Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Moslems Aid Jews Celebrate Start of Rebuilding

February 22, 1934
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

An important move towards a Jewish-Mostant understanding was taken at Rabat, in French Morocco, when Pasha Si-Abdu-Rachman, the Moslem chief of the city, and other Moslem notables attended a reception arranged by the Jewish community to celebrate the be ginning of the work of rebuilding the old ghetto.

The Pasha and the local French authorities headed with the president of the Jewish community, Isaac Abu, the procession that went through the streets of the ghetto in connection with the celebration.

The number of Jews in French Morocco was officially stated in 1932 to be 107,613. This number included, it was explained, only the native-born Jews, not foreign citizens, or Europen Jews, whose number was estimated at 5,000 to 6,00. In addition, the international zone in Tangier and Spanish Morocco have a Jewish population of nearly 20,000, so that the total Jewish population of Morocco was extimated at about 150,000.

Rabat, which is the residence of the Sultan of Morocco, and the administrative capital of the French zone, is one of the chief centers of Jewish population, having nearly 5,000 Jews out of a total pupulation of 14,000. Casablanca and Fez, the largest Jewish centers, have 20m,000 and 12,000 Jews respectively.

There has been considerable tension in Rabat between the Moslem and Jewish pupulations, and last May there was a grave anti-Jewish outburst there. Troops were called out to guard all approaches to ghetto or mellah. Over a hundred arrests were made.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement