SHUVA ISRAEL| INTERNATIONAL | SPECIAL REPORT
By Shuva Israel Editorial Staff
February 26, 2026
RABAT, Morocco — In the quiet corridors of the Royal Palace, where the echoes of the Islamic Call to Prayer have long mingled with the ancient cadences of Hebrew liturgy, a remarkable spiritual revelation has emerged. It is a story not merely of political tolerance, but of a shared soul—one that dates back millennia and finds its most potent expression in the words of His Majesty King Hassan II.
In a deeply personal archived address that had resonated from the synagogues of Casablanca to the Moroccan diaspora in North America, the King—the Commander of the Faithful—unveiled a private ritual that bridges the chasm between two of the world’s great faiths.
“I am one of the few Muslims,” the King revealed, “who prays for the soul of our master Moses 100 times on that night.”
The “night” in question is the 7th of Adar, the date on the Hebrew calendar marking both the birth and the passing of Moses (Moshe Rabbeinu). For the Jewish world, it is a day of fasting and reflection. For the Moroccan Monarch, it is a moment of profound Moroccan unity.
A Covenant of the Spirit
The King’s statement is more than a diplomatic gesture; it is a historical reclamation.
“Every year, around late February and early March,” the King explained, describing his long-standing correspondence with scholars to track the lunar Jewish calendar, “we pray for the soul of our master Moses… There is no Moroccan Jew in the entire world for whom we do not pray for good.”
To understand the weight of these words, one must look through a historical lens that predates the modern borders of the Middle East. While the narrative of the Exodus typically follows Moses eastward toward the Promised Land, Moroccan tradition tells a parallel story. The King touched upon a historical thread cherished by Moroccan scholars: the belief that some Jews, seeking sanctuary during the era of the Prophet Moses, traveled west, settling in the Maghreb long before the Arab arrival.
“Thank God for those who came, and thank God for those who settled with us,” the King remarked, acknowledging the Jewish community as an foundational pillar of the Moroccan identity—not as “guests,” but as indigenous sons.
The Guardian of the Hebraic Component
For the followers of Rabbi Pinto, the King’s words serve as a divine affirmation of Morocco’s unique constitutional identity. Morocco remains the only nation in the Arab world to recognize the “Hebraic component” of its national identity in its supreme law.
However, the King’s message goes further, elevating the Moroccan Talmudic tradition to a global pedestal. He described the Moroccan Talmudic school as the “best in the world,” characterized by a “harsh” but authentic guardianship of the law.
“All the rabbis in the world who want to know what the true and authentic Jewish religion is,” the King asserted, “come to Morocco to search for your religion, just as you should return to Morocco to search for your culture and authenticity.”
A Fast for Two Faiths
Perhaps the most stirring moment of the address was the King’s expressed desire to join his Jewish subjects in their spiritual disciplines. By expressing a wish to participate in the spiritual gravity of the 7th of Adar, the King reasserts the role of the Alawite Monarchy as the shield of the Jewish people.
This protection is not a modern invention. It recalls the heroism of King Mohammed V, who, during the dark days of the Vichy regime in World War II, famously refused to hand over “his subjects” to the Nazis, famously stating: “There are no Jewish citizens, there are no Muslim citizens. They are all Moroccans.”
Today, King Hassan II extends this legacy into the spiritual realm. “It is our duty to protect and preserve your rights, security, and freedom,” he told the diaspora.
The Return to the Roots
As the Chief Rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, continues to revitalize Jewish life within the Kingdom, the King’s message serves as a clarion call for the “children and grandchildren” of Morocco to return to the land where their ancestors’ graves remain under royal protection.
The King’s prayer—repeated 100 times for the soul of Moses—is a testament to a Morocco that refuses to let the fires of modern conflict consume the ancient warmth of communal friendship. It is a reminder that in the shadow of the Atlas Mountains, the Crescent and the Star do not merely coexist; they pray for one another.
“Say Amen with us,” the King concluded, “and may He always keep you surrounded by His care and generosity.”
