An Article by Fettah
The Jews of Morocco represent a remnant of an ancient,thriving community,
which numbered over a quarter of a million in 1956. The largest community is
in Casablanca, home to 5,000 Jews. There are small Jewish communities in Rabat
(400), Marrakesh (250), Meknes (250), Tangier (150), Fez
(150), and Tetuan (100). The Jews are generally descended from three different
communities: Sephardim, Berber Jews, and Ashkenazim.
The Jewish community of present-day Morocco dates back more than 2,000 years.
There were Jewish colonies in the country before it became a Roman province.
Under the Romans the Jews enjoyed civic equality. In 429 the Vandal King
Genserich conquered North Africa. In the 7th century many Jews fled Visgothic
Spain and introduced modern culture, industry and commerce. Several Berber
tribes adopted Judaism and controlled a vast area, but they
were eventually subdued by Arab invaders. The Jews lived in peace until the
Visitors to the tomb of Rabbis David and Moshe, Atlas
Mountains In a 1033 pogrom in Fez thousands of Jews were murdered and the women
were dragged off into slavery. When the liberal Almoravids came to power in
1062, conditions for Jews improved, but when the Almohades took over in the
middle of the 12th century Jews were forced to embrace Islam or emigrate. It was
during that time that Jews were forced to wear a particular costume a precursor
of the Jewish badge. After the ouster of the Almohades in the 14th century
the situation of Jews stabilized.
In 1391 a wave of Jewish refugees expelled from Spain brought new life to the
community, as did new arrivals from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and 1497. From
1438, the Jews of Fez were forced to live in special quarters called mellahs,
a name derived from the Arabic word for salt because the Jews
in Morocco were forced to carry out the job of salting the heads of executed
prisoners prior to their public display.
Under Moslem rule Jews had the status
of dhimmi, protected vassals. The condition of the Jews did not improve until the
establishment of the French Protectorate in 1912, when they were given equality and
religious autonomy. However, although their situation was endangered
during World War II when France was ruled by the antisemitic Vichy government,
King Muhammed V prevented their deportation. By 1948 there were some 270,000
Jews in Morocco.In the face of a prevailing atmosphere of uncertainty and
grinding poverty, many Jews elected to leave for Israel, France, the US and
Canada. When Morocco gained independence in 1956, Jews became Moroccan citizens and
were given equal rights and freedom of movement. However, legislation
restricted their right to emigrate. Largely thanks to intervention by the WJC,
the government allowed Moroccan Jews to leave. In the aftermath of the
Six-Day War, the conditions worsened and many middle-class Jews emigrated.
The major Jewish organization representing the community is the Conseil des
Communautes Israelites in Casablanca. Its functions include external
relations, general communal affairs, communal heritage, finance, maintenance
of holy places, youth activities, and cultural and religious life. There are
also regional committees which deal with the religious and social welfare
needs of the community. The welfare organization in Casablanca is responsible
for medical aid to the needy and hot meals for underprivileged Jewish pupils.
The majority of the community belongs to the upper-middle-class and enjoy a
comfortable economic status. Some have served as special advisors to the King
or as ministers. In the 1993 elections, four Jews were included in the list of
2,042 candidates for the 330 seats of the Moroccan parliament. The existence
of a vibrant Jewish community in Israel, which maintains its Moroccan
heritage, forms a living bridge between the two countries.
Generally, there are no antisemitic expressions in the government or in the
media, but antisemitic motives have been used to express anti-Israel sentiment
on specific events. The rise of Islamic fundamentalist elements has initiated
some anti-Jewish activity in Morocco. The Jews no longer reside in the
traditional Jewish mellahs, but intermarriage is almost unknown. The community
has always been religious and tolerant, and religious extremism of any form
never developed. The young generation prefers to continue its
higher educationabroad and tends not to return to Morocco. Thus the community
is in a process of aging.
Culture and Education: In 1992, most of the Jewish schools were closed down and only
those in Casablanca the Chabad, ORT, Alliance and Otzar Ha-Torah
schools have remained active. Alongside some 1,700 Jewish pupils, Moslems account
for 30% of the student body. The Chabad movement also runs a youth movement
Religious education is given in the Lycee Yeshiva, Kollel of Casablanca and in
the Lycee Seminaire of Rabat. Since 1963, there has been no Jewish newspaper
According to Jewish tradition, a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Solika was
coveted by the Moslem ruler. She refused to marry him or convert to Islam, and
was stoned to death. Her martyrdom is venerated by the community, and the
mausoleum of Solika the Righteous at the Jewish cemetery of Fez is a place of
pilgrimage. Religious Life There are synagogues, mikvaot, old-age homes and kosher
restaurants in Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Mogador, Rabat, Tetuan and
Tangier. The Jewish community developed a fascinating tradition of rituals and
pilgrimages to the tombs of holy sages. There are 13 such famous sites, centuries
old, well kept by Moslems. Every year, on special dates, crowds of Moroccan
Jews from around the world, including Israel, throng to these graves. A unique
Moroccan festival, the Mimunah, is celebrated in Morocco and in Israel.
Israel: There are close ties between Israel and this Arab country, symbolized by the
formal visit of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to Morocco immediately after the
signing the Agreement with the PLO in 1993.
Aliya- Since 1948, 295,677 Moroccan Jews have immigrated to Israel.
In addition to the Jewish communities, the major sites of pilgrimage for the Jewish traveller are the
tombs of the holy sages, scattered around the country. The most popular are Rabbi Yehouda Benatar (Fez),
Rabbi Chaim Pinto (Mogador), Rabbi Amram Ben Diwane (Ouezzan), and Rabbi Yahia