one in Marrakech. where are the Soussas and Abitbols and thousands of others in Israel Canada USA and France and elsewhere .. your ancestors lie here ..
It was a privilege to say Kaddish at the tomb of Rabbi Haim Pinto Hakatan and I plan to visit the tomb of the Rabbi Haim Hagadol in Essouira before the summer heat sets in
I was listening to the jewish steps of yesterday in the abandoned Mellah Casablanca Jewish Cemetery
