A somber ceremony was held at Casablanca’s Beth El synagogue as the Moroccan.
The reverberations of the recent devastating earthquake were felt deeply within the Moroccan Jewish community, prompting a gathering of remembrance and solidarity at Casablanca’s historic Beth El synagogue. There, in a solemn ceremony, tribute was paid to the nearly 3,000 individuals who lost their lives in the catastrophic event. Speaking to the assembled community, Serge Berdugo, Secretary General of the Council of Moroccan Jewish Communities, painted a stark picture of the disaster’s impact.
In a poignant gathering at Casablanca’s Beth El synagogue
“Morocco has just suffered one of the worst natural disasters in its history, causing thousands of deaths, and hundreds of homeless people who lost everything,” he conveyed, underscoring the immense suffering endured by the affected population. While expressing gratitude for the preservation of the Casablanca Jewish community and their sacred mausoleums, Berdugo emphasized the shared responsibility to assist those facing unimaginable hardship. He articulated this sentiment by stating, “By the grace of God, like the vast majority of city dwellers, our community was preserved and the mausoleums of our tzaddikim were not damaged. But faced with this abyss of distress for the isolated inhabitants of the region, we are part of this admirable surge of solidarity that animates Moroccans wherever they live in the world.” Demonstrating a proactive approach to aid, Berdugo announced a collaborative effort with the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the launch of a fundraising initiative aimed at garnering support from the United States.
resulted in a confirmed death toll of 2,946 and left 5,674 injured
These funds are earmarked for distribution through reputable charities to provide essential assistance to those in need. The earthquake, which struck the Al-Haouz province south of Marrakech, has been confirmed to have resulted in 2,946 fatalities and 5,674 injuries, according to the latest official figures. The challenge of assessing the full extent of homelessness remains, particularly in the remote mountainous villages where the earthquake’s impact was most severe. In response to the widespread destruction of housing, the Royal Cabinet has announced significant financial support, allocating $13,680 for each dwelling that was completely destroyed and $7,817 for those that sustained partial damage.
