Moroccan Jewish community to hold first democratic elections in 50 years

Internal communal elections were last held in 1969 amid an increase in hostility toward Jews in Morocco following Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War in 1967.

By CNAAN LIPHSHIZ
Rabbi Yoshiahu Pinto being installed at chief rabbi of Morocco at Beth-El synagogue in Casablanca, April, 2019 (photo credit: SCREENSHOT/YOU TUBE)
Rabbi Yoshiahu Pinto being installed at chief rabbi of Morocco at Beth-El synagogue in Casablanca, April, 2019
(photo credit: SCREENSHOT/YOU TUBE)

Moroccan Jews will hold internal elections for the first time in 50 years to determine their communal representatives.

King Mohammed VI instructed the Interior Ministry to facilitate the elections, the le360 news website reported Friday.

Internal communal elections were last held in 1969 amid an increase in hostility toward Jews in Morocco following Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War in 1967. That hostility led to the emigration of the last great wave of Jews from Morocco, which once was home to 270,000 Jews but now has about 3,000.

Earlier this month, the royal house of Morocco announced a plan to construct a Jewish museum in the city of Fez.