Personal Stories

Andre Chriqui recalls his Jewish childhood in Casablanca under Vichy rule, the arrival of American forces in November 1942, and the political and economic changes following Moroccan independence that eventually led his family to immigrate to Canada and the United States.

David Lankry recalls his traditional Jewish childhood in Casablanca, his family's immigration to Israel amid growing insecurity in Morocco, the discrimination they encountered as Sephardic and Mizrahi immigrants, and his emotional return to Morocco, where the songs and traditions of his childhood remained deeply meaningful.

Mimi Stein recalls her childhood in Casablanca's Jewish quarter, the antisemitic violence that prompted her family's immigration to Israel in 1961, and her experiences of displacement, resettlement, and returning to a profoundly changed Morocco.

Albert Amar recounts his childhood in Casablanca, Morocco, his family's Jewish traditions, experiences of antisemitism and political upheaval, and his eventual migration to France, reflecting on the importance of preserving Jewish heritage and fostering peaceful coexistence.

Watch JIMENA's video interviews with Jews from Morocco, including Sidney Chriqui, Andre Chriqui, and Max Barchichat.

Taken from a JIMENA interview in December, 2010 about San Francisco’s Magain David SynogogueWhat is your background, where did you come from?My family is from Morocco. My two grandfathers were prominent rabbis in Jerusalem. My grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel Ezran Shalom, was head of the Rabbinical Court of North African Jewry in Jerusalem and my other grandfather, Ha’Rav Yosef Shlush was also very active in the Moroccan and North African community in Jerusalem.

JIMENA Kohn Intern, Gina Levy interviewed internationally acclaimed performing artist, choreographer, and dance instructor Miriam Peretz in the summer of 2009.Why did you choose to pursue a career in Middle Eastern dance, as opposed to other more popular types of dance?

Imagine a frightened six-year-old girl trying to catch her balance in the stifling and cramped hold of a violently tossing ship. She is not alone on the turbulent sea – her parents and sibling are nearby. But fear is in the air, along with the sight and smell of terrible sickness. The child understands little about her circumstances.