Late Figures Set Number of Jews in Morocco at 120,000

The latest statistics which have been gathered about the Jews of Morocco show that 120,000 Jews are now living in that North African country. Not until 1912, when France took over the proctectorate over Morocco, did the Jews of that country receive equal rights. Until then a Moroccan Jew was not allowed to wear shoes or other than black clothes or ride on horseback. The Jewish ghetto, the so-called “Mellan,” was even as late as 1920 locked up every night and Jews were then forbidden outside the ghetto walls.

By abolishing all these restrictions, the French government earned the sympathy of Moroccan Jewry. But at the same time this led to an increase in the hatred of the Arabs toward the Jews.

The question of naturalizing Moroccan Jews as French citizens, which has troubled Moroccan Jewry for a long time, has recently been discussed by the representative of the French president in Morocco, M. Ourbach-Blon, in an interview with a representative of the “Israelitische Familienblatt.” M. Blon expressed the opinion that it is premature as yet to issue such a decree, since most of Moroccan Jewry still lives under terrible hygientic and cultural conditions in the century-old houses of the ghetto.

Moroccan Jews have a limited right of self-government in their ghettoes. A council of 6 members, presided over by an Arab Basha, has the right to levy taxes upon the community.

Among Moroccan Jews themselves there is much difference of opinion as to whether French citizenship is desirable for them. Many Jewish leaders feel that this would increase the hatred of the Arabs toward the Jews and doubt whether the French will always be able to protect the lives and property of Moroccan Jews.