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Morocco - Jews

The Jewish community in Morocco is estimated to be between two and four thousand people with approximately three thousand in Casablanca. Smaller communities remain in the former imperial cities of Rabat, Marrakech, Fes, Meknes. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, the Jewish community of Morocco was estimated to be around 350,000. Moroccan Jews began leaving the country in waves following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, independence from the French in 1956 and the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars. Most of the ancient Jewish community of Morocco left between the creation of Israel in 1948 and Morocco's independence in 1956.

Many Jewish leaders express concerns that the biggest danger to the community today is demographic. Many went for economic opportunities, but others moved after anti-Jewish/Israeli incidents. Upwards of 80 percent of Jewish high school graduates leave Morocco to pursue higher education abroad primarily in Canada, France and Israel. Most of these young people remain abroad to pursue romantic, professional and economic opportunities that do not exist in Morocco and are reluctant to return.

Discrimination and resentment are just under the surface but an ever present fact of life for Jews in Morocco. Since 2002 there have been a number of other attacks against Jews and their institutions. In September 2003 there were two unsolved killings of Jewish Moroccans in Meknes and Casablanca that are believed to have been religiously motivated. Furthermore, the Casablanca bombings in April of 2003 which killed 41 people were perpetrated by Islamist extremists and three of the five bombs targeted Jewish owned or frequented establishments.

The problem is not the government, they have been unequivocally supportive. The problem is the younger generation or Moroccans who have not grown up with Jews and have been influenced by Arabic satellite programs. They believe that the Jews are somehow foreigners in Morocco rather than a part of the society.

Morocco is the only Arab country that promotes and protects its indigenous Jewish minority while fostering ties with the state of Israel and with Israeli citizens of Moroccan descent. Notwithstanding the unwavering support of King Mohammed VI, the Jewish community of Morocco continues to dwindle as young Jews, like their Muslim compatriots, seek greater economic, social, and educational opportunities abroad making the long-term future of a Moroccan Jewish community uncertain. Although the government has increasingly promoted the Jews as an integral part of Moroccan society, the Jewish community remains apprehensive. It was the target of terrorist attacks in 2003 by radical Islamists and remains subject to threats and resentment.

In Casablanca there are more than a dozen synagogues in operation and six Jewish schools with around five hundred Jewish students in total. The day began with a visit to the Neveh Shalom, a K-12 French-language school directed by Jacques Sebbag. The Jewish schools are divided between those attended exclusively by Jewish students and semi-private ones that also open to enrollment by Muslim students and are partially financed by the state. Entrance to the mixed Israel Union School in Casablanca is highly sought after since it is perceived to be superior to traditional public schools and is attended by the children of the political and business elite.

The government of Morocco,s steadfast and visible support for its Jewish community and the strong ties with its migrants in Israel is clearly the exception in the Arab world and is something that Moroccans are rightfully proud of. The palace considers the Jewish community to be an important symbol of Morocco and an integral part of the nation and has repeatedly shown its commitment to protecting them and treating them equally as Moroccan citizens. It is also worth noting that French-language newspaper Le Matin, considered the semi-official mouthpiece of the Palace, prints the date on every newspaper using the Gregorian, Islamic and Hebrew calendar.

Moroccans are the largest Sephardic group in Israel and are estimated by Berdugo to number around six hundred thousand. These Moroccan Israelis have helped to foster a close relationship with the Moroccan state and some forty thousand Israeli tourists visit Morocco every year.

Another indication of the tolerance toward Jewish life is demonstrated by the special status long granted to Jewish courts in dealing with family status matters. Family status law in Morocco is based on Islamic Sharia law for Muslims and Jewish Rabbinical law for the Jews. All marriages, divorces, custody and inheritance issues for the Jewish community are decided by rabbinical judges, four of whom are in Casablanca with one each in Tangiers and Marrakech. The judges are appointed by the Ministry of Justice and are employees of the state.