Moroccan Jewish Community in North America

Although the Moroccan Jewish community is one of the newer diaspora groups in North America, the Jewish community has had a longstanding presence in Morocco, enduring different rulers throughout history. After the establishment of the Muslim state in the eighth century, many Jews migrated to mountainous and desert regions. The expulsion of Spanish Jews in the 15th and 16th centuries led to a significant influx of refugees in Morocco.

Initially, the Alaouite dynasty protected the Jewish population, but the 18th century saw instances of anti-Jewish violence. However, in the early 19th century, sultans ensured the well-being of Jews. During the French and Spanish protectorate in the early 20th century, Jews served as intermediaries, which sometimes created divisions among communities.

Discriminatory laws imposed by the Vichy Government in 1941 had limited enforcement due to conflicting Moroccan laws, and they were repealed after the arrival of US troops in 1942. The 1948 Arab-Israeli war resulted in isolation for Moroccan Jews, as nationalist movements boycotted Jewish merchants. Despite this, the Jewish community in the Spanish protectorate generally maintained their customs and enjoyed relatively good treatment.

Under King Hassan II, the Jewish community initially felt welcomed, but as his reign progressed, his rule became more authoritarian, resulting in a repressive society for minorities. Consequently, many Moroccan Jews chose to emigrate to Israel, France, and Canada. King Mohammed VI, the current monarch, has emphasized inclusion by supporting women’s rights, minority cultures, and the restoration of historic Jewish sites, promoting greater societal integration.

According to Moroccan censuses, the Jewish population declined from 218,000 in 1952 to approximately 2,500 by 2020, with the majority residing in Casablanca.

The Moroccan Jewish community developed a distinct dialect of Arabic, known as Judeo-Moroccan Arabic, which incorporates Hebrew words. Upon immigration, most also spoke French or Spanish dependent upon which part of the country they immigrated from.

Today, the North American diaspora comprises around 52,000 Moroccan Jews, with migration to Canada occurring primarily between 1960 and 1989. The largest concentrations are found in French-speaking Quebec, particularly Montreal, and Toronto. The United States Moroccan Jewish community mainly consists of individuals who migrated from Israel or Latin America after 1973 with large populations in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.