The Jews of Morocco – A Journey through History, Politics and Culture

The Jews of Morocco – A Journey through History, Politics and Culture
Please join us for four, Zoom-only, sessions about the Jews of Morocco – taught by Dr. David Mendelsohn from Israel. This is a precursor to the TBS Morocco Adventure but it is open to all TBS members.
Register Here: t-b-s.me/moroccolearning

Sunday, January 12th from 10:00-11:00 am
The Indigenous Jews of Morocco
It is believed that the first Jews reached Morocco in the 5th century BCE. They settled among the indigenous Amazigh (Berber) tribes and slowly become integrated with them. Intermarriage led to a “Judaization of the Berbers” and conversely a “Berberization of the Jews,” meaning that the Berber Jews may be considered as indigenous to Morocco themselves.

This lecture will look at the History and culture of the Amazigh – especially as it pertains to the cultural imprints left upon the Jews many of which survive until today.

Sunday, January 26th from 10:00-11:00 am EST
The Arabian conquest of Morocco and its Effect on the Jews
The Arab conquest began in 703 and began the process of the Islamification of Morocco. In 1492, the Spanish Expulsion led to a wave of Spanish Jews seeking refuge in northern Morocco, and importing a unique cultural heritage, including their own language. What did this mean for the local Jews who had already lived there for centuries?

The lecture will trace this history and examine the difficulties inherent in integrating and coexisting with this dominant new culture and religion. We will also spend some time looking at the history and tenets of Islam and the structure of the mosque, especially as it pertains to Morocco.

Sunday, February 2nd from 10:00-11:00 am EST
Moving into Modernity: Monarchy, Islam, and the Jews of Morocco
This lecture will examine the unique role of the Moroccan monarchs as protector of the faith (Islam) and the unusual tolerance demonstrated to the Jews of Morocco throughout much (but certainly not all) of its history. We will examine the reasons behind this unique relationship. As a French colony, Morocco was subject to same anti-Jewish decrees as the Jews of France from Nazi-allied Vichy France during the Second World War. Yet in 1941, King Mohammed V refused to deport Morocco’s 250,000 Jews to the concentration camps of Europe stating: “There are no Jews in Morocco. There are only Moroccan subjects,” resulting in the entirety of Morocco‘s Jewish population being saved.

This lecture will investigate the complex relationship between monarchs and Jews in Morocco – especially as it pertains to the culture of Islam. We will experience and feel the results of this continuing relationship and the love most Moroccan subjects (Muslim and Jew) still feel for their king when we visit Morocco in March.

Sunday, February 9th from 10:00-11:30 am EST (11:00-11:30 dedicated to travel details):
The Jews of Morocco: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
In 1948, the creation of the state of Israel motivated many Moroccan Jews to move to Israel. By 1964, more than 97,000 Jews had left Morocco, mainly to Israel where today there are around 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent.

Today there are about 2500 Jews living in Morocco, mostly in Casablanca. The community has good relations with the current ruler, King Mohamed VI who encourages religious tolerance and who strives to uphold the legacy of tolerance demonstrated by King Mohammed V during the Holocaust. We will ask and attempt to answer the oft repeated question: If the Jews had it so good, why did they ever leave Morocco?