Last week, Essaouira hosted a large gathering of Jews from around the world to mark the annual Hiloula of Rabbi Haim Pinto. The event was attended by government officials and the head of Israel's Liaison Office in Morocco. During the ceremony, prayers were offered for the Israeli Defense Forces, currently leading military operations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. A large gathering of Jews from around the world convened last week in Essaouira for the annual Hiloula of Rabbi Chaim Pinto. According to Hebrew media, the ceremony was led by his grandson, Rabbi David Hanania Pinto, and attended by prominent figures including the governor of Essaouira, royal representatives, and the head of Israel's liaison office in Morocco, Yossi Ben David. Mohamed Menguit, the president of the Local Council of Ulema of Essaouira, was also present and was photographed speaking with Rabbi Pinto. During what is considered the largest Hiloula in Morocco, Rabbi Pinto offered a «special blessing for the King of Morocco», thanking him «for his efforts on behalf of the Jews in the country» and affirming that «Jews enjoy security and feel at ease throughout Morocco under his rule». Participants were later seen raising portraits of the king alongside Moroccan flags. The same sources reported that Rabbi Pinto also recited «prayers for the soldiers of the Israeli army and for the swift and safe return of all hostages held in Gaza». A wave of anger on social media The prayers for the Israeli army triggered a wave of outrage online, where activists denounced the act as unacceptable given Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. Many questioned how such prayers could be conducted in a Moroccan city, and in the presence of official representatives. Aziz Henawi, secretary-general of the Moroccan Observatory Against Normalization, voiced that anger in a Facebook post: «A question to the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Toufiq: how do you justify dismissing the president of the Ulema Council of Figuig, for expressing a personal opinion about the genocide in Gaza, while the president of the Ulema Council of Essaouira attends a Hiloula under Rabbi Pinto's patronage, where prayers were offered for the Israeli army to prevail over its enemies?» The Moroccan Democratic Organization for Human Rights made a similar statement on Facebook, recalling the suspension of the Figuig council president for posts supporting Gaza. «And today», it wrote, «we now see the president of the Local Scientific Council of Essaouira taking part in the Hiloula… where prayers were offered for the victory of the Zionist occupation army». Another activist criticized: «Yesterday, a solidarity sit-in with Palestine was suppressed, and today in Essaouira, Hiloula celebrations are held with a delegation from the Zionist entity, with Talmudic prayers for the Zionist army». It is worth noting that before October 7, 2023, Morocco's official media regularly covered the Hiloula of Rabbi Chaim Pinto. Since then, however, state outlets have refrained from reporting on the annual event. Meanwhile, Morocco continues to see weekly marches and protest sit-ins in solidarity with Palestinians, denouncing what demonstrators call genocide in Gaza and international complicity with Israel's far-right government.
