The French language opposition party newspaper, L’Opinion, in today’s edition reproached Jewish schools for remaining open on the anniversary of Mohammed’s birth. April 26. Under the headline. “Jewish Schools in Morocco Do Not Respect Muslim Holy Days.” the Istiqlal Party organ said “this would result in a moderation of the official attitude toward the question of private education reserved for Jews.” It said “the existence of these schools should be re-examined because in order for the Moroccan Jew not to remain on the margin of Moroccan society he should go to Moroccan schools.”
To bolster its argument, L’Opinion underlined the fact that legal state holidays still exist in those business sectors previously controlled by Jews. It said makes and insurance companies continue to close for Jewish holy days in spite of the fact that the majority are presently controlled by Muslims. Although it is true that Moroccan banks close on Yom Kippur, Passover and Rosh Hashanah, they were controlled in the past by French and other Europeans, with Jews working as managing directors or employes. There are some 12 Jewish schools in Morocco, half of which are located in Casablanca.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
