The town of Tazenakht is located in the Sirwa massif, adjacent to the Anti-Atlas Mountains on the east, and at the crossroads of the mountainous routes between the Darʿa and Sous valleys and the Dadès of southern Morocco. Caravans and armies have crossed the region at least since the sixteenth century, and a large weekly market was held there. The town is now known for weaving and selling Berber carpets. Jews probably first settled in the town in the sixteenth century, during the period of Sa‘di rule, when the trans-Saharan caravan trade was growing.

      In the twentieth century the Je…