Judeo-Moroccan Jewish in Morocco


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The word Sephard was the name used by Jews in medieval times for the Iberian Peninsula. Sephardim Jews, then, are the descendants of the Jews who lived in Spain or Portugal prior to expulsion in 1492 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Sephardim also have a distinctive language called Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. This is a dialect of Castilian Spanish with Hebrew and Turkish elements.


Many of the Jewish people who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 went south to Morocco where they intermingled with the Berber peoples. They lived in their own Jewish quarters. Jews were dhimmis, meaning a religious minority that paid special taxes. The Muslim sultan protected them; he viewed an attack on religious minorities as an attack on his power. Jewish people in Muslim Morocco fared better there than they did in "Christian" Europe.


Those who speak Judean-Moroccan Arabic usually live in Israel. The small community that speaks this language in Morocco lives in Casablanca and Fes


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today there are not many Jewish people in Morocco. Most have migrated to Israel. Instead of speaking Hebrew or Ladino, they speak Judeo-Moroccan Arabic. This is a variation of the Arabic spoken in Morocco.


Most of the remaining Jewish people in Morocco are elderly. They are trying to maintain their traditional culture and language. It's very possible that there won't be Jews in Morocco by the end of this century.


What Are Their Beliefs?

For religious Jews, God is the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, and the ultimate judge of human affairs. Beyond this, the religious beliefs of the Jewish communities vary greatly. Orthodox Jews generally follow the traditional religious beliefs and practices found in the Jewish literature that interprets Scripture regarding ethical, religious, civil, and criminal matters.


Reform Jews do not believe that God reveals the Jewish Law. They are not restricted to kosher foods. They neither wear the skullcap (yarmulke) when praying nor use Hebrew in prayer. All religious Jews believe in the coming of a Messianic Age, but only the Orthodox Jews look for a personal Messiah.


Many Jewish people keep cultural Judaism, but they have rejected the spiritual elements taught in the Old Testament. They might take part in cultural events and even religious ceremonies, but they are secular or New Age in their spiritual lives.


What Are Their Needs?

Jewish people have a wonderful understanding of their connection with the Abrahamic Covenant. However, they also have a history of rejecting Jesus Christ as Messiah, the one who has fulfilled that covenant. They tend to view Christianity as the religion of their oppressors rather than the fulfillment of what God promised all of humanity through Abraham centuries ago.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to give the Jewish people in Morocco hearts that will want to please him. May they look to the Lord for guidance and truth, and not be satisfied with cultural traditions.


Pray for Jewish people in Morocco to begin a movement to Jesus Christ, finding ways to exalt him while honoring their culture.


Pray for the Lord to move among Jewish leaders in Morocco to open the doors to Christ's ambassadors.


Scripture Prayers for the Jewish, Judeo-Moroccan in Morocco.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Jewish, Judeo-Morrocan
People Name in Country Jewish, Judeo-Moroccan
Natural Name Judeo-Moroccan Jewish
Pronunciation joo-DAY-oh mor-AH-kun joo
Alternate Names Arab; Arab, Judeo-Moroccan; Judeo-Moroccan Speaking; Moroccan Jew
Population this Country 2,100
Population all Countries 67,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 12374
ROP3 Code 104318
ROP25 Code 303368
ROP25 Name Jewish
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Grand Casablanca region.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Morocco
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 24  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Grand Casablanca region..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Jewish, Judeo-Moroccan in Morocco Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Religion Subdivision: Judaism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
98.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
2.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan
Language Code aju   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
French Hebrew Spanish
Primary Language Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan
Language Code aju   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  French
  Hebrew
  Spanish
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan

Primary Language:  Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  ChameleonsEye - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: World Jewish Congress, Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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