A young Israeli, Luiz Gandelman, recently visited Morocco, where he was well treated by Moroccan sellers of Judaica, and concluded that this benign treatment was enough to restore his “faith in humanity” and in “support [by whom?] for Israel.” I beg to differ. His paean of praise to Morocco, where crowds of protesters have since October 7 been demanding that the government cut diplomatic relations with Israel, can be found here: “My Trip to Morocco Reaffirmed My Faith in Humanity and Support for Jews,” by Luiz Gandelman, Algemeiner, February 1, 2024:
Save for Israel, Morocco is probably the place where I’ve heard the most Hebrew. This was likely because I traveled there with a Kippah on my head. Whenever I travel, I always have to make the judgment about where I will wear a baseball hat and where I will proudly display my Kippah. For Arab countries, owing to tensions with Israel, I usually opt for the hat, but Morocco’s rich Jewish history served as my impetus for choosing the latter….
While I was surrounded by “Free Palestine” graffiti and shirts in every market stall I passed — and every synagogue was guarded by police — I rarely felt unsafe. Most Moroccans didn’t bother to ask if I was Israeli; rather, they would simply blurt out words in Hebrew and smile. In Marrakesh, locals even were eager to point me towards the Jewish museum and synagogue.
The question, “You are Jewish?” rang out over and over, and I eventually began replying yes [but for a while, he must have answered “No.” Now why was that, if Morocco was such a warm and welcoming place?]. Muhammed, an antique vendor, spoke of antisemitism and how he hurts from seeing it, and how he misses his Jewish visitors. He sold Judaica and Jewish antiques, including a beautiful Menorah that I bought.
But of course Muhammad, the seller of antique Judaica, would speak to Gandelman of how much it hurts him to see the antisemitism displayed by others, and to deplore the decrease in Jewish visitors to his shop. Why wouldn’t this seller of Judaica present himself as a sorrowful friend to the Jews? They are the ones who help sustain his trade in Judaica. And here is another question that seems never to have occurred to Gandelman: where did Muhammad, or any of the other Arab sellers of Judaica whom Gandelman encountered, obtain their wares? Surely the entire Moroccan market in Judaica consists of items left behind by the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Morocco when their situation worsened, and pogroms erupted, in the half-dozen years following the 1948 war. Since 1948, a total of 275,000 Jews have left Morocco for Israel and France. It was their menorahs, their Torah scroll cases and scrolls, their ketubahs, their prayer shawls, their mezuzahs, that Moroccan Arabs now sell to Jewish visitors. Knowing the origin of their merchandise might give Gandelman pause.
Khalid, the Muslim guard of the Marrakesh Jewish cemetery, who spoke fluent Hebrew, gave me a special tour of the cemetery. This care for Jewish people and respect seemed to be the common theme among Moroccan Muslims that I interacted with. Every antique vendor upon seeing my Kippah was eager to showcase their Judaica, and one even went as far as gifting me a free Falus, an old Moroccan coin emblazoned with a Star of David in the front. These Moroccan Muslims appreciated their country’s Jewish heritage, but most of all, were eager to see Jewish tourists.
It is only natural that Khalid, the guard at a Jewish cemetery — note that the cemetery needed a security guard, to prevent vandals from desecrating graves and pulling up gravestones – would have learned Hebrew. Who would he be talking to, showing around the cemetery, if not the Hebrew-speaking descendants of Moroccan Jews who would be visiting from Israel? He is not only a guard, but also a tour guide. He likely receives a salary from the 200 members of the Jewish community in Marrakech, and no doubt does not turn down whatever sums grateful Jewish tourists want to provide him as a gratuity. The Moroccan Muslims who sell Judaica of course are “eager to showcase” those items to a Jewish visitor, the proudly be-kippahed Gandelman, who is well-pleased with the attention shown him by those who are hoping that he will buy from them. He takes at face value their protestations of undying devotion. I have shopped in the souks of Tangier, and I well remember the insistence by sellers on telling me what good taste I showed in preferring this rug to that one, and how much they liked Americans, and that was why they were prepared to offer this or that item to me at an absolutely unheard-of rock-bottom price that, I found out later, was five times what the item was worth. And in Cairo, and Istanbul, you can hear the sellers in the souks offer a “special price for you, effendi” as they offer small cups of tea, and carefully appraise their innocent prey.
I [Gandelman] had similarly positive interactions with Jews as well. At the Casablanca Chabad house, the rabbi and his congregation welcomed me with open arms. I marveled at Moroccan liturgy and enjoyed an incredible meal put together by the rabbi’s family. Abraham Cohen, one of the last Jews of Fez, cried and prayed upon seeing that I was Jewish, and insisted on making tea for me. We chatted in Hebrew about life in Morocco, and he told me how his entire congregation left for France and Israel, so Jewish tourists were a rare delight. Gavriel, a Jewish barber in Marrakech, was eager to play a Shofar and show me his Judaica collection, covering the walls of his barber shop — alongside Jewish flyers and posters….
The “positive interactions with [other] Jews” were heartfelt. Was that surprising? What did Gandelman expect from his coreligionists, so pleased to encounter, in their increasing isolation, as their numbers keep diminishing, a fellow Jew from the Land of Israel?
Morocco reminded me that our history in the Diaspora is so strong, and that we have partners willing to help maintain our communities, something we now need more than ever. Having been in a shell of fear and uncertainty since October 7, it took a trip to Morocco, a Muslim country, to restore my faith in humanity and remind me of those willing to fight alongside us for a brighter world. With partners like Khalid and Muhammed, and with people like Abraham and Gavriel in mind, we can and will continue despite any hardship, and must live strongly and proudly as a Jewish people, now more than ever.
How absurd. I would have thought that a trip to Morocco would have led to a different conclusion. Gandelman was visiting a country from which 275,000 Jews had fled — often leaving behind their property — because of the physical danger posed by their Arab neighbors. Did he not wonder about the conditions which led them to flee? Or about what happened to the property they left behind? Did he not think about the original owners of the Judaica he was offered? How does a trip to Morocco, which had 250,000 Jews in 1948 and today has only 2,500 — 1% of the original number? How does the fate of Moroccan Jews testify to the strength of the Diaspora? Who are these “partners” outside Israel who are “willing to help maintain our communities”? Is it Muhammad, the seller of property — Judaica — left behind by Jews who fled the country? Or Khalid, the guard at the Jewish cemetery, who is paid to protect a site that otherwise might be vandalized by local Muslims? Who are these people “willing to fight alongside us for a brighter world”? What brighter world is that? For god’s sake, Morocco should remind us that the Arab and Muslim countries have gotten rid of 99% of their Jews, and that in Europe, the burgeoning Muslim population is making European countries too, much more unpleasant and physically dangerous for the Jews.
Despite everything, there are good people in the world — lots of them. If you ever forget that, make your way to Morocco, where the beautiful architecture and delicious food somehow is outdone by the kindness of the people.”
Does the “kindness of the people” in Morocco include those tens of thousands who marched after October 7, not in support of the brutalized Israelis, but against Israeli Jews, with cries for the government to cut off relations with Israel, and chants of “free Palestine” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”? That last is a call for the disappearance of the one Jewish state and its replacement by a twenty-third Arab one. Mr. Gandelman, I’m glad you were well treated by fellow Jews, and by that handful of Muslim sellers of Judaica who wanted your custom, but really, shouldn’t you curb your enthusiasm?
Taffy says
Isn’t Morocco the place where those two women from Scandinavia were murdered by 18 ISIS Muzzies about 6 years ago?
Ernie says
Yes Taffy ! Thank you for reminding !
tgusa says
That is right Taffy, raped and murdered, brutally. I thought at the time, poor uninformed women in the mountains in a foreign, by themselves, from a traditionally white non western country. As tough as I might be even I wouldn’t do that without several friends along with me. I would label that as a dangerous vacation. There are many ways you can do dangerous vacations without subjecting yourself to rape and subsequent murder by having your head cut off.
It was really sad to hear at the time, but still, even today, the West continues to hope the intruders have the same values or will adopt the same values as we do. That is a futile effort.
Raya says
A terrorist incident that happened years ago is now shapes a country ?!
gravenimage says
+1
tgusa says
I advise him to swing over to Nigeria when he is done in Morocco. I would go ahead and recommend many other countries where muslims are killing people, maiming people, scaring people, or just making a general nuisance of themselves among the ingenious community, wherever they are. Yes, I could compose a list for him but doing that is just too much work for me alone. To do that, I would need several several assistants, but still, would that be enough?
tgusa says
Indigenous community, not, ingenious community, but maybe those both apply.
JS says
I’m seriously disgusted with delusional people, especially when they are Jews. They make us all look stupid and we have enough of those Jews here in the U.S. and call themselves leaders in the Jewish community.
Things would be so much better if we had a decent Jewish organization in the U.S.. Frankly, someone needs to open one quickly.
puzzled says
under islimmyism, it is called “taquiya” or how to lie for allaha NAKBAR.
Always remember, there is no “GOLDEN RULE” in islimmyism
Read the curran what the savages must do to Hebrews and infidels.
Sharon says
Right !
He seems very easily swayed by crafty
merchants.
They want to sell you things.
Of course, they will be nice, nicey.
Never, ever trust a Muslim is a rule I live by.
I have read enough of the Koran to beware of anything they say.
Mick says
In WW2, Mohammed V shielded the Jews from.the nasty German occupiers. No surprise that many Moroccan Jews like(d) to visit.
A Mahgrebi Jewish friend told me that Berbers in the Rif mountains, are converting to Judaism,
as the Berbers in Kabylie convert to Christianity. No surprise. Berbers have fought hard-line Islam.for 1300 years,, most recently in the Algerian civil war.
OLD GUY says
If he was spreading enough cash around I’am sure they loved him. Islam seems to always welcome money and sex for a little respect, depending on the mood.
Tony says
I visited Marrakech many times in the past and seen many Jews in traditional clothing and wearing the kippah with no hassle. I think it’s certainly an exception of other arab countries.
Pray Hard says
Tell that to the two Western women who were raped and beheaded there a handful of years ago.
tim gallagher says
What an idiot. The murderous hatred of Muslims towards Jews, Christians and any other non-Muslims is a basic islamic belief. To be swayed by coming across a couple of pleasant Muslims is gullibility in the extreme. He should instead look at Muslim terrorist attacks, 40,000 plus since the 9/ 11 attacks and face reality. His saying he has faith restored in human nature in the way he does is foolish and extremely naive.
Pray Hard says
Just another maroon.
Sincerely,
Bugs
gravenimage says
Thanks for citing the wisdom of Bugs Bunny. Smarter than a lot of people.
Pray Hard says
I’m sure, like many other moslem countries, that it’s a fine and dandy place until, you know, you get beheaded.
The excuses we make for islam …
Mick says
The average Maghrebi Jew feels at home with North Africans and VV.
Whereas average Ashkenazim and North Europeans are gooseberries.
I assume Gandelman is of European descent..
gravenimage says
Israel Visitor to Morocco is Well-Treated and Has His ‘Faith in Humanity’ Restored
……………………………………………
Good God, what a fool. As for Morocco’s rich Jewish history, Luiz Gandelman might be shocked to learn how Jews were treated there. This, from a French traveler, Chénier, in the late 18th century:
“The Jews possess neither lands nor gardens, nor can they enjoy their fruits in tranquillity. They must wear only black, and are obliged when they pass near mosques, or through streets in which there are sanctuaries, to walk barefoot. The lowest among the Moors imagines he has a right to ill-treat a Jew, nor dares the latter defend himself, because the Koran and the judge are always in favor of the Mohammedan.”
And here is a painting of the “Execution of a Jewess in Tangiers” by Alfred Dehodencq from the mid 19th century. Jewish woman Sol Hachuel was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam and become one of the Sultan’s wives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Moroccan_Jews#/media/File:Alfred_Dehodencq_-_Execution_of_a_Jewess_in_Tangiers_c1861.jpg
There were murderous anti-Jewish riots in Morocco after modern Israel was founded in 1948. Jews were generally prevented from leaving Morocco at the time.
There are only an estimated 2000-2,500 Jews surviving in Morocco today.