The Moroccan Jewish community has received particular attention in recent days. King Mohammed VI has approved a reorganisation of the community. This was during the Council of Ministers that he specially chaired at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Wednesday 13 July.
With an estimated population of 3000, the Moroccan Jewish population is the largest in North Africa. The history of this community in Morocco is very old and was nourished by various waves of refugees following the vicissitudes and persecutions of which the Jews were victims throughout history. Thus, on Wednesday, King Mohammed VI gave instructions for the institutions governing this important community to be reorganised.
At the end of the council that took the decision, the Minister of the Interior Abdelouafi Laftit outlined the new measures taken for the organisation of the said community. “These measures are based on the supreme responsibility of His Majesty the King in His capacity as Amir Al-Mouminine and guarantor of the free exercise of worship for all Moroccans, all religious denominations, and enshrine the Hebrew tributary as a component of Moroccan culture rich in its many tributaries,” said in a statement the spokesman of the Royal Palace, Abdelhak Lamrini
New resolutions adopted
In addition, following consultations with representatives and personalities of the Hebrew community, the Committee has elaborated the establishment of the following bodies
The National Council of the Moroccan Jewish Community: This oversees the management of the community’s affairs and the safeguarding of the cultural and religious heritage and influence of Judaism and its authentic Moroccan values. In addition, regional committees will be set up from the Council to deal with the day-to-day issues and affairs of the community members.
A commission was therefore set up to consolidate the links of Moroccan Jews living abroad with their country of origin, to strengthen their cultural and religious influence and to defend the supreme interests of the Kingdom. The reforms also give rise to a Foundation of Moroccan Judaism whose role is to promote and watch over the intangible Moroccan Jewish heritage, to safeguard its traditions and to preserve its specificities.
It should be noted that this is an accelerating step for the rapprochement between the Hebrew State and Morocco. The two states re-established diplomatic relations in 2020 as part of the Abraham Agreement, a normalisation process between Israel and several Arab countries. This reorganisation of the Moroccan Jewish community strengthens Morocco’s relations with Israel and promotes the multicultural character of the Moroccan kingdom.
