Moroccan Jews moved from 'protection to equality', Jewish representative
Morocco, Culture, 2/15/2005

Moroccan Jews have moved from "protection to equality," said the Secretary General of the Israelite community in Morocco, Serge Berdugo.

In an interview with the monthly magazine "La Gazette du Maroc," published Monday, Berdugo said Moroccan Jews are grateful to late King Mohammed V for saving them from Holocaust, but they have a special affection for his son late king Hassan II for his protection and care.

"Moroccan Jews were the King's subjects until 1956 when we got the Moroccan nationality thanks to late King Mohammed V and thanks to late King Hassan II, we got our full rights," he said, adding that "with Mohammed VI, a 21st century man, we have acquired equal rights as all Moroccans. We have moved from protection to equality."

Though late King Mohammed V (Grandfather of Mohammed VI) wanted Jews to stay in Morocco, some of them chose to leave because conditions were not fully suitable, he said, noting "others chose to stay and were able to get integrated into the Moroccan society despite the difficult conditions. Even more, we were able to maintain our institutions."

Jewish presence in Morocco is not quantitative; it is symbolic, he said adding that even if there are just 10 Jews, we can live in symbiosis with our Muslim brethren.

There are more than a million Moroccan Jews, who though they do not live in Morocco, they maintain close ties with their motherland because they have never been treated as other Jews, but when they left Morocco, said Berdugo who insists that Moroccan Jews are the only Jews who have never been repatriated nor denied their motherland. "They come back much often than people think; we receive between 30.000 and 40.000 Moroccan Jews each year who come back to see their families, to spend their holidays, to do pilgrimage and to investÉ they are at home." Some of these Jews, he added, come from Israel, France and other countries to settle definitely in Morocco.

"In fact, there are some who come and others who depart and we have to be here to maintain Moroccan Judaism not only in Morocco, but everywhere in the world. We want to be the landmark for Moroccan Jews and their umbilical cord with the motherland." he said.

Berdugo also noted that despite the difficult political conditions throughout the world, Moroccan Jews and Muslims have never had serious problems in the most difficult times.

"The only place in the world where a classroom is shared by a 50pc Muslim pupils and 50pc Jew pupils is Morocco. It is the only place where young Muslims learn Hebrew and young Jews learn Arabic. It is very symbolic." he pointed out, explaining that the Moroccan Jewish community is the only structured Jewish community in an Arab, Berber and Muslim country.

"This advantage makes us responsible to carry out the role of a bridge between Jews and Palestinians; two parties who recognize, but don't know each other. Moroccan Jews are well positioned to make the two parties find a common ground because they are both Jews and proud of their Arab origins."

Berdugo said that there are Muslim-Christian dialogue and Jewish-Christian dialogue, but "not a serious Muslim-Jewish dialogue" though there are no huge differences between the two religions.

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