An international year of prayer for
Morocco
| Week 13 |
Moroccan JewsMorocco is the only Arab country to preserve a Jewish community of any size. The first Jews came to Morocco over two thousand years ago and many Berbers converted to Judaism in subsequent centuries.The Jewish community was further diversified by refugees from the Spanish Inquisition and by immigrants during the French Occupation. Since the 1960’s about three hundred thousand Moroccan Jews have emigrated mainly to Israel leaving perhaps ten thousand still in the country. Jews are the only officially recognized religious minority bearing Moroccan nationality. King Hassan II played a significant behind the scenes role in the Middle East peace process and the largest foreign delegation to attend his funeral was Israeli. There is anti-Jewish sentiment among Moroccans and most feel a greater mistrust and dislike of Jews than they do of Christians. As in Europe, Jews in Morocco have suffered from discrimination and instances of massacre during the middle ages and after. Nevertheless, most Moroccans are proud of their nation’s record of relative tolerance of their Jewish minority. Jews today have full rights as citizens and some occupy high positions in the realm. Their contribution to the economy is significant. Observant Moroccan Jews tend to be orthodox and unaffected by Western liberal trends. Many, however, do not practice their religion. Some subscribe to folk Judaic practices including numbers of Jewish émigrés who return to seek the intercession of dead Rabbis at annual festivals. Christian evangelism of Jews is permitted. "Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion." Zechariah 1:14 "This is what the Lord says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live."" Amos 5:4 "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3
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