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Jewish Morocco with Dr. Emily Gottreich

Jewish Morocco with Dr. Emily Gottreich


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

This seminar guides you through the history of Moroccan Jewish civilization from its Berber roots in the Saharan oases through the process of Arabization in the royal cities of Fez, Marrakech, and Meknes, and ultimately to its final transformation through the encounter with French (and Spanish) colonialism.
Morocco was once home to the largest Jewish community in the Arab world, as well as one of its oldest. We often call this community Sephardic, but in fact, the exiled Jews from Spain form just one part of the complex mosaic of Moroccan Jewry. This conversation will trace the full historical trajectory of Jewish Morocco from its beginnings in the pre-Islamic era to today. We will pay special attention to the spaces and places that Jews inscribed with meaning through the routines of daily life: the “mellahs” of the royal capitals, the only walled Jewish quarters outside of European ghetto; the trade routes and lively souks where Jews earned their living, and of course the synagogues and “saints’” tombs where Jews prayed.
Led by an expert in the history of Jewish Morocco, Dr. Emily Gottriech, this interactive seminar will provide an in-depth inquiry into the heritage and history of Jewish civilization in Morocco. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with increased knowledge about this rich and surprising history.

Emily Gottreich is an expert in Moroccan Jewish history and Muslim-Jewish relations in the Arab-Islamic world more broadly. She is the author of The Mellah of Marrakech: Jewish and Muslim Space in Morocco's Red City, published in French translation by the University of Mohammed V Press in Rabat in 2016, and co-editor with Daniel Schroeter of Jewish Culture and Society in North Africa (Indiana University Press: 2011). Her most recent book is Jewish Morocco: A History from Pre-Islamic Times to the Present. She currently serves as Adjunct Professor in Global Studies and the Department of History at the University of California, Berkeley, where from 2014-2020 she also served as the Chair of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Prof. Gottreich received her BA in Middle Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley, and her MA and PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and History from Harvard University. She is a three-time Fulbright awardee, a past president of the American Institute for Maghrib Studies, and a winner of the Phi Beta Kappa award for Excellence in Teaching.

Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 62 reviews
87%
(54)
11%
(7)
2%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
P
Pamela Lockman (Winnipeg, CA)
An interesting and enlightening lecture

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Dr Gottreich’s lecture on Jewish Morocco. It was a well balanced presentation with history, sociology, arts, and food. She opened our eyes to many ideas that were new to us, and now we are looking forward to our trip to Morocco more than ever!

A
Adrian L. (Jerusalem, IL)
Fascinating Jewish Origins in Morocco

Historic approach with photos from 1950's of the development of Jewish life in Morocco. Lecturer introduced musical segments of Jewish music, food, economic and political segments up to modern times.

Y
Y.S. (Rio de Janeiro, BR)
Morocco is worth a visit

With good reason, the speaker began talking about the History of Jews in the region, one of the highlights of the presentation. Despite the short time, the main aspects were addressed, be it the Mellahs (created almost 80 years before the the ghetto in Venice), the customs, the delicious food, the rugged landscape and, of course, the migrations of the Jewish people: the immigrationl of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, or the emigration to the Amazon in the second half of the XIX century, as well as the great emigration to Israel after the end of the 2nd World War. I also highlight the small sample of Moroccan music.

M
Marilyn Lichtman (Rockville, US)
Many surprises

I learned so much I did not know. Emily was well organized, very knowledgeable, and had a variety of visuals. I particularly liked the music and singing. I hope she does a virtual on-site tour when she travels to Morocco.

D
Debra B. (Denver, US)
Jewish Morocco

Excellent review of the history and multiple aspects of Jewish culture in Morocco.

Customer Reviews

Based on 62 reviews
87%
(54)
11%
(7)
2%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
P
Pamela Lockman (Winnipeg, CA)
An interesting and enlightening lecture

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed Dr Gottreich’s lecture on Jewish Morocco. It was a well balanced presentation with history, sociology, arts, and food. She opened our eyes to many ideas that were new to us, and now we are looking forward to our trip to Morocco more than ever!

A
Adrian L. (Jerusalem, IL)
Fascinating Jewish Origins in Morocco

Historic approach with photos from 1950's of the development of Jewish life in Morocco. Lecturer introduced musical segments of Jewish music, food, economic and political segments up to modern times.

Y
Y.S. (Rio de Janeiro, BR)
Morocco is worth a visit

With good reason, the speaker began talking about the History of Jews in the region, one of the highlights of the presentation. Despite the short time, the main aspects were addressed, be it the Mellahs (created almost 80 years before the the ghetto in Venice), the customs, the delicious food, the rugged landscape and, of course, the migrations of the Jewish people: the immigrationl of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, or the emigration to the Amazon in the second half of the XIX century, as well as the great emigration to Israel after the end of the 2nd World War. I also highlight the small sample of Moroccan music.

M
Marilyn Lichtman (Rockville, US)
Many surprises

I learned so much I did not know. Emily was well organized, very knowledgeable, and had a variety of visuals. I particularly liked the music and singing. I hope she does a virtual on-site tour when she travels to Morocco.

D
Debra B. (Denver, US)
Jewish Morocco

Excellent review of the history and multiple aspects of Jewish culture in Morocco.