Charlotte Bruneau

RETURN TO MOROCCO

A quarter of a million Jews once lived in Morocco, the largest Jewish community in the Arab world. But when Israel was founded in 1948, many were persuaded to leave. Today, only 2000 remain.

Film Director

The story of Morocco's Jewish community told from the perspective of those who have left, those who stayed, and those who are now returning.

 

Jews were settled in Morocco for more than 2,000 years, where they co-existed for centuries alongside Muslims. Morocco was once home to the largest Arab Jewish community in the Arab world and at its peak had a quarter of a million Jews.

But after Israel was founded in 1948, things started to change.

 

Moroccan Jews were persuaded to leave their homes and move to Israel by Mossad. Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, played A key role in persuading Moroccan Jews to leave their homes and move to Israel was played by Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, who convinced thousands that they were in danger, and covertly facilitated their departure.

There was harmony between Muslim and Jewish culture.
FANNY MERGUI
MOROCCAN JEW RETURNEE

According to Fanny Mergui, a political activist and Moroccan Jew returnee, the community felt "very threatened”. She says "Zionist propaganda was very intense."

Some Jews resisted the Mossad initiative and stayed in Morocco, but most left. Today, only about 2,000 Arab Jews remain.

For those who left, their new life in Israel was often not what they had imagined, with many feeling marginalised in their new home. Even today, their ties to Morocco remain strong.

Although there are no official diplomatic relations between the two countries, Morocco is Israel's third-largest regional trading partner.

When I arrived in Israel as a child I realised we were better off in Morocco.
PINHAS SUISSA
MOROCCAN JEW RETURNEE

Many of the Jews who remained feel particularly conscious of the tension between Morocco's strong commercial relationship with Israel and its open support for the Palestinian cause.

Morocco started to have friendly relations with Israelwhen it organised the emigration of the Jewish community.
SION ASSIDON
BOYCOT ISRAEL MOVEMENT

Although very few Jews live in Morocco today,

the majority Muslim and minority Jewish communities are largely committed to upholding the country's rich, diverse culture and preserving its Jewish heritage. Many Israelis come to visit and some of them, Arab Jews originally from Morocco, decide to stay and never go back to Israel.

 

In this film by Charlotte Bruneau, we hear from Moroccan Jews who left, those who chose to stay, and those who emigrated but subsequently decided to return to Morocco.

WATCH THE FILM

REFUGEE

ZIONISM

CREDITS

DIRECTED BY

CHARLOTTE BRUNEAU

 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

LAMISSE KHAIRAT

 

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

BENJAMIN MOREL

 

EDITOR

CHARLOTTE BRUNEAU

 

MUSIC

MARTIN WIESE

 

PRODUCTION HOUSE

LOUFOK PRODUCTIONS, LUXEMBOURG

 

COMMISSIONING SENIOR PRODUCER

RAWAN DAMEN

 

PRODUCTION YEAR

2014

 

REVERSIONED BY AL JAZEERA WORLD TO ENGLISH – 2014

 

COPYRIGHT © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED FOR AL JAZEERA

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