Moroccan Jewry
Encyclopedia
Moroccan Jews are Jews
who immigrated to North Africa
during and after the Second Temple
period, and Jews who migrated from the Iberian peninsula
in the period preceding the Alhambra Decree
in 1492 when the Jews were expelled from Spain. Prior to the mass exodus of Jews from Morocco
in 1948 and 1967, the Jewish population exceeded 250,000.
Today, Jews of Moroccan descent can be found all over the world, but mainly in Israel
(around 1 million), France
, Canada
, United States
and Venezuela
. Fewer than 5,000 Jews remain in Morocco.
Moroccan Jews are a branch of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews.
CE. Until the 1950s the majority of Morocco's Jews were still living in Morocco. In accordance with the norms of Islamic legal system, Jewish Moroccans had separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities (Muslim sharia
, Christian Canon law
and Jewish halakha
law abiding) were allowed to rule themselves under their own system. After Israel's independence in 1948, and due to domestic strife in the 1950s, the next several decades saw waves of Jewish emigration to Israel, France and Canada.
As a protectorate of France, parts of Morocco were heavily influenced by French culture, while the same is true of the portions of the country that belonged to Spain. Traditionally, the Jews were classified as being French-Moroccan or Spanish-Moroccan depending on where in Morocco they lived, and remnants of these classifications can be felt today. These differences are reflected in language, foods, last names and even liturgy|date=August 2010}}.
In 2003 It was estimated that 5,000 Jews still lived in Morocco, mainly in Casablanca
. Other towns are said to have smaller, aging populations.
Israel
The 1950s saw large waves of Jewish emigration from Morocco to Israel. Many Moroccan Jews were transferred to peripheral development towns while others settled in larger, established cities. Today, Jews of Moroccan descent can be found all across Israel.
France
Popular communities in France include Paris
, Marseille
, Strasbourg
, Lyon
and Nice
.
Argentina
Mainly in Buenos Aires
and Rosario
.
Canada
In the 1950s Canada began extending visas to Jews from Morocco. Large communities developed in Montreal andToronto. Moroccans were attracted to Canada because of its high quality of life and to Montreal in particular because of the French language. Toronto is known for its significant Spanish-Moroccan population originating from cities such as Tangiers and Tetouan. In recent past, however, an emergence of French-Moroccan musical liturgy and customs has been noticed even in this dominant-Spanish Moroccan city. For example, the traditional Moroccan Bakashot, classical music sung by Sephardic Jews in the winter months across countries in the Middle East on Friday night, has come to life in recent productions by Magen David Congregation and Abir Ya'akob Congregation.
Venezuela
Concentrated mainly in Caracas
.
, weddings, Bar Miṣvas, etc.) or even during more intimate gatherings, such as Shabbat dinner. Men usually wear a white jellaba (jellabiya
) cloak while women wear more ornate kaftans.
is celebrated by many Moroccan Jews on the night following the last day of Passover. It has spread to be an almost national holiday in Israel.
has many unique components but has also incorporated numerous Ashkenazic customs due to the country's proximity and exposure to Europe. Some customs of the Moroccan nusach include:
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
who immigrated to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
during and after the Second Temple
Second Temple
The Jewish Second Temple was an important shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon...
period, and Jews who migrated from the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
in the period preceding the Alhambra Decree
Alhambra decree
The Alhambra Decree was an edict issued on 31 March 1492 by the joint Catholic Monarchs of Spain ordering the expulsion of Jews from the Kingdom of Spain and its territories and possessions by 31 July of that year.The edict was formally revoked on 16 December 1968, following the Second...
in 1492 when the Jews were expelled from Spain. Prior to the mass exodus of Jews from Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
in 1948 and 1967, the Jewish population exceeded 250,000.
Today, Jews of Moroccan descent can be found all over the world, but mainly in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(around 1 million), France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Fewer than 5,000 Jews remain in Morocco.
Moroccan Jews are a branch of Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews.
History
Moroccan Jews constitute an ancient community, immigrating to the region as early as 7070
Year 70 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus...
CE. Until the 1950s the majority of Morocco's Jews were still living in Morocco. In accordance with the norms of Islamic legal system, Jewish Moroccans had separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities (Muslim sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
, Christian Canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and Jewish halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
law abiding) were allowed to rule themselves under their own system. After Israel's independence in 1948, and due to domestic strife in the 1950s, the next several decades saw waves of Jewish emigration to Israel, France and Canada.
As a protectorate of France, parts of Morocco were heavily influenced by French culture, while the same is true of the portions of the country that belonged to Spain. Traditionally, the Jews were classified as being French-Moroccan or Spanish-Moroccan depending on where in Morocco they lived, and remnants of these classifications can be felt today. These differences are reflected in language, foods, last names and even liturgy|date=August 2010}}.
Communities Today
MoroccoIn 2003 It was estimated that 5,000 Jews still lived in Morocco, mainly in Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
. Other towns are said to have smaller, aging populations.
Israel
The 1950s saw large waves of Jewish emigration from Morocco to Israel. Many Moroccan Jews were transferred to peripheral development towns while others settled in larger, established cities. Today, Jews of Moroccan descent can be found all across Israel.
France
Popular communities in France include Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
.
Argentina
Mainly in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
.
Canada
In the 1950s Canada began extending visas to Jews from Morocco. Large communities developed in Montreal andToronto. Moroccans were attracted to Canada because of its high quality of life and to Montreal in particular because of the French language. Toronto is known for its significant Spanish-Moroccan population originating from cities such as Tangiers and Tetouan. In recent past, however, an emergence of French-Moroccan musical liturgy and customs has been noticed even in this dominant-Spanish Moroccan city. For example, the traditional Moroccan Bakashot, classical music sung by Sephardic Jews in the winter months across countries in the Middle East on Friday night, has come to life in recent productions by Magen David Congregation and Abir Ya'akob Congregation.
Venezuela
Concentrated mainly in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
.
Culture
Moroccan Jewry has developed as a hybrid of the many cultures that have shaped Morocco itself, namely Jewish, Arab, Berber, French and Spanish.Henna
Traditional Henna parties usually take place within the week before a special occasion, such as a wedding, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or baby showers. During pre-wedding Henna parties, the oldest member of the family (often the grandmother) smudges henna in the palm of the bride and groom to symbolically bestow the new couple with good health, fertility, wisdom, and security. The henna is believed in Moroccan tradition to protect the couple from demons. The grandmother covers the henna, a dough-like paste produced by mixing crushed henna plant leaves with water, in order to lock in body heat and generate a richer color. Normally, the henna will dye skin orange for up to 2 weeks. In Moroccan folklore, the bride is exempt of her household duties until the henna completely fades. After the bride and groom are blessed with the henna, the guests also spread henna on their palms to bring good luck.Clothing
Although most Moroccan Jews tend to dress in styles of their adopted countries, traditional Moroccan clothing is sometimes worn during celebrations (MimounaMimouna
Mimouna is a colorful traditional North African Jewish celebration held the day after Passover. It marks the start of spring and the return to eating chametz, i.e., leavened bread and bread by-products, which are forbidden throughout the week of Passover....
, weddings, Bar Miṣvas, etc.) or even during more intimate gatherings, such as Shabbat dinner. Men usually wear a white jellaba (jellabiya
Jellabiya
The Jellabiya or Jelabiya in Egypt, "Jelebeeya" in Ethiopia and "Jehllubeeya" in Eritrea) is a traditional Egyptian garment native to the Egypt and the Sudan Nile valley....
) cloak while women wear more ornate kaftans.
Mimouna
MimounaMimouna
Mimouna is a colorful traditional North African Jewish celebration held the day after Passover. It marks the start of spring and the return to eating chametz, i.e., leavened bread and bread by-products, which are forbidden throughout the week of Passover....
is celebrated by many Moroccan Jews on the night following the last day of Passover. It has spread to be an almost national holiday in Israel.
Religious Observance
Moroccan Jews are a historically religious people. Many Rabanim have passed through and sojourned in Morocco leaving behind their great influence. In 2008, a project to preserve Moroccan Torah and the words of its Ḥakhamim was initiated. DarkeAbotenou.com was created by a few members of the Toronto Sephardic Community; devoting their time and effort to increasing global awareness of the customs and laws that Jews of Morocco live with everyday. Daily emails are sent in both English and French containing the customs, laws, and traditional liturgy of both the French and Spanish parts of Morocco. This daily publication is currently broadcasted in both English and French.Liturgy
The observer of a typical Moroccan Jewish prayer service will note the presence of Oriental motifs in the melodies. However, unlike the tunes of Eastern rites (Syrian, Iraqi, etc.), which were influenced by Middle Eastern sounds, Moroccan Jewish religious tunes have a uniquely Andalusian feel. Furthermore, just as Eastern liturgical melodies are organized into Maqams, Moroccan liturgy can be classified by Noubas. The Moroccan prayer rite itself is also unique among Sephardic customs. The Moroccan nusachNusach
Nusach is a concept in Judaism that has two distinct meanings. One is the style of a prayer service ; another is the melody of the service depending on when the service is being conducted.-Meaning of term:Nusach primarily means "text" or "version", in...
has many unique components but has also incorporated numerous Ashkenazic customs due to the country's proximity and exposure to Europe. Some customs of the Moroccan nusach include:
- Two blessing for HallelHallelHallel is a Jewish prayer—a verbatim recitation from Psalms 113–118, which is used for praise and thanksgiving that is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays.-Holy days:...
: One blessing (ligmor et ha'Hallel) is said when the full Hallel is recited, while the other blessing (likro et ha'Hallel) is said when the abridged Hallel is recited. Other Sephardim omit the latter. - Yiru Enenu: The blessing commencing with the words Yiru Enenu (translation: Our eyes shall see) is recited after Hashkivenu in the Arvit service after the Sabbath. Many Ashkenazim say this passage on every weekday night after Hashkivenu. This custom is discussed in TosafotTosafotThe Tosafot or Tosafos are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes...
of Tractate Berakhot 4a. - Pesukei Dezimra: The opening verse of Psalm 30Psalm 30Psalm 30 is the 30th psalm from the Book of Psalms . It is a psalm of thanksgiving, was written by King David upon the occasion of the dedication of his temple.-Judaism:...
("Mizmor Shir Ḥanukat Habayit LeDavid") is added to the remainder of the Psalm during Shaḥarit of Hanuka. Other Sepharadim begin with "Aromimkha" even on Ḥanuka. - Shir HaShirim: This is usually read between MinchaMinchaMincha, מנחה is the afternoon prayer service in Judaism.-Etymology:The name "Mincha" is derived from the meal offering that accompanied each sacrifice.-Origin:...
and Kabbalat Shabbat on the Sabbath eve. Other Sephardic groups tend to read it before Minḥa. Moroccan Jews chant Shir HaShirim with a unique cantillationCantillationCantillation is the ritual chanting of readings from the Hebrew Bible in synagogue services. The chants are written and notated in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible to complement the letters and vowel points...
. A common practice is for a different congregant to sing each chapter. - Before the repetition of the Amidah in Shaḥarit and Musaf of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the hymn "Hashem sham'ati shim'akha yareti" (Translation: Hashem, I have heard your speech and was afraid) is sung. The origin of this verse is HabakkukHabakkukHabakkuk , also spelled Habacuc, was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. The etymology of the name of Habakkuk is not clear. The name is possibly related to the Akkadian khabbaququ, the name of a fragrant plant, or the Hebrew root חבק, meaning "embrace"...
3:2.
Religious customs
- Many Moroccan synagogues read from an Ashkenazi-style Torah scroll, rather than the stand-up Torah scroll used by other Sepharadim.
- Psalm 29Psalm 29Psalm 29 is the 29th psalm from the Book of Psalms.-Judaism:*Is the sixth paragraph of Kabbalat Shabbat.*Is recited on Shabbat during Shacharit as when returning the Torah Scroll to the ark.*Is recited in some congregations before Maariv on Motzei Shabbat....
and Lekha Dodi are recited sitting down in the Kabbalat Shabbat service. - Packets of salt are distributed to congregants on the second night of Passover, marking the first counting of the 'Omer. The significance of salt includes the commemoration of the sacrifices in the Temple and other Kabbalistic reasons.
- Pirke Avot is read during the Musaf service of Shabbat between Passover and ShavuotShavuotThe festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
. As well, the custom is for pre-Bar Miṣva boys to read each chapter, and this is usually performed with a special tune. - After reciting the hamotzie blessing over bread, there is a custom to dip the bread into salt while reciting "Hashem melekh, Hashem malakh, Hashem yimlokh le'olam va'ed" (Translation: God reigns; God has reigned; God will reign for ever and ever). This "verse" is actually a compilation of 3 verses taken from Psalms and Exodus. The validity of this custom has been disputed among Moroccan Poskim since it may constitute an interruption of a blessing.
- Before the Magid section of the Passover SederPassover SederThe Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evenings of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, and on the 15th by traditionally observant Jews living outside Israel. This corresponds to late March or April in...
, the Seder plate is raised and passed over the heads of those present while reciting "Bibhilu yaṣanu mi–miṣrayim, halaḥma 'anya bené ḥorin" (Translation: In haste we went out of Egypt [with our] bread of affliction, [now we are] free people). It can be heard here.
Notable Moroccan Jews
- André AzoulayAndré AzoulayAndré Azoulay is a senior adviser to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. He previously advised Mohammed's father, King Hassan II. He currently presides over the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures, based in Alexandria, Egypt...
, senior adviser to King Mohammed VI of MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara... - Abraham SerfatyAbraham SerfatyAbraham Serfaty was an internationally prominent Moroccan dissident, militant, and political activist, who was imprisoned for years by King Hassan II of Morocco, for his political actions in favor of democracy and development’s regime, during the Years of Lead...
, politician - Gad ElmalehGad ElmalehGad Elmaleh is a French-Moroccan stand-up comedian and actor. His latest show is called Papa est en haut . He has starred in several feature films, including Coco, Hors de prix, La Doublure and Midnight in Paris.- Early years :Elmaleh was born in Casablanca, Morocco...
, comedian - Paul MarcianoPaul MarcianoPaul Marciano is a Moroccan fashion designer and co-founder of Guess? Inc. He is the mastermind behind the Guess? image and his sensual black-and-white advertisements have won numerous Clio awards...
, fashion designer - Rabbi Shlomo Moshe AmarShlomo AmarRabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar has been the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and the Rishon LeZion since his appointment in 2003. His colleague is Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel....
, Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon LeZionRishon LeZion (title)This list of Sephardi chief rabbis of the Land of Israel documents the rabbis who served as the spiritual leader of the Sephardic community in the Land of Israel from the mid 17th-century to present. The Hebrew title for the position, Rishon le-Zion, This list of Sephardi chief rabbis of the Land... - Richard AttiasRichard AttiasRichard Attias is a Moroccan global events producer, former chairman of PublicisLive and presently the Executive Chairman of the Experience Corporation...
, businessman - Ninet Tayeb , singer
- Zehava BenZehava BenZehava Ben is one of the most popular Israeli female vocalists in the Mizrahi music genre; the Middle Eastern-style of singing rising from Israel's Mizrahi Jewish population, dominating Israeli music in the 1990s and popular ever since.-Early life:...
, singer - Pierre AssoulinePierre AssoulinePierre Assouline is a writer and journalist. He was born in Casablanca, Morocco. He has published several novels and biographies, and also contributes articles for the print media and broadcasts for radio....
, journalist. - Shiri ApplebyShiri ApplebyShiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
, actresss - Shavit ElimelechShavit ElimelechShavit Elimelech is a retired Israeli football goalkeeper.He started playing in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth League. His first game took place in 1988-89 in a game between Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC and Hapoel Jerusalem. From 1988 to 1992 he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv's first team...
, Israeli soccer player - Laetitia LarussoLarussoLarusso, real name Laetitia Serero, is a French singer .Popularized with songs like Tu m'oublieras, Je survivrai, sung by Régine in the 80's, and French adaptation of I will survive by Gloria Gaynor....
, singer - Gad ElbazGad ElbazGad Elbaz is an Israeli haredi singer of Sephardic origin. He is best known by his #1 hit; Halayla Zeh Hazman , and for being the son of mizrahi singer Benny Elbaz.-Early life:...
, Israeli singer - Oshik Levy , Israeli singer
- Emilia AttiasEmilia AttiasEmilia Attias is an Argentine actress, dancer and model with Moroccan Jewish ancestors. She has appeared on the covers of many magazines including Maxim, Gente and Gabo...
, model. - Nourith , Israeli singer.
- Michele BohbotMichele BohbotMichele Bohbot is a Moroccan American fashion designer and retailer.-Biography:Michele Bohbot was born in Fez, Morocco. At the age of nineteen, she moved to Paris where she studied philosophy and law at Sorbonne University. When she was 19, she married her husband, Marc, who proposed to her four...
, fashion designer and retailer - Emmanuelle ChriquiEmmanuelle ChriquiEmmanuelle Sophie Anne Chriqui is a Canadian film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her role on HBO's Entourage as Sloan McQuewick, as well as the love interest of Adam Sandler in the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan...
, actress - Shiri MaimonShiri MaimonShiri Maimon is an Israeli pop/R&B singer, TV show host and actress, who rose to fame as the runner-up in the TV show Kokhav Nolad. She represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.-Early life:...
, Israeli singer - André ElbazAndré ElbazAndré Elbaz is a famous Moroccan painter and filmmaker.Elbaz studied art and theatre in Rabat and Paris from 1950 to 1961. He started painting only at the age of 21, until which age he had been interested mainly in theatre...
, painter and filmmaker - Maguy KakonMaguy KakonMaguy Kakon is a Moroccan author, politician and real-estate consultant.-Biography:Maguy Kakon was born to a wealthy Jewish family in Marrakech. Her parents, David and Dina Gabay, were one the wealthiest couples in the city. Her father was an industrialist. The family lived in an upscale...
, author and politician - Edmond Amran El MalehEdmond Amran El MalehEdmond Amran El Maleh was one of the best known Moroccan writers.-Biography:El Maleh was born in Safi, Morocco to a Jewish family from Safi. He moved to Paris in 1965, working there as a journalist and a teacher of philosophy.He only began writing in 1980, at the age of 63, traveling back and...
, writer - Reuven AbergelReuven AbergelReuven Abergel is an Israeli social and political activist, and a founder and leader of the Israeli "Black Panthers"....
, founder of Israeli Black Panthers - Haim ZafraniHaim ZafraniHaim Zafrani was a Moroccan scholar and writer.Zafrani is particularly noted for having collected and preserved much or the music and oral poetry of the Jews of Morocco...
, scholar and writer - David GuettaDavid GuettaPierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
, DJ - Vincent ElbazVincent ElbazVincent Elbaz is a French actor. He has appeared in many French television shows and movies.His first major role was in the 1994 movie Le péril jeune.Elbaz received the 1998 Jean Gabin Prize.-Filmography:...
actor - Arthur EssebagArthur (TV presenter)Arthur is a TV presenter, producer and comedian.After having cancelled his law studies, he began his career as a host on local radio in the Paris region in the late 1980s...
Tv presenter - Sidney Toledano
- Richard AnconinaRichard AnconinaRichard Anconina is a French actor.-Filmography:*1977 : Comment se faire réformer directed by Philippe Clair*1978 : Les Réformés se portent bien*1979 : Démons de midi directed by Christian Paureilhe...
, actor - Alber ElbazAlber Elbaz-Biography:Alberto Elbaz was born in Casablanca, Morocco. He immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of ten and grew up in Holon. After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, he studied at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan...
, fashion designer - Yossi BenayounYossi BenayounYosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
,Israeli professional footballer - Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, rabbi and kabbalist
- Ronit ElkabetzRonit ElkabetzRonit Elkabetz is an Israeli actress and filmmaker. She works in both Israeli and French cinema. She has won three Ophir Awards and has received a total of seven nominations.- Biography :...
, actress and filmmaker - Elena BenarrochElena BenarrochElena Benarroch is a Spanish fashion designer born in Tangier in 1955 within a Sephardi family. She opened a furrier's in Madrid in 1979 and has won many awards in Spain.-External links:*...
, Fashion designer - Samuel HadidaSamuel HadidaSamuel Hadida, born December 17, 1953, in Casablanca, Morocco, is a film producer.Hadida studied in Paris. In 1978, Hadida co-founded the company Metropolitan Filmexport with his brother Victor. The company later became a successful independent distributor of films in the French-speaking world...
, film producer - Daniel BenluluDaniel BenluluDaniel Benlulu is a former Israeli politician who served a member of the Knesset for Likud between 2003 and 2006.-Biography:Born in Morocco, Benlulu made aliyah to Israel in 1969....
, politician - Michel AbitbolMichel AbitbolMichel Abitbol is an Israeli Jewish historian, professor, and chair of the Department of African Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is considered an expert on the history of the Jews of North Africa. He is also the scientific director of the Center for Research on Moroccan Jewry,...
, scholar - Avi ToledanoAvi ToledanoBorn in Meknes in Morocco April 4, 1948, Avraham Toledano is known to European audiences for his involvement with the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1982 he represented Israel in Harrogate, UK with the uptempo revivalist number Hora...
, Israeli singer - Aryeh DeriAryeh DeriAryeh Deri is an Israeli politician, and former leader of Israel's Shas Party.-Biography:After Deri was convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as Interior Minister and given a three-year jail sentence in 2000, he was replaced by Eli Yishai...
, Israeli politician - Simone BittonSimone BittonSimone Bitton is a French-Israeli documentary filmmaker. Her films have been nominated for or won the César Award, the Marseille Festival of Documentary Film Award, and the Sundance Film Festival, Special Jury Prize ....
, filmmaker - Ya'akov MargiYa'akov MargiYa'akov Margi is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Shas and as the country's Minister of Religious Services.-Biography:Margi was born in Morocco and brought to Israel during Yakhin Operation in 1962....
, politician - Khleo Thomas, actor and rapper
- Ralph de ToledanoRalph de ToledanoRalph de Toledano was a major figure in the conservative movement in the United States throughout the second half of the 20th century.-Early years:...
, politician
External links
- Official website of the Jewish community council of Morocco (French)
- David Bensoussan, Il était une fois le Maroc : témoignages du passé judéo-marocain, éd. du Lys, www.editionsdulys.com, Montréal, 2010 (ISBN 2-922505-14-6)
- Daily Moroccan Halakha / La Halakha Marocaine Quotidienne
- Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies