Jews settled in the Anti-Atlas Mountains and region over 2,000 year ago, living among and protected by their Amazigh neighbors. They spoke a Jewish form of one of Morocco’s three dialects of Tamazight, the Amazigh language. Jewish artisans produced and sold handicrafts and other consumer products, moving by mule or donkey from village to village. Tafraoute is the major town of the region.
Ifrane Anti-Atlas (called Oufrane by the Jews) housed a large Jewish population. Further south in the desert is the oasis of Akka, a major stop for the trans-Saharan caravan trade, where there was a large Jewish mellah.