Morocco

Overview
Morocco is a North African nation whose shores span the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar with a small Mediterranean Sea coastline. There is a small but vibrant Jewish community centered in Casablanca, with smaller communities in Rabat, Marrakech, Meknes, Tangier, and Fez. Of the Jews in Morocco today, some trace their roots back to the destruction of the Second Temple, while others are descendants of Jews expelled from Spain in 1492.

Need
Moroccan Jewry is largely self-sufficient, but still needs help maintaining the medical, educational, and other welfare programs and services it has established. Additionally, the community looks to its partners to help provide links to Jewry worldwide.

Response
JDC helps the community provide Jewish and secular education for all Jewish children in Morocco through the Ozar Hatorah, Chabad, and Alliance Israelite Universelle (Ittihad) schools—the components of the Moroccan Jewish school system.

Welfare programs funded by JDC in partnership with the local Jewish community assist in the care of needy and ill elderly. These efforts include monthly cash assistance for basic needs such as food, rent, and utilities, as well as special assistance for emergencies.

JDC also provides training and consultations for local communal professionals and leaders.

Impact
Some examples of JDC’s impact include:

• The JDC-developed Fred and Velva Levine Residence, which provides safe housing for as many as 60 of the community’s welfare clients
• Monthly cash assistance program in Casablanca serves some 141 individuals and is partially funded by JDC
• Providing, with local partners, monthly cash assistance to 53 individuals in eight outlying provinces and emergency financial aid to 34 community members in special need
• 119 primary and secondary students benefit from JDC-supported special education classes; 30 Ozar Hatorah students with learning difficulties or in need of additional academic assistance attend tutorial classes