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A city in southwest Morocco, which was for centuries one of the most important political and economic centers of the country. Until well into the 20th century, it was home to the nation’s largest Jewish community. The Jews of Marrakesh played a central role in the economic life of the Sultanate as merchants, financiers, and emissaries of the various dynasties of rulers, and they maintained this position during the period of the French Protectorate. After Morocco’s independence in 1956, almost all of the Jews of Marrakesh emigrated to Israel, France, and Canada.1. OriginsThe name of the…

An American project initiated in 1942, which led to the construction of the first nuclear weapon. Up to 129,000 persons were employed in the Manhattan Project, situated near Los Alamos, New Mexico, in which the United States carried out nuclear research. Many Jewish scientists who had fled the expansion of National Socialist rule in Europe were among the leading researchers. The Project gave them the opportunity to continue their scientific work and especially, in so doing, to forestall the possible construction of a German atomic bomb.1. Technical preconditionsAt the dawn of nuc…

Nasi (from the Hebrew  nasa; “to raise,” “to raise up”) is used in Biblical Hebrew to mean patriarch, exilarch, or prince. Originally a term for tribal princes, the meaning of the term changed over time, coming to be used to denote political leadership, political representation, high social status, or as an honorific. Since its meaning was defined as “president” in Modern Hebrew, nasi has also denoted the president of the modern polity since the foundation of the State of Israel in 1948.1. Biblical and rabbinic erasIn the Bible,  nasi refers to persons of high political or social …