The history of Morocco cannot be fully understood without considering the Jewish component, which has, for centuries, been an integral part of the country\u2019s social and cultural fabric. This shared memory is not just a chronicle of events; it is a living lesson in coexistence, plurality, and the ability to integrate differences.<\/p>\n
In this article, we highlight Dr. Eidoudi Abdelnabi\u2019s reading of the history of Jews in Morocco, seeking to uncover the lessons this heritage can offer to Moroccan society today, and how it can be used to understand the present and build the future.<\/p>\n
Reading and Dialogue with Dr. Eidoudi Abdelnabi\u2019s Ideas<\/strong> Our aim was to understand, with him\u2014and through him\u2014the contours of this historical component of Moroccan society, and to raise with him, and with his text, questions about the present and the future.<\/p>\n The First Migrations\u2026 Questioning the Origins<\/strong> A Dual Identity\u2026 Between Natives and Newcomers<\/strong> Coexistence\u2026 Between Historical Narrative and Lived Experience<\/strong> The Sultan and the Mellah\u2026 Symbolism of the State Relationship<\/strong>
As part of our editorial tradition, which blends analytical reading with intellectual inquiry, we engaged in a thoughtful exchange with Dr. Eidoudi Abdelnabi, a researcher in religious and political affairs, regarding his rich article on the history of Jews in Morocco.<\/p>\n
Dr. Eidoudi states that Jewish presence in Morocco is deeply rooted in antiquity, with the first waves arriving after the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE via Phoenician routes, settling in various regions, including what is now known as \u201cA\u00eft Daoud.\u201d We ask him: was Morocco merely a geographic choice, or an attractive civilizational space? He responds that Morocco, by virtue of its location and cultural diversity, has always been a land of welcome\u2014something that was renewed during the Andalusian migration of the 15th century after the fall of Al-Andalus and the expulsion of Jews and Muslims.<\/p>\n
Dr. Eidoudi explains that Moroccan Jews can be divided into \u201cnatives,\u201d who settled before Islam, and \u201cnewcomers\u201d from Andalusia and Europe. We comment: this dual composition is not a mere demographic detail; it is a key to understanding Morocco\u2019s cultural diversity, as it produced a hybrid Moroccan Jewish identity that combines deep local roots with Andalusian and European openness.<\/p>\n
Dr. Eidoudi affirms that Jews were not strangers to their Moroccan surroundings. They shared with Muslims the language, customs, and festivals, while maintaining autonomy in their religious and judicial affairs. We wonder: was this coexistence solely the product of tolerance, or also the result of political and economic balances?<\/p>\n
Dr. Eidoudi recalls the relationship between Jews and the Moroccan state, from permission to reside within the walls of Fez during the Idrisid era, to the creation of the mellah under the Marinids.<\/p>\n