Historians and social researchers are shedding new light on the journey of Jews into Morocco.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 24/03/10
Researchers from around the globe met March 17th-20th in Essaouira to take a uniquely academic look at the history of Jewish migration to Morocco.
Guests from 10 countries and over 20 universities presented more than 60 scientific papers at the three-day academic conference on the topic, which was organized by the Council of the Overseas Moroccan Community (CCME).
"This is the first time the subject has been approached from a scientific perspective," CCME president Driss Yazami said, adding that the conference was intended to debunk myths about Jewish migration.
According to the organizers, "the goal of the meeting was to highlight the fact that the Maghreb will not be stripped of its Jewish memory, will fully embrace its multiple histories and will also recognize, in those who became its nationals, the rightful custodians of its memory".
The conference followed recent recommendations by the Justice and Reconciliation Authority (EIR), Human Rights Advisory Council president Ahmed Herzenni said.
"The subject is very interesting in light of the fact that one of the main recommendations given by the EIR related to the need to restore the country's memory and re-read Moroccan history calmly," he said.
Council of Israelite Communities in Morocco general secretary Serge Berdugo praised the co-existence of Jews and Muslims in Morocco.
"This situation of peace and tolerance is due on the one hand to their historic settlement, and on the other hand to… Maghreb Islam, which allowed Jews to retain their faith and religious practices and participate in city life", he said.
The conference was at times politically charged. Some Moroccans spoke out against the participation of nine Israeli researchers in the conference, noting continuing tensions in the Middle East. But Yazami defended the conference as apolitical.
"A conference on Jewish and Muslim immigration must be held, because it has nothing to do with politics," he said. "We need to explore history more fully to better define the Maghreb's identity."
Scholars have written about the history of Muslim and Jewish migration within the Maghreb, according to the CCME, but they have not always done so comprehensively or in a correct context. Few historians have explored the links that may exist between Jewish migration from the Maghreb to Europe, the Americas or Israel, or the large waves of migration of all origins that shaped the post-colonial era, according to the CCME.
Seen in an appropriate historical context, Jewish migrations will resemble other migrations, according to the CCME.
"If we try to re-situate the history of migration in a multi-dimensional context and framework where denominational and political matters are not the only things under consideration, the specific features of Jewish migration become hazier, without disappearing, and give way to a shared migrant status that reflects the modern character of our societies," the CCME concluded.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/03/24/feature-02.
By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 24/03/10
Researchers from around the globe met March 17th-20th in Essaouira to take a uniquely academic look at the history of Jewish migration to Morocco.
Guests from 10 countries and over 20 universities presented more than 60 scientific papers at the three-day academic conference on the topic, which was organized by the Council of the Overseas Moroccan Community (CCME).
"This is the first time the subject has been approached from a scientific perspective," CCME president Driss Yazami said, adding that the conference was intended to debunk myths about Jewish migration.
According to the organizers, "the goal of the meeting was to highlight the fact that the Maghreb will not be stripped of its Jewish memory, will fully embrace its multiple histories and will also recognize, in those who became its nationals, the rightful custodians of its memory".
The conference followed recent recommendations by the Justice and Reconciliation Authority (EIR), Human Rights Advisory Council president Ahmed Herzenni said.
"The subject is very interesting in light of the fact that one of the main recommendations given by the EIR related to the need to restore the country's memory and re-read Moroccan history calmly," he said.
Council of Israelite Communities in Morocco general secretary Serge Berdugo praised the co-existence of Jews and Muslims in Morocco.
"This situation of peace and tolerance is due on the one hand to their historic settlement, and on the other hand to… Maghreb Islam, which allowed Jews to retain their faith and religious practices and participate in city life", he said.
The conference was at times politically charged. Some Moroccans spoke out against the participation of nine Israeli researchers in the conference, noting continuing tensions in the Middle East. But Yazami defended the conference as apolitical.
"A conference on Jewish and Muslim immigration must be held, because it has nothing to do with politics," he said. "We need to explore history more fully to better define the Maghreb's identity."
Scholars have written about the history of Muslim and Jewish migration within the Maghreb, according to the CCME, but they have not always done so comprehensively or in a correct context. Few historians have explored the links that may exist between Jewish migration from the Maghreb to Europe, the Americas or Israel, or the large waves of migration of all origins that shaped the post-colonial era, according to the CCME.
Seen in an appropriate historical context, Jewish migrations will resemble other migrations, according to the CCME.
"If we try to re-situate the history of migration in a multi-dimensional context and framework where denominational and political matters are not the only things under consideration, the specific features of Jewish migration become hazier, without disappearing, and give way to a shared migrant status that reflects the modern character of our societies," the CCME concluded.
Source: Magharebia.com
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/03/24/feature-02.
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