In a 700-year-old Jewish cemetery close to Marrakech, communities come collectively to construct a sustainable and shared future by planting bushes with the Excessive Atlas Basis’s Home of Life undertaking.
I by no means thought I’d be in the identical room as a saint. That’s partly as a result of I’m not a spiritual particular person, after which it’s not precisely a typical incidence to stumble upon one lately. Not to mention a saint who attracts guests from inside and out of doors Morocco.
There I used to be in Akrich, simply half-hour outdoors Marrakech, in a 700-year-old Jewish cemetery, nose to nose with the embellished shrine of Rabbi Raphael Hacohen.
A saint believed to have therapeutic powers, Hacohen’s grave attracts Jewish pilgrims from world wide, many searching for his blessing. His story is one which cuts throughout religion. It’s not simply the Jewish group that comes right here. Muslims and Christians additionally go to the tomb to pay their respects.
Now, this centuries-old web site is dwelling to the Excessive Atlas Basis and their Home of Life undertaking. A collaboration that’s driving this shared sacred area into the longer term in an modern manner.
Since 2012, a small crew of 60 activists have been implementing efforts to repurpose the grounds into city farming nurseries for the local people to plant and develop natural fruit bushes.
As one of many world’s most weak areas to local weather change, Morocco wants multiple billion new bushes to combat again towards the specter of deforestation, erosion and meals and water shortages. Presently, lower than two per cent of the nation has tree protection.
By 2024, 4 million bushes will develop right here due to this present of land lent in outright perpetuity from the normal Jewish homeowners, says Dr Youssef Ben-Mir, president and co-founder of the Excessive Atlas Basis.
This partnership between the Jewish communities and neighbouring farming communities who’re predominantly Muslim is about greater than preserving historical past and heritage. It’s about securing a sustainable, shared future as nicely.
‘After World Warfare Two, there have been greater than 300,000 Jewish individuals in Morocco,’ Youssef explains. ‘Right this moment there are lower than 2,000, however a whole bunch of remaining cemeteries and synagogues. How does a group protect these holy establishments with no bodily presence?’
‘The grounds have all the time been revered, however to present them new utility offers larger vitality in the direction of preservation. It strikes the dialog ahead from previous id to planning for a shared future.’
The imaginative and prescient for this future is one in all distinctive inter-religious solidarity. It achieves a number of outcomes via affluent collaboration – mitigating the consequences of local weather change, serving to to alleviate rural poverty, and preserving cultural legacy.
With the Home of Life undertaking, the Excessive Atlas Basis is already on the best way to securing it.
As of 2023, the Excessive Atlas Basis helps and maintains 15 tree nurseries in Morocco. In only one yr, multiple million bushes have been planted, producing secure employment for greater than 5,500 farming households.
The location additionally offers an area for ongoing interfaith dialogue between totally different youth teams and college students, unpacking questions of id.
As I place my hand on Raphael’s shrine, embracing the spirituality of my environment, Youssef reads the subscript written on the wall.
‘This can be a holy place the place you might be standing, as a result of he’s holy.’
He explains that Home of Life is the literal translation of cemetery in Hebrew, and I nod, interested by all of the methods this one block of dry land is respiration new life into centuries of custom.
A brand new not-for-profit accomplice to the Intrepid Basis, the Excessive Atlas Basis will obtain donations from Intrepid on behalf of its travellers. Intrepid additionally plans to coach travellers in regards to the basis’s work and efforts in Morocco. Adocacy will assist contribute in the direction of the inspiration’s conservation targets and cultural preservation.
‘Morocco needs group motion and empowerment. If you happen to can create the monetary engine, then you possibly can actually obtain something,’ Youssef provides.
This a lot is obvious – I could be standing in a room with a saint, however I additionally really feel like I’m standing on the entrance of a gateway that may result in a sustainable, shared future for generations to return.
Be taught extra in regards to the work Excessive Atlas Basis is doing and uncover Intrepid journeys to Morocco right here.
