Israel creates annual day for Moroccan and North African Jewish heritage

Israel's Knesset approved, in its second and third readings a few days ago, a bill establishing an annual day to celebrate the heritage of Moroccan and North African Jews, commemorate the migration of Jews from these regions to Israel, and honor those who died during the journey.

The 23rd day of the Hebrew month of Tevet was chosen for the commemoration. The date marks the anniversary of the sinking of the Egoz on the night of January 10-11, 1961. The ship had been chartered by Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, to transport Moroccan Jews to Gibraltar before their onward journey to Israel.

The disaster claimed the lives of 44 people, including Haim Tzarfati, the Mossad envoy overseeing the operation.

According to the bill's explanatory memorandum, «the migration of Moroccan Jews is one of the central and most influential chapters in the history of the Jewish people, and contributed significantly to shaping Israeli society». It adds that the Moroccan Jewish community is «one of the oldest, largest and most prosperous Jewish communities in the diaspora».

The memorandum further states that «in the 20th century, as Morocco became an independent state, Moroccan Jews were subjected to a ban preventing them from leaving the country and immigrating to Israel». It adds that «the strong desire among members of the Jewish community to immigrate to Israel led many of them to take the risk of illegal migration».

The bill was approved with the support of 25 lawmakers, with no votes against recorded in the Knesset.