Dar Beit Zellij

17/09/2023

The new moon of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar ushers in ראש השנה (Rosh Hashanah, the New Year). At this sacred time of the year, Jews around the world stand before God and express gratitude for life, and awe in the unbounded glory of God's creation. This joy, however, is tempered by the realization that life is fragile. The sacred power of Rosh Hashanah is magnified by the idea that God judges our behavior on this day, and we, like sheep, pass before the Shepherd, who examines each of us and determines our fate: "Who will live and who will die; who will perish by fire and who by water...who by earthquake and who by plague." (U'netaneh Tokef Prayer).

The severity of God's decree, however, can be influenced by three things: repentance, prayer, and tzedakah (donations to those in need). We at Dar Beit Zellij are grateful that we escaped the brunt of the earthquake, but we mourn the loss of life. We've given tzedakah to the needy via a GoFundMe page set up to help victims in Imlil and the surrounding villages. We urge our friends and followers to donate too.

The recent earthquake in the Al Haouz Province of Morocco has left numerous communities in dire … Seleena Johal needs your support for Morocco Earthquake Aid

09/09/2023

We offer our heartfelt prayers to those who have been affected by the earthquake, and our gratitude to everyone who is helping the victims. We feel fortunate that our beautiful Riad and our wonderful neighbors have not been affected.

الحمد لله

תודה לאל

05/08/2023

Gazing into our hallway, with arch after horseshoe arch, awakens your spirit to the infinite layers of our humanity. This awakening is beautifully described by the Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer:

An angel with no face embraced me
and whispered through my whole body:
“Don’t be ashamed of being human, be proud!
Inside you vault opens behind vault endlessly.
You will never be complete, that’s how it’s meant to be.”

NOTE: Perhaps the most characteristic arch type of western Islamic architecture generally is the so-called "Moorish" or "horseshoe" arch. This is an arch where the curves of the arch continue downward past the horizontal middle axis of the circle and begin to curve towards each other, rather than just forming a half circle. This arch profile became nearly ubiquitous in the region from the very beginning of the Islamic period.

26/07/2023

When you rise with the sun, hours before the heat of the day;
before donkey hoofs clippity-clop along cobblestone alleyways;
before hawkers and vendors open their doors and toss pails of precious water at the dust that has settled at their threshold; before the Medina awakens, you, only you, own the way.

Come and explore the ancient walled city.
https://airbnb.com/h/darbeitzellij

21/07/2023

20/07/2023

"In the veneration the countryman feels for Marrakech, there is the prestige the city has for those who live in the country and also the respect for authority and for God. What attracts him is the all powerful chief whose sway extends over the far, distant country -- the pasha to whom all the upper country is submitted and the minaret and the most marvelous of mosques; then, too, there are the souk and the hope of driving a bargain and the city of sin, for Marrakech is a city for pleasure." (Jean-Louis Mierge)

16/07/2023

At the foot of the Bougainvillea

Fallen blossoms mulch my garden bed;
Stealing my attention from the expansive Moroccan sky;
Some, easily Swept away by the Compassion of the Morning breeze;
Some, too old and too tired to lift off the parched earth, Stay and decay in a week or more.

15/07/2023

We leave the light fixture empty without a bulb, so that a bird can make a nest inside.

14/07/2023

Summer Morning in Marrakech

Wait in stillness. Patiently. Cautiously. But with the sweet expectation that the morning breeze will touch your cheek.

Come and explore the wonders of the ancient, walled city. https://airbnb.com/h/darbeitzellij

13/07/2023

The midday heat is scorching, but the early mornings are refreshing. The sun rises over the Atlas Mountains, and the new day begins. People of faith thank their God for the miracle of creation that is renewed daily. The birds serenade us with their songs, just as the Seraphs praised their Creator at the moment of creation, saying: “the whole earth is filled with glory.”

05/07/2023

After months of hard work -- and tender care--I'm proud to say that we are now Superhosts on Airbnb. Our gorgeous Riad has captivated everyone who has stayed there. https://airbnb.com/h/darbeitzellij