Why Did 300,000 Jews Leave Morocco?
Unpacked
Once home to a flourishing Jewish community, Morocco saw the departure of approximately 300,000 Jews in the mid-20th century. While Moroccan Jews survived World War II largely unscathed by the Nazis, thanks to King Mohammed V's refusal to implement anti-Jewish laws, the post-war period brought significant changes. The rising tide of Arab nationalism, coupled with the establishment of the State of Israel and subsequent Arab-Israeli conflicts, created an environment of insecurity and uncertainty for Moroccan Jews. Anti-Jewish sentiments grew, prompting many to emigrate to Israel, France, and Canada from a land they had called home for centuries since antiquity.