By COLlive reporter
The Jewish community in Morocco has a celebrated past with many accomplishments and milestones – one more was made this week which some see as a Chanukah miracle on its own.
For the first time, government officials representing the King of Morocco Mohammed VI have participated in a Menorah lighting ceremony celebrating the Jewish festival of lights.
Rachid Afirat, governor of the prefecture of Casablanca-Anfa districts, and Said Ahmidouch, wali (governor) of the Casablanca-Settat region joined some 700 members of the Jewish community in a celebration that included lighting candles and singing Jewish tunes.
The event held at the 5-star art deco hotel Barcelo Anfa Casablanca was organized by Jeunesse Chabad Morocco, led by Shluchim Rabbi Levi and Chana Banon in cooperation with CCJM, Synagogue David Hamelech and SOC.
Honored participants were veteran Shluchim in Morocco, Rebbetzin Raizel Raskin, and Rabbi Shalom and Rebbetzin Gittel Eidelman, along with Serge Berdugo, Secretary-General of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco.
Guest speakers at the festive event were 2 Chabad rabbis from Canada with close ties to Morrocco: Rabbi Dovid Refoel Banon, Dayan of the Lubavitch and Sephardic communities in Montreal, and a father of Rabbi Levi; and Rabbi Mendel Raskin, Director of Beth Chabad Cote S. Luc and a son of Rebbetzin Raskin and her late husband Rabbi Leibel Raskin OBM.
The event included a stunning performance by illusionist Moulla, a winner of “France Got Talent” competition. But even more exciting was the fact that a local Arabic television station reported about the event.
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