Racism Against Sephardic Jews?
In the 1950’s, a mass migration of Sephardic Jews from Morocco took place, with many of them having close ties to Chabad, and choosing to move to Kfar Chabad. Sadly, the local residents were less than friendly, and chose to employ racism and discriminate against them. The Rebbe wrote many sharp letters to various people decrying the situation * We present a translation of three of these letters ● Read More
In the 1950’s, a mass migration of Sephardic Jews from Morocco took place, with many of them having close ties to Chabad, and choosing to move to Kfar Chabad. Sadly, the local residents were less than friendly, and chose to employ racism and discriminate against them. The Rebbe wrote many sharp letters to various people decrying the situation. We present a translation of three of these letters:
1) In a lengthy letter dated the 28th of Elul 5716, and addressed to the directorate of Kfar Chabad, the Rebbe discusses the complaints he received from the Sephardic residents of Kfar Chabad:
“…I have received complaints from some of the Sephardic Jews living in Kfar Chabad regarding the “less-than-warm” treatment they are receiving from the residents, and that they want to be able to participate and enjoy the Farbrengens, but they can’t because they don’t understand Yiddish. It is proper that in the next meeting of the directorate they should discuss how to rectify this situation, and the time is auspicious, the month of Tishrei…”
2) In a letter dated the 16th of Iyar 5717, the Rebbe expresses his dismay, that despite his repeated requests, the Sephardic Jews are still being discriminated against:
“I have already written to some of the institutions of Anash, and to all of them combined, that rumors have arrived that they are discriminating against our Sephardic brethren, and that they must stop this discrimination from the root – for many reasons, the main reason being what the Alter Rebbe writes in Tanya Chapter 32: “Who can know how great and how high is the soul and the spirit of another Jew in their root and their source in the living G‑d? Especially when you consider that all souls are matching and that we all have one Father.”
It is shocking that after these fiery words from the Alter Rebbe, they still need reminders from abroad.”
3) In a letter dated the 24th of Cheshvan 5718, the Rebbe explains that he doesn’t want the Farbrengens to be exclusive for one community or the other:
“It is obvious and understood, that bringing the Moroccan Jews is needed and good, and we were ordered to do so in our Torah and in Toras HaChassidus… With regards to your question what I meant when I said that they should participate in Farbrengens with Anash, together with them, I obviously did not say that every Farbrengen must have them present, or that there should not be any Sephardic Farbrengen without any Ashkenazim present – rather my intention is, that on a regular basis they should Farbreng together, to eradicate from the root the idea of separation Heaven Forbid.
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Painful to read ‘The Rebbe’s’ MH”M’s letter. ‘Sadly, the local residents were less than friendly,…’ Can also be read like this (Mine): Sadly the local residents DON’T FEAR G-D.
Evil…pure and simple. ‘Galus’ Disgusting…This is type of behavior that might go on in a mental hospital. In those settings, it would be ‘normal.’
‘Hang On!’ Rabbi!
It didn’t change much. They always criticize their people. Hakaros Hatov is a very hard mitsva………