IMPORTANT : The German government has decided to compensate all Moroccan-born Jews born before 1944 for the hardships they faced during the war in the amount of 2,556 Euros. To apply from anywhere in the world, contact Charles Lugassy at 514-299-6279 or clugassy@videotron.ca.

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Maghen Abot – e”H Ribi Mordekhai Lebhar s”t

Laws of the Synagogue

3. Kissing One’s Friends in the Synagogue

The minhag is to permit the kissing – as a greeting or show of respect – of relatives, friends, and the ribi in the synagogue; this is not forbidden under the ruling of the Rama in Orah Hayim 98:1.

The Rama there writes that it is forbidden to kiss one’s small children in the synagogue; the reason being that one must take to heart that “there is no love like the love of G-d.” This forbids only showing signs of love in the synagogue and does not apply to the practice of Moroccan Jews to kiss one’s adult relatives or friends since that is not done out of love but out of respect and as a greeting. See Rbi Yishaq Hazan (Yehavé Da’at Heleq 3, Chapter 5), Rbi Shalom Messas zs”l (Shemesh Umaghen Heleq 1, Chapter 39) and e”H Rbi Yehoshu’a Maman s”t (‘Emeq Yehoshu’a Heleq 3, Chapter 18).

Netibot Hama’arab – e”H Ribi Eliyahou Bitton s”t

Miscellaneous Minhagim

9. It is customary in Morocco to be very careful not to mention the word “Shedim” (demons) explicitly, but when necessary we would refer to them, in Arabic, “Zyarna” (our neighbours) or “Jnoun.” This is because by mentioning their names we give them control and power to do damage, has veshalom. See further in Yehudot Morocco from p. 268, Osar Yisrael p. 36, and Mishnat haZohar p. 261. For more on the nature of Shedim see Masekhet Hagiga 15a.

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Shi’urim :

*13/6 Ribi Leb’har – Various Halakhot of the ‘Hupa – ‘Hupat Nida / Which Day? / Fasting

*18/5 Ribi ‘Amram Assayag – Halakha Of Wearing Wigs 2 – Ribi Shalom Messas zs”l

* Darké Abotenou Shi’urim Archive

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Our Holy Sages, Hazal, teach us that “One who studies [at least] two laws daily is guaranteed a portion in the world to come.” -Masekhet Meghila 28b