Born in Tetouan, Morocco, in 1881, Messody Coriat came from a prominent although impoverished family. After completing her studies at the local Alliance Israélite Universelle school, she left for Paris and the École Biscoffsheim, a vocational and normal school to which the Alliance sent many of its future teachers. Upon graduation Messody returned to Morocco, where her first assignment was to establish a school for girls in Marrakesh. She remained as director of this school until 1904, and provided the Alliance with reports vividly describing the women of the mellah (Ar. mallāḥ;Jewish…