Français – عربي – ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ – English
Translation: Ibrahim Karmoum
The Moroccan Jews, the most numerous Jewish community in the Muslim world, are an influential and respected minority. This article will delve into the history of this community, whose presence in Morocco dates back to the pre-Roman era.
The first Jews probably settled in Morocco as early as the time of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The earliest known Jewish community in what is now Morocco is that of Ifrane Atlas-Sghir, province of Guelmim, which dates back to 361 BC. If these Jews reached so far south, they must also have been present further north.
Around 150 BC, a wave of persecution against the Jews of Cyrene forced some of them to flee. They reached Tingis (Tangier) by sea and settled in the Rif and Atlas mountains.
In Volubilis, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Mauretania, funerary inscriptions confirm the existence of a Jewish community in the city, dating back to the 2nd century BC.
The Jewish population in what is now Morocco expanded significantly under Roman rule, particularly following the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. A synagogue, dating back to the 3rd century AD, has been discovered in Volubilis, with a funerary inscription commemorating its founder, Caecilianus. The exact location of this synagogue within the Volubilis archaeological site remains uncertain. Jewish communities existed also in Tingis (Tangier), Lixus (Larache), and Sala (Sale), as well as in Azemmour, which lay outside the boundaries of Roman Mauretania.
The Vandals invaded Mauretania from Spain in 429 AD, marking the start of their conquest of North Africa. The Jews, who were subject to more and more constraints in the Christian Roman Empire, backed the Vandal invasion, which guaranteed their religious freedom.
In the 7th century, many Jews from Spain settled in Morocco, seeking refuge from the persecution of the Visigothic kings of Spain, who had become Catholic.
During the Arab Muslim conquests, Jews joined forces with the Christian and pagan Berbers to resist the invading forces. In the chaotic aftermath of the Berber Revolt of 743, Jewish communities flourished in the capitals of the emergent Kharijite kingdoms, like Sijilmassa and Tlemcen. According to some sources, Tarif al-Matghari, the founder of the Barghwata confederacy, was Jewish. Jews from Andalusia and Kairouan were also among the earliest residents of Fez after it was established by the Idrisids; several Jewish families were already living in the area before Moulay Idriss arrived.
Since then, the Jewish community has played a pivotal role in all the kingdoms that have succeeded one another in the region. Following the reconquest of Spain by the Christian kingdoms, many Muslims and Jews who had been expelled from Spain settled in Morocco, particularly in the regions of Fez, Meknes and Tetouan. In addition to the cities already mentioned, two other important Moroccan Jewish centers are Sefrou and Essaouira.
During World War II, while Morocco was a French protectorate, Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef, the future King Mohammed V, protected the Moroccan Jews against the discriminatory policies of the Vichy regime, declaring publicly that he made no difference between his Jewish and Muslim subjects.
Today, there are approximately 2,000 Jews in Morocco, mostly living in Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez. While their numbers have decreased significantly during the 20th century, they remain the largest Jewish community in North Africa and the Muslim world. The State has also made great efforts to showcase the Moroccan Jewish cultural heritage. The most influential Moroccan Jew is André Azoulay, advisor to Kings Hassan II and Mohammed VI, born on April 17, 1941 in Mogador (now Essaouira). His daughter Audrey Azoulay is currently the Director-General of UNESCO. Another famous Moroccan Jew, although he converted to Christianity, is the comedian Gad Elmaleh.
Learn more:
Mimouna, an organization dedicated to promoting the Jewish heritage of Morocco
