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The Mellah in Morocco: Between Isolation and Protection, a Reading of the History of Moroccan Jews
🇲🇦 Morocco /Culture & Society

The Mellah in Morocco: Between Isolation and Protection, a Reading of the History of Moroccan Jews

From Hespress · (10m ago) Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Jewish presence in Morocco spans over two millennia, with Moroccan Jews considering themselves intrinsically Moroccan.
  • Historically, Jewish communities lived in distinct quarters called 'Mellahs,' characterized by strong solidarity and communal support.
  • While sometimes seen as isolated, Mellahs often provided protection due to their proximity to royal palaces, though open neighborhoods also existed where Jewish communities gathered for religious and social reasons.

The enduring presence of Jewish communities in Morocco, stretching back over two thousand years, is a testament to a shared history and deep-rooted connection to the land. As David Toledano, Secretary-General of the Jewish Community of Rabat, emphasizes, Moroccan Jews unequivocally identify as Moroccan, a sentiment that resonates strongly with the millions of Jewish origin living abroad who maintain profound ties to their homeland.

The Jewish presence in Morocco spans over two thousand years, and the Hebrews consider themselves Moroccan without any room for negotiation.

— David ToledanoDavid Toledano, Secretary-General of the Jewish Community of Rabat, asserts the deep and unquestionable Moroccan identity of the country's Jewish population.

This historical narrative was explored during a recent seminar on the 'Mellah in the Moroccan Context: Memory, Identity, and Urban Space.' Toledano highlighted the unique way of life within these identity-defining urban areas. He noted the powerful solidarity among community members, where the affluent supported the less fortunate, ensuring no one within the Mellah faced social destitution alone. Furthermore, significant emphasis was placed on education, encompassing both traditional religious instruction and modern schooling, notably through institutions like the 'Alliance Israélite Universelle.'

Solidarity among the community was strong, with the rich supporting the poor, so that no Jew in the Mellah would be left alone in their social misery.

— David ToledanoToledano describes the social support systems within the historical Mellah communities.

While the concept of the Mellah is sometimes interpreted as a space of isolation, Toledano offered a nuanced perspective. He pointed out that their frequent location near royal palaces offered a degree of protection from societal unrest, a vital safeguard in turbulent times. However, he acknowledged that this was not universally the case, with some cities and rural areas featuring more integrated, open neighborhoods. The tendency for Jewish communities to congregate was driven not solely by a desire for separation, but by the practical necessity of fulfilling religious and social obligations that required communal living, such as the quorum of ten men for prayer or the observance of the Sabbath's travel restrictions.

The Mellah was a closed and isolated space where Jews were separated from others as a form of segregation; however, in many cases, it was located near the royal palace, providing Jews with a form of protection from the disturbances that sometimes occurred and were called 'Siba.'

— David ToledanoToledano discusses the dual nature of the Mellah, offering both segregation and protection.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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