IN THE COURTS OF THE NATIONS - DataSpace - Princeton ...

In other instances, Makhzan officials went out of their way to ensure the smooth
functioning of Jewish law. In 1903, the Jews of Casablanca chose a new chief rabbi to serve as
dayyan in their community. 114 Muḥammad al-Ṭūris (or Torres) wrote to Aḥmad, the qā’id of
Casablanca, instructing him to support the new judge and aid him in enforcing Jewish law.
Although Aḥmad was ready and willing to assist the new rabbi, he reported to al-Ṭūris that a
group of Jews had approached him seeking his help in broaching divisions within the community
about the new dayyan. One faction wanted to return to the previous judge, while those Jews who
had sought Aḥmad’s help wanted to retain the new dayyan. They requested that Aḥmad write to
al-Ṭūris and ask him to consult with Rabbi Mordekhai in Tangier about who should be occupy
the post of dayyan in Casablanca. Presumably, these Jews felt that Rabbi Mordekhai’s opinion
would be influential enough to settle the matter. 115 Aḥmad asked al-Ṭūris to send him Rabbi
Mordekhai’s answer so he could help the Jews enforce the decision and resume their legal
affairs. Not only did both Aḥmad and al-Ṭūris take responsibility for facilitating the functioning
of Jewish courts, they made extra efforts to ensure that the Jews of Casablanca were satisfied
with their new judge.
Jews’ petitions also concerned infringement on other aspects of Jewish autonomy, such
as the privilege of electing the shaykh al-yahūd (secular head of the Jewish community). 116 For
instance, in 1884, Demnat’s Jews appealed to the Makhzan about the abuses of their governor;
included in their litany of complaints was the fact that al-Jilālī had chosen the shaykh al-yahūd
114 DAR, Yahūd, Aḥmad (qā’id in Casablanca) to Muḥammad al-Ṭūris, 9 Rabī‘ II 1321.
115 Undoubtedly the Jews who asked Aḥmad to write this letter did not feel they had sufficient clout with Tangier’s
Jewish community to write to Rabbi Mordekhai directly, and felt that a letter from al-Ṭūris would carry more
weight.
116 On the shaykh al-yahūd (also called the nagid), see the discussions in the Introduction and Chapter One.
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