David Lankry: Jewish Life in Casablanca, Immigration to Israel, and a Return to Morocco

David Lankry was born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1951, into a traditional Jewish family. He remembers a childhood filled with religious observance, music, family gatherings, and a strong sense of Jewish community. However, growing political uncertainty and fears about the safety of Moroccan Jews eventually led his family to immigrate to Israel when David was 11 years old. His testimony recounts the challenges of resettlement, discrimination against Sephardic and Mizrahi immigrants, and an emotional return to his childhood neighborhood in Casablanca decades later.

Growing Up in a Traditional Jewish Family in Casablanca

David's childhood was shaped by the religious and cultural traditions of Moroccan Jewish life.

He began his Jewish education at just three years old, attending a local synagogue to learn prayers. At five, he enrolled in a Jewish school where he studied Hebrew and French.

After school, he continued his religious education through Torah study with local rabbis, whom he remembers as “very strict” with their students.

His early friendships were primarily with other Jewish children, reflecting the close-knit community in which he was raised.

As he grew older, however, David became increasingly curious about subjects and experiences beyond his Jewish school.

Recognizing his son's interests, David's father enrolled him in a public school.

Although the teachers were Muslim and everyone knew that David was Jewish, he remembers being treated fairly.

The teachers, he recalls, were “fair and equal” in their treatment of students.

David's father worked as a self-employed electrician, while his mother maintained a traditional household centered on raising the children and preparing family meals.

He remembers his mother's daily life revolving around “kids and food,” reflecting the importance of family and hospitality in their home.

Music was another defining feature of his childhood.

David enthusiastically recalls the traditional melodies and songs that filled his family's home and the wider Jewish community of Casablanca.

These memories remained an important connection to his Moroccan Jewish heritage long after he left the country.

Political Uncertainty and the Decision to Leave Morocco

David remembers the early 1960s as a period of growing uncertainty for Moroccan Jews.

Following the death of King Mohammed V in 1961, he recalls increasing anxiety within the Jewish community about its future.

According to David, the king had urged his successor to protect