Chassidic Schools Established in Remote Villages of Morocco

Fifty religious schools have recently been established in remote mountain villages of French Morocco by representatives of the Lubavitcher Rabbi’s European office under the direction of Rabbi Benjamin Gorodetzki, it was reported here today.

During a 300-mile expedition into the roadless wilderness south of Marakesh, the Chassidic teacher–traveling on donkeys–found what must be one of the poorest, disease-ridden Jewish communities in the world. The Jews in this area dwell in mud huts and caves and eat the pickings of refuse from the markets of their Moslem neighbors. When they can afford it, they eat a sort of unleavened bread which is baked with mud. Horrible skin, scalp and other diseases abound among these Jews, who mend shoes and ply other simple crafts when work is available.

The Lubavitcher Rabbi’s representative found that the Jews in this region marry off their daughters from the age of eight. They spend much time in the study of the Talmud. Rabbi Gorodetzki, who as mission was financed in part by the Joint Distribution Committee, established a boarding school for 150 students in Meknes and a girls’ seminary in Sefrou. It is hoped that when these students complete their studies, they will serve as teachers in a network of religious schools in Morocco.