Morocco’s ambassador to Australia, Karim Medrek, took part in a ceremony in Canberra as a guest of honor of an exhibition on the heritage of Jews of Arab origin.
Medrek lit the second Hanukkah candle with his Israeli counterpart, Ron Gerstenfeld, alongside Rabbi David Laitner-Cohen, said the Moroccan embassy in Australia in a statement.
The diplomat recalled that Morocco, where nearly 250,000 Jews lived until the middle of the twentieth century, was home to the largest Arab Jewish community since ancient times, which expanded later with the arrival of Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492.
They lived all across the country, in villages, towns, and cities, working mainly in the sectors of commerce and finance, while freely and peacefully practicing their religion, he added.
Medrek highlighted the strong feeling of belonging of the 3rd, 4th generation of Moroccan Jews expatriates worldwide, adding that 50,000 Moroccan Jews visit the kingdom every year.
Ambassador Medrek stressed that the Moroccan-Jewish legacy has been honored for many years through several actions, adding that countless projects and initiatives have been undertaken in favor of Moroccan Judaism and its influence in the world.
Several members of the Diplomatic Corps, MPs as well as representatives of the Australian Jewish community took part in this celebration.
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