This class will offer an overview of Moroccan Jewish history in the twentieth century, emphasizing the departure of the majority of the community. Following a brief introduction to the historical context, this class will discuss the role that memory and nostalgia play in preserving Morocco’s Jewish past and present. Class materials will include traditional historical texts as well as film excerpts, photography, and popular music.

Instructor: Natalie Bernstien is a PhD student in Modern Jewish History at UCLA. She studies Moroccan Jewish history, and works primarily on the city of Tangier during the Second World War. She previously lived in Meknes, Morocco as part of the Arabic Flagship Program Capstone year and in Casablanca, Morocco as a Fulbright student researcher. Her work has been supported by the Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies, the American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS), the US Fulbright Program, and the Skirball Cultural Center.