Miracle of Moroccan Aliyah

Newcomers on board ship from Morocco at Haifa port. Credit: Fritz Cohen, Israeli Government Press Office Sep. 24, 1954.

David Littman never knew his job helping Jewish children in Morocco was part of a secret illegal immigration mission called Operation Mural. He was one of the many who risked their lives helping Jews leave move to Israel after the Moroccan government banned aliyah. Another hero is Yehudit Yehezkeli Galili, a member of the Misgeret, a Jewish underground that ran self defense units and helped Operation Yachin in which tens of thousands of Moroccan Jews escaped persecution for a better life in the holy land.

Learn about the 1948 Anti-Jewish riots in Oujda and Jerada, the Bloody Days of Fez, the sinking of the Egoz and the heroism of Sultan Mohammed V who stood up to the Nazis.

Traditional Moroccan dance during the Mimouna celebration at Gan Sacher in Jerusalem. Credit: Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office April 18, 1971

NOTES:

• Interview with David Littman, Operation Mural

• The Moroccan connection: Exploring the decades of secret ties between Jerusalem and Rabat

• French Press Condemns ‘inhuman’ Moroccan Treatment of Jews

• 30,000 Jews Reported to Have Left Morocco Despite Emigration Ban

• Jews of the Maghreb on the Eve of World War II

• Late King Mohammed V of Morocco honored for protecting his country's Jews

• Sultan Mohammed V protected the Jews of Casablanca

• Under the nose of the king: the secret operation of the Mossad for the protection of Moroccan Jews