Morocco's Jewish community struggles to find joy in Passover amid Israel's war on Gaza

In Morocco, the Jewish community struggles to find joy this Passover as Israel's war ravages Gaza and dozens of Israeli captives remain held.

In Casablanca, home to the majority of the 2,500 remaining Jewish community in the country, where once there would be lively religious gatherings, now there is a palpable stillness, a solemn acknowledgement of the 200-day war just beyond the horizon.

"It's distasteful to celebrate this year, as innocent hostages remain captive, and thousands of Palestinians are daily massacred in Gaza," said Adela, a Jewish Moroccan woman, to The New Arab.

"All we can do is pray; pray for all of us," she added.

The echoes of celebration in Mellah, the Jewish quarter, once resounding through the synagogues, have been replaced by a heavy silence, broken only by sniffles and murmurs of prayers.

Since normalisation, thousands of Israeli tourists flocked yearly to Morocco to celebrate Passover, followed by the Moroccan-Jewish tradition 'Mimouna.'

Launched in 2021, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Casablanca made family reunions easier and more affordable for the one million Jewish people of Moroccan descent living in Israel.

"I think, nowadays, Morocco is a safer place to celebrate the festival," an Israeli tourist told TNA during its coverage of the Passover celebration in Morocco in 2022.

Today, things are different in the North African kingdom. Dozens of protesters gather weekly in front of parliament to set alight the Israeli flag, chanting collectively: "We will burn (Tel Aviv) like they burned Gaza."

Since October, anti-Israeli sentiments have peaked in Moroccan society. Whatever peaceful-seeker image Israel has succeeded in cultivating amongst the few supporters of the Abraham Accords in Morocco was shattered because of its genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Even those who once supported Rabat's normalisation now chant for armed resistance in Palestine as they wave Hamas flags in the weekly anti-normalisation rallies.

The Israeli army has killed at least 34,000 Palestinians throughout its 200-day attack, mostly civilians, including 10,091 women and 15,780 children. The bodies of several thousand are still stuck under the rubble, while thousands remain missing and are presumed dead. 

Hamas-led forces abducted around 250 people, military and civilians, in the 7 October attack and killed around 1,150.. They are still believed to be holding around 100 hostages and the remains of some 30 others. 

Despite everything, Adela says she feels safe in Morocco in person; however, she does not advise Israelis to come to Morocco this year.

"People are furious at Israel, and they see all Israelis as accomplices and guilty of the death of Palestinians," added Adela.

In March, Israel warned its citizens against travel to Morocco and other countries ahead of Passover, citing heightened threats from jihadist groups and Iran.

Since the start of the war, Morocco has not officially recorded any cases of anti-Semitism.

Israel's war on Gaza has also divided Moroccan Jewish families and turned the Seder tables into heated political debates that some would just avoid attending.

"I refuse to share a table with genocide deniers. I am not religious, but I know our religion does not advocate for what Israel is doing," said Marvin, a young Moroccan Jewish man who decided to skip celebrations with his distant Israeli relatives.

Rabat did not issue any official statement on the status of Passover and Mimouna celebrations for its Jewish community.

The North African kingdom also yearly hosts Mimouna, a post-Passover festival uniquely created by a quarter of a million Jews who once lived in the country.

Meanwhile, Tunisia's Jewish community has officially cancelled the Jewish pilgrimage to the Djerba synagogue and the Passover celebrations due to Israel's war on Gaza.