The Alliance Israelite Universelle and the Jewish Communities of Morocco, 1862-1962

By Michael M. Laskier

Subjects: Middle East Studies
Series: SUNY series in Modern Jewish Literature and Culture
Paperback : 9780873956550, 388 pages, June 1984
Hardcover : 9780873956567, 388 pages, June 1984

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Table of contents

Acknowledgment
Tables and Illustrations
Introduction

I. Background of the Activities of the Alliance Israélite Universelle in Morocco: The Traditional Jewish Society 1. The Jewish Communities and the Alliance Israélite Universelle between 1862 and 1912 II. The Political Activities of the Alliance in Morocco before the Protectorate Era

III. The Alliance and the Struggle for Recognition within Moroccan Jewish Society

IV. The Alliance and its Socio-Cultural Influence on Moroccan Jewry 2. The Jewish Communities and the Alliance Israélite Universelle between 1912 and 1956 V. The Alliance and the Jewish Communities in the Protectorates' Political Arena

VI. Zionism and Assimilation: The Emergence of Zionist Influence in Morocco and the Position of the Alliance
VII. The Alliance and the Social and Cultural Evolution of the Jews: 1912-1956

VIII. The Jews and the Muslims: Comparative Aspects of Education and Problems of Social Conflict 3. The Jewish Communities and the Alliance Israélite Universelle between 1956 and 1962 IV. The Alliance and the Jewish Communities in Independent Morocco

Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Description

The Alliance Israélite Universelle—an international organization representing a community of over 240,000 Jews—was founded in France in 1860. Its goal was to achieve the intellectual regeneration and social and political elevation of the Jewish people. This book examines the impact of the AIU on Moroccan Jewry. It answers such questions as: How did the AIU establish itself in Morocco's communities? How did it go on to become a power not to be underestimated by either the Moroccan government or the Europeans? And more importantly, how did the AIU improve the conditions of the Jews in Morocco, creating an important French-speaking urban elite? Also discussed are such topics as Zionism and Jewish-Muslim relations in Morocco.

Michael M. Laskier is Lecturer and Researcher on the Jews of the Muslim countries and on Jewish-Muslim relations at Tel-Aviv University's Jewish History Department and the Institute of Diaspora Studies.

Reviews

"Michael Laskier tells his story very well. He has done an excellent job of archival work and has related his study of the AIU to the broader issues of government during the Protectorate and Independence periods. There really are no competing works in English, and even the French sources are not quite on point with this work." — Lawrence Rosen, Department of Anthropology, Princeton University.