Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco
The literature on ethnic groups that were formed following migration reveals how symbolic and socioeconomic boundaries are manipulated by veteran groups to keep out the unwanted immigrants. It shows how these boundaries are to maintain and preserve the veterans’ dominant position. The case of the ti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/182 |
| _version_ | 1797618420616790016 |
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| author | André Levy |
| author_facet | André Levy |
| author_sort | André Levy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The literature on ethnic groups that were formed following migration reveals how symbolic and socioeconomic boundaries are manipulated by veteran groups to keep out the unwanted immigrants. It shows how these boundaries are to maintain and preserve the veterans’ dominant position. The case of the tiny Jewish minority living nowadays in Morocco reveals a seemingly contradictory mechanism: Muslim gatekeepers, who are part of the huge majority in Morocco, screen out their coreligionists from Jewish spaces. This gatekeeping fortifies the Jewish notion of exclusive spaces within which they feel safe as a tiny and fragile community. A close ethnographic gaze reveals that screening out Muslims is enabled due to a shared “cultural intimacy” that permits the minority to control access to their spaces. This paper sheds light on a deep level of cultural understanding that allows Jews to maintain bearable life as a dwindling minority in Morocco—despite their motivations to be separated—by appointing Muslim gatekeepers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39ba9c872b4c426abbca65ee114cfb58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:13:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-39ba9c872b4c426abbca65ee114cfb582023-11-16T22:59:14ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-01-0114218210.3390/rel14020182Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in MoroccoAndré Levy0Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva 8410501, IsraelThe literature on ethnic groups that were formed following migration reveals how symbolic and socioeconomic boundaries are manipulated by veteran groups to keep out the unwanted immigrants. It shows how these boundaries are to maintain and preserve the veterans’ dominant position. The case of the tiny Jewish minority living nowadays in Morocco reveals a seemingly contradictory mechanism: Muslim gatekeepers, who are part of the huge majority in Morocco, screen out their coreligionists from Jewish spaces. This gatekeeping fortifies the Jewish notion of exclusive spaces within which they feel safe as a tiny and fragile community. A close ethnographic gaze reveals that screening out Muslims is enabled due to a shared “cultural intimacy” that permits the minority to control access to their spaces. This paper sheds light on a deep level of cultural understanding that allows Jews to maintain bearable life as a dwindling minority in Morocco—despite their motivations to be separated—by appointing Muslim gatekeepers.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/182Moroccan Jewsreligious minoritiesgatekeeperscultural intimacy |
| spellingShingle | André Levy Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco Religions Moroccan Jews religious minorities gatekeepers cultural intimacy |
| title | Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco |
| title_full | Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco |
| title_fullStr | Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco |
| title_short | Screening Out Their Own: Muslim Gatekeepers of Jewish Spaces in Morocco |
| title_sort | screening out their own muslim gatekeepers of jewish spaces in morocco |
| topic | Moroccan Jews religious minorities gatekeepers cultural intimacy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/2/182 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrelevy screeningouttheirownmuslimgatekeepersofjewishspacesinmorocco |