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75, 000 Jews in Morocco Mourn Publicly the Death of King Mohammed V

March 6, 1961
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All Jewish organizations organized religious ceremonies in memory of King Mohammed V in Casablanca and it was estimated that 75, 000 Jewish men, women and children expressed their sorrow in public mourning, it was reported today.

A religious service was arranged by the Casablanca rabbinate presided over by Grand Rabbi Moise Malka. Moroccan Chief Rabbi Saul Danan, president of the Supreme Rabbinical Tribunal, eulogized the late King in a broadcast in Arabic over the Moroccan radio. The Arab language press published photographs of the demonstrations organized by Moroccan Jews as soon as the King’s death became known.

Earlier, Jewish leaders participated in the coronation of King Hassan II and attended a religious service at the central mosque in Rabat where the new King, for the first time in his role as “Leader of the Faithful, ” led Moslem prayers. Although the Jewish community was represented as one of the faith in Morocco, Jewish leaders saw a propitious sign in the fact that the leaders were invited to attend both ceremonies.

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