Denver- In an exclusive interview with Israeli news outlet, Moroccan Rabbi Abraham Sabbagh discussed the relationship between Morocco and its historic Jewish community.
Sabbagh stated that Morocco’s “Jews feel very safe in Morocco,” and that the Jewish people have “coexisted for hundreds of years with their Muslim cousins,” affriming that their was no antisemitic sentiments in the country. Sabbagh also praised the late King Mohammed V who worked to shelter Moroccan Jews from the Vichy government that existed as a French puppet government for Nazi occupied France during World War II. The Vichy petitioned King Mohammed V to turn over the country’s Jewish community, which the King refused to do during the entirety of the war.
As referenced by Sabbagh, Morocco’s laws state that “Hebrew component is part of Morocco’s historical and cultural heritage.” In 2011, Jewish leaders described Morocco as “an island of stability” after a national referendum officially recognized Morocco’s Jewish population as a key component of Morocco’s history within the Moroccan constitution.
Sabbagh applauded renormalization in ties and reported Moroccan Jews have “waited for the opening of flights between Israel and Fez, Marrakech, or Casablanca” prior to King Mohammed VI’s push to normalize travel with Israel.
As Israeli-Moroccan relations continue to improve after an official renormalization agreement was reached last year, Sabbagh predicted “many Moroccan Jews will return to Morocco to invest” in the country once again. Prior to the creation of Israel in 1948, Morocco had the largest population of Jews in the Middle East, with between 250,000-350,000 Jews living in the country. Currently, sources estimate there are approximately 2,200 Jews living in Morocco, and about 800,000 Jews of Moroccan heritage living in Israel.
Many businesses are now seeking to reestablish these ties in the economic sector, and there are many initiatives underway to facilitate both the travel and investment opportunities that are now available.
