Historical Overview: The Jewish Community in Melilla
Melilla has been a Spanish city since 1497. It is located in North Africa, bordering Morocco, and is connected to several Spanish cities by sea (Málaga, Almería, Motril) and by air (Madrid, Málaga, among others). Its most distinctive feature is its multicultural character, where Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Roma, and other minority groups coexist in harmony.
In 1862, the city’s borders were uniquely defined: three cannon shots fired from the Victoria Grande Fortress with the cannon “El Caminante” established Melilla’s new perimeter, expanding it to 12.5 km². A year later, in 1863, Melilla—together with Ceuta, the Chafarinas Islands, and Alhucemas—was declared a free port, although it initially lacked a sufficient civilian population to develop commercial activity.
In 1864, a Royal Decree authorized the entry and settlement of Jewish and Muslim merchants of Moroccan origin, marking the beginning of Melilla’s multicultural identity. The first documented Jewish settlers arrived from Tetouan, followed by others from Tangier, Casablanca, and Gibraltar. Over time, many obtained Spanish nationality, thereby regaining a right that had been lost after the expulsion of 1492.
The Jews played an active role in the city’s economic development: they opened essential goods shops, founded the first private funeral home, the first theater company, the first photographic studio, and introduced a new sport — tennis. Their activity was initially centered within the fortified city and later expanded to the Polígono and the city center, where they contributed to the flourishing of modernist architecture. Melilla became the second Spanish city with the most modernist buildings, after Barcelona. The urban center came to be known as the “Golden Triangle”, as well as “Little Jerusalem” or “Tsión.”
Although Jewish presence was already recorded in Spanish cities such as Madrid, Ceuta, and Málaga in the 18th century, Melilla became the true bridge for the return of Jews to Sepharad after 1492, establishing a solid community and achieving multiple pioneering milestones in Spain.
19th Century
- First synagogue (Salama family, 1866). A total of 26 were established, 7 of which remain active today, plus one in progress to create a museum
- Rabbi Halfón Hachuel, brother-in-law of Jacob Salama.
- San Carlos Cemetery (1870–1892), now part of the Sephardic Route.
- Mikveh (ritual bath).
- Jevrá Kadishá (charitable burial society).
20th Century
- Creation of the Jewish Quarter (1905), with streets named Tel Aviv, Tsión, and Haifa — today, the only living Jewish quarter in Spain.
- Official foundation of the Israelite Community (May 24, 1908).
- Dayan Abraham Hacohén Z.L. (rabbinical judge), succeeded by his son, Dayan David Shlomo Hacohén.
- Yeshivah (religious study center).
- Talmud Torah School (1924), currently the only private Jewish school in Spain.
- A street dedicated to Jacob Salama Hassan (1933).
- Traditional roles: Shohet (ritual slaughterer), Sofer (scribe), Mohel (circumciser).
- Matza oven for unleavened bread.
- Monument dedicated to Mr. Yamín Benarroch (1997).
- The only Eruv in Spain (2004).
Present Day (2025)
The Jewish community currently maintains six synagogues, one Kolel (Talmudic study center), a private school offering general education along with religious and Jewish history studies (including a synagogue for the students), two shops, one kosher restaurant, and a kosher hotel for Shabbat, in addition to an Eruv supervised by the local Rabbinate.
The local government provides annual financial support for community activities and celebrates a public Hanukkah event each December, featuring kosher food as a symbol of integration. In Melilla, Jews can freely wear the kippah in public, a testament to the city’s climate of coexistence and mutual respect.
Since the creation of the Mem Guímel Cultural Association, social integration has been further strengthened through the promotion of Sephardic Jewish culture via educational and cultural programs. The association also organizes the Sephardic Melilla Route, which includes visits to the Sephardic Museum, the San Carlos Cemetery, synagogues, modernist landmarks, and historic Jewish neighborhoods.
In conclusion, it is impossible to discuss the contemporary history of Melilla without acknowledging the valuable contributions of its Jewish community, which has played a decisive role in the city’s economic, cultural, and architectural development. The Jews of Melilla in the diaspora remain today the city’s best ambassadors, maintaining a strong emotional and cultural connection with their homeland.
For more information:
- www.memguimel.es (a website with extensive content on Melilla and its Jewish history).
- www.reenkontro.com (a website dedicated to promoting Melilla’s Jewish tourism).
- Social media and WhatsApp +34 658 034 000 (for the Sephardic Route of Melilla).
- Travel promotions to the city at www.bonosmelilla.es
Kaminos de Leche i Miel
Shalom Umeboraj