Morocco Final Notes– A Glimpse of the Future Drawing Deeply from a Rich Past In a study published by the Berkley Center of Religious Studies at Georgetown University, Rachel Rodgers states that one of her most significant findings was the extent to which most Moroccans genuinely see Jewish history as a part of the country’s heritage. She quotes a woman who told her that “No Moroccan is truly Arab, or [Berber], or anything else—we are Moroccan because we are a mixture of all these. I am not Jewish, but the Jews are a part of that.” Jews and Muslims celebrated holidays together over the many centuries Jews called Morocco their home. Of course, Morocco was not without its challenges. There were times of violence and tension. Judaism, though tolerated and even supported, is not given the same status as Islam. There were times when it was prohibited to construct [...]

Jews – An Integral and Indispensable Part of Moroccan Society There are nineteen royal palaces spread throughout the country.  Some of them date back centuries. Often located as the focal structure in the Medinas (ancient cities), the Mellah (Jewish neighborhoods) are usually adjacent to the palaces. Unlike European nations that granted and rescinded protected status to their Jews—resulting in countless expulsions—Moroccan kings sheltered their Jews for centuries. Gates were locked from the inside for safety, not imprisonment. We were fascinated to see mezzuzot on the doors of homes in the Mellahs and synagogues restored and safeguarded by Arab custodians. In Fes, the Moroccan Museum of Jewish heritage is newly completed and awaiting its dedication by the king. All of the great cities had their Jewish quarters and, in sharp contrast to the Jordanian destruction of the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem in 1948, the Moroccans have carefully preserved and maintained their Jewish legacy. We drove deep into the [...]

Moroccans – A Surprisingly Open Society We entered the stately Moroccan villa in Casablanca. The meal prepared by our host was a sumptuous feast of carefully prepared cuisine, absent any milk products out of respect to our Jewish dietary customs. As gracious as our host was, what truly left us amazed were the young Muslim guests that dined with us. Abdul and Driss were fervent participants in the Moroccan Mimouna association—a confederation of hundreds of Moroccan young adult Muslims devoted to preserving and protecting Morocco’s Jewish heritage. The name "Mimouna" is taken from the Moroccan Jewish custom of hosting post Passover fests for their Muslim neighbors when the leaven that had been safeguarded by the Muslims for the duration of Pesach were returned to the Jewish owners. The feasts were the Jewish expression of gratitude. “Driss” from the Mimouna Association Next, we met the chief Imam of Marrakech. Together [...]

Morocco—First Impressions I am writing this on the plane returning from our Stephen Wise Temple trip to Morocco. The experiences encountered during our Jewish journey through this amazing and even enlightening Muslim country remain fresh in our memory. Each stage of our exploration upended our expectations, deepened our knowledge, and left lasting impressions. Sitting on the literal border between the Muslim world, Africa, and the European continent, Morocco is a mélange of cultures, languages, and food, which defies easy explanation and is more often than not defined by its contrasts than its uniformity. Ostensibly a democracy with an elected legislature, the country is ultimately ruled by a dynastic monarchy that traces its lineage back to Mohammed. Though a self-declared Islamic nation, Morocco embraces and celebrates its Berber, French, and most importantly for us, Jewish identities. Walking through the streets of the Medinas (the old cities) it is easy for [...]