Moroccan Jewish community in Los Angeles reaffirms attachment to Alawite throne
The Moroccan Jewish community in Los Angeles expressed its unwavering attachment to the Glorious Alawite Throne and to the unique Moroccan model of peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and faiths, during this week’s celebration of “Morocco Week Reception” at the Sephardic Congregation “Em Habanim”.
Organized on the occasion of Morocco Day in Los Angeles, proclaimed in 2019 in the presence of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the event brought together several dignitaries, religious leaders, and members of the diaspora. It highlighted the noble values that have distinguished Morocco for centuries, including unity, attachment to roots, preservation of collective memory, and living together.
The participating members of the Sephardic Congregation “Em Habanim”, including Rabbi Joshua Bittan, a native of Ouazzane, expressed, with deep emotion, their profound attachment and gratitude to King Mohammed VI for his constant efforts to preserve Morocco’s national heritage and promote exemplary coexistence that unites all components of the Moroccan nation.
Speaking at the event, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, praised the strong attachment of the Jewish community to its Moroccan origins, stressing that the Kingdom is not only their country of origin, but “a home, a reference point, and a heritage that remains alive in the hearts and prayers.”
The ambassador highlighted the exceptional nature of the interfaith dialogue promoted by Morocco, deeply rooted in the Kingdom’s history and constantly renewed under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful.
In Morocco, he emphasized, coexistence has never been mere rhetoric but an ancestral way of life that has allowed Jews, Christians, and Muslims to “live together as brothers and sisters, sharing, for centuries, the same towns and villages, the same hopes, and the same values.”
Th diplomat noted that this heritage is now enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution, which recognizes all components of national identity, including the Jewish component, and is reflected in actions: restoration of synagogues, preservation of archives, promotion of traditions, and transmission of a common memory that strengthens the unity of the nation.
In addition, the ambassador announced that, as part of efforts to strengthen ties with members of the community living in California and across the West Coast, the Moroccan authorities are considering establishing a Moroccan consulate in Los Angeles to provide Moroccan citizens in the region with easier access to consular services and enhanced support.
he also mentioned the upcoming launch of a direct airline route between Casablanca and Los Angeles, which will profoundly transform connectivity between Morocco and the U.S. West Coast, and boost human, economic, cultural, and tourist exchanges.