Royal advisor highlights peculiarity of Moroccan Judaism
Morocco, Religion, 11/19/1999

Advisor to King Mohammed VI, Andre Azoulay, has highlighted the peculiarity of the Moroccan Judaism as evidence of the strength of Morocco's heritage.

"The peculiarity of the contemporary itinerary of Moroccan Judaism and the exceptional capacity of resistance that our community has shown, especially in the second half of the 20th century, is an evidence of the historical and social richness, strength and depth of the Moroccan heritage," Azoulay, a Moroccan Jew, said at an international colloquy in Evora on "Sepharade Jews between Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

Azoulay, who urged searchers to enlarge and diversify their sources of information on Moroccan Judaism, deplored the fact that historical and scientific references in the West regarding the region are restricted to diplomatic annals.

He underlined that the Jewish heritage in Portugal, Spain and Morocco is present in all acts of the daily life (music, poetry, medicine, literature, architecture and cuisine).

Privileged ties have always bound Moroccan Jews to the country's kings. The best illustration of such relationship dates back to World War II, when the late King Mohammed V refused to hand over to the Vichy government the list of Moroccan Jews and sent to his people a message calling on all Muslims to stand together with their Jewish brothers and sisters, saying that Moroccans are not Jews or Arabs, only Moroccans.

Throughout Morocco's history, Jews and Muslims lived in full harmony, far from any religious extremism or exclusion, he insisted.

Previous Stories:
  Colloquy on Jews in Portugal, Spain, Morocco   (11/16/1999)
  Moroccan Jewery exhibit in Paris   (10/11/1999)
  Head of Jewish Wisemen Cou expresses gratitude to king Hassan   (5/5/1999)

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