The Moroccan Boy’s Love

The folks living in the Mellah, the walled Jewish quarter of the city of Marrakesh, used to say about Amram’s grandfather: “If you’ve got a problem, go ask Rabbi Alfasi, he’ll surely find a solution!” because the rabbi was well known for his wisdom and knowledge. Amram, the narrator, felt very close to him. So, when the boy was beaten up by Moroccan thugs, he went to his grandfather. His father, he felt, was overprotective. But his father had a point: the story takes place when Morocco was freeing itself from France’s 44-year-long rule, and rioting against the Jews had begun. The Jews called these pogroms the tritl and it was the need to rescue them that led Israel to send emissaries to Morocco, including some special Mossad agents. They trained youngsters and adults in self-defense and helped organize the emigration of the Jewish community to Israel. Rabbi Alfasi was secretly working with one of the Mossad emissaries and he told Amram about it. His story, and the story of his extended family, as told by Dorit Orgad, faithfully and lovingly depict the way of life of Morocco’s Jewish community. Finally, Amram moves to Israel without his family and settles down there despite all the difficulties.