They turned out in large numbers on Monday, September 21, to observe the holiest day of the Jewish year. Addressing worshippers gathered in Casablanca, Serge Berdugo, secretary-general of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco, began by reflecting on the meaning of this day of fasting and prayer. “During this month of Elul [the sixth month of the Jewish civil calendar, Editor’s note], the gates of heaven are open to receive our prayers and supplications, so that the Eternal may forgive us all our sins,” he said.
Yom Kippur, he recalled, is “one of the most solemn and sacred days in the Jewish calendar, when each person takes account of their actions and asks forgiveness from those they may have wronged.”
Divine forgiveness, however, follows a particular order. Before turning to heaven, worshippers must first turn to one another. “Before asking for and receiving Hashem’s forgiveness, we must ask forgiveness from our fellow human beings for any wrong we may have done,” Berdugo stressed.
The day brings a particularly significant period in the Hebrew calendar to a close. Yom Kippur is “the culmination of the period known as the ‘Days of Awe,’ which lead us towards repentance as we stand in judgment before God,” he explained.
The door to forgiveness is open to all, on one condition. “All people have access to divine forgiveness if they acknowledge their faults and make amends for the injustices they have committed,” the community leader said, before returning to the central principle: “God can forgive sins committed against Him, but before that, we must obtain forgiveness for those we have committed against our fellow human beings.”
Putting those words into practice, Berdugo himself asked for forgiveness. “For my part, I humbly ask forgiveness, Mehila, from all those whom I may inadvertently have offended,” he told the congregation.
La communauté juive a célébré hier, lundi 21 septembre, le jour du grand pardon. (A.Gadrouz/Le360)
Berdugo said Yom Kippur also carries a message of hope. It is “a day of soul-searching, humility and repentance, when a person looks inward and deeply examines their actions,” but also “a day of love for those who hold on to the hope that people can live in peace and harmony,” he said. He extended that hope to the wider region. “We hope that the year now beginning will finally bring a peaceful and just resolution to the fratricidal conflicts that are bringing grief to the Middle East,” he said.
This year’s observance took on added significance as it coincided with the 28th anniversary of the death of King Hassan II. Rabbi Hazout was invited to offer prayers for the repose of the late Sovereign’s soul, describing him as “forever present in our hearts.” He also prayed for the soul of “our revered Sultan, the late Mohammed V,” whom the community commended to God’s “holy mercy.”
Casablanca’s Chief Rabbi Yossef Israël then offered solemn blessings for King Mohammed VI. Worshippers prayed that the Almighty would protect the Sovereign and grant him “health, joy and success in all his endeavors for the glory of eternal Morocco.”
Prayers were also offered for the happiness, health and success of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Princess Lalla Khadija, Prince Moulay Rachid and the entire Royal Family. “May God bless this honorable gathering and the Moroccan people,” Berdugo said, followed by an Amen from the congregation.
Preserve, defend and pass on
The secretary-general of the Council of Jewish Communities of Morocco then addressed members of the Kahal, the congregation, directly with a message focused on the future. “At this time of profound change, it is the duty of each and every one of us to rally around the Community to safeguard and ensure the continuity of the tangible and intangible heritage of Moroccan Judaism,” he said. That effort, he added, requires “defending its ancestral values, preserving the achievements of our Community and ensuring its place within the social fabric of our country.”
For Berdugo, history has already shown the way forward. “As recent history demonstrates, anything is possible if we return to the community spirit that prevailed for centuries,” he said. Two words, in his view, sum up that spirit: “unity and solidarity,” which he described as “the keys to the future of our community.”
The address ended with wishes for the Jewish New Year. “May Hashem guide your steps. May this year 5787 bring health, joy and serenity to our homes, and peace to hearts and peoples throughout the world,” Berdugo said.
The ceremony was attended by the wali, governors, city officials and rabbis, alongside members of Casablanca’s Jewish community.
