Personal Stories

Of the 260,000 Jews who left Morocco in the last century, each one carries with them a unique collection of memories and stories that have all too often been left untold. Aspects of Moroccan Jewish culture have been passed to second and third generation immigrants, and shared with larger Jewish communities in Israel, yet the traditional heritage of Moroccan Jews lay on the periphery of mainstream Jewish life in North America. While 3,500 Jews remain in Morocco, the vast majority have left and with each passing day, another authentic memory of Jewish life in Morocco vanishes and another story is permanently lost. The rich heritage and legacy of Moroccan Jewry must be documented before it is too late.

JIMENA was created to preserve and share the personal stories, communal histories, and rich culture of Jews from Arab countries. Since our inception, we have been documenting the detailed histories and sometimes painful testimonies of Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews. Our archives are continuously growing and we are committed to continue collecting as many stories as we can.

Here you will find a sampling of personal stories from some of JIMENA’s Moroccan members.  If you are interested in preserving your personal and familial story, or delving further into the histories of Jews who fled Morocco and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, we encourage you to contact our office. JIMENA’s Oral History library includes transcripts, unedited video footage, books, and copies of documents. We are also happy to connect you to North African and Middle Eastern Jews for speaking engagements, research, and interviews.

Written Narratives

JIMENA Oral History Videos