A ceremony honoring the 200th anniversary of Rabbi Raphael Berdugo’s death was held at the old Jewish cemetery in Meknes, marking a significant moment in Moroccan Jewish history.
This event coincided with a symposium held simultaneously at the Israeli Presidency to commemorate the same milestone, attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, distinguished rabbis, and scholars.
the most prominent figures in Moroccan Judaism
During the ceremony, attended by Meknes Prefect Abdelghani Sabbar, the new President of the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, Abdelouahed El Ansari, and Serge Berdugo, Secretary-General of the Council of Jewish Communities in Morocco, a commemorative plaque was placed on Rabbi Berdugo’s tomb.
In his remarks, Serge Berdugo highlighted Rabbi Raphael Berdugo as one of the most prominent figures in Moroccan Judaism, noting his lineage of spiritual and community leaders. He described Rabbi Berdugo as a man of piety, intellectual depth, knowledge, and courage, who dedicated his life to study despite living in poverty. Berdugo also characterized his work as innovative and diverse.
Berdugo emphasized that one of Rabbi Raphael Berdugo’s most notable contributions was translating biblical texts into Moroccan Judeo-Arabic, making them accessible to teachers and helping correct errors accumulated through centuries of oral tradition. He added that almost all of Berdugo’s books were printed, except for one he chose not to publish out of concern for potential misunderstandings among peers.
Restoration of the Meknes Jewish cemetery
The ceremony also celebrated the restoration of the Meknes Jewish cemetery, a project initiated following King Mohammed VI’s directive to rehabilitate Jewish cemeteries across Morocco. Berdugo noted that this royal initiative has preserved over 170 cemeteries, restoring dignity to these sites and bringing relief to families.
He described the Meknes cemetery as unique, with tombs embedded within the historic city wall, making its rehabilitation particularly important. The ongoing restoration work aims to preserve both the tombs and the surrounding historical monuments, and the project is nearing completion.
