Moroccan Jewish shoemaking under European colonialism (1912-39)

Abstract

This article presents the micro-history of Jewish shoemakers in urban and rural Morocco under the French Protectorate. Whereas in pre-1912 Morocco Jewish shoemakers were an active element within the spaces of the sūq , in post-1912 Morocco the traditional arrangements which enabled this integration were challenged by both the indigenous societies (the Muslim and Jewish populations) and the French local government. The struggle of the Jewish shoemakers to preserve their livelihood in the notoriously difficult times of European colonialism after 1912 involved a constant dialogue with (1) Jewish community leaders and Jewish entrepreneurs, (2) Muslim craftsmen and customers, (3) the French Protectorate government. This widespread discourse fluctuated between conflict and harmony, expressing the relative power of the Jewish shoemakers, which was a product of economic, cultural and political realities.