A Meeting Of Kings
By Rabbi Shalom Yaakov Chazan

In this interview with Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, veteran shaliach in Morocco and director of all the Chabad mosdos in that country, he reveals the interesting first chapter in the relationship that existed between the late King Hassan II of Morocco and, l’havdil, the Rebbe MH”M.

For years I’d heard a rumor of some kind of connection between the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and, l’havdil, the late King Hassan of Morocco. But despite my best efforts to squeeze information from various shluchim, particularly Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, the Rebbe’s head shaliach in Morocco, I learned nothing. Everyone I spoke with was very tightlipped whenever the subject was mentioned.

I am often amazed by the humility of some shluchim. “Wherever one finds greatness, one also finds humility.” For years Rabbi Matusof, who was the actual link between the King and the Rebbe, never whispered one word about it. A few months ago, when King Hassan of Morocco died, I thought the time might be ripe to approach him, but again I was wrong.

The exact reason Rabbi Matusof has decided to break his silence now is known only to him. However, having recently learned that many of the following details were about to be made public by other sources, who may or may not be aware of all the background information, Rabbi Matusof agreed to this interview with Beis Moshiach to ensure that the story is at least told correctly...

One of the very first actions taken by the Rebbe MH”M after the histalkus of the Rebbe Rayatz was to send a delegation of shluchim to Morocco. In those days, in the early fifties, Morocco was the only Arab country that allowed its Jewish citizens to live in relative peace and tranquility. Although many of Morocco’s Jews had emigrated to Eretz Yisroel, the Jewish community of Morocco was still sizable, and the Rebbe was very concerned about its spiritual welfare.

In the course of time, the Rebbe’s shluchim established a huge network of Chabad institutions throughout the country that achieved renown even among non-Jews. Apparently, this is how King Hassan, who had a reputation for being sympathetic to the Jewish community, first came to hear about the Rebbe.

The liaison between the Jews and King Hassan was a man by the name of Mr. David Emar, the official head of the Jewish community of Morocco. By the grace of G-d, he was well liked by the King and his ministers, and the door to the royal palace was always open to him. Incidentally, Mr. Emar was himself very sympathetic to Chabad, and helped the Rebbe’s shluchim out financially and otherwise many times.

In fact, it was Mr. Emar’s friendship with the royal family and the Lubavitcher emissaries that eventually led to a written correspondence between the Rebbe and the King.

A few days before Pesach of 1985, a very important meeting that had been organized by Mr. Emar was scheduled to take place in a New York hotel. A select group of American businessmen was to meet with King Hassan, with an eye toward investing in Morocco. A successful outcome was crucial to Morocco’s economy.

In the midst of the evening’s festivities, the King called Mr. Emar over and told him that he was interested in meeting the famous Lubavitcher Rebbe, who lives in New York. Why hadn’t the Rebbe also been invited to the event? he wanted to know.

Mr. Emar explained as diplomatically as he could that the Rebbe was a holy tzaddik who rarely ventured out of 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. To meet with the Rebbe, an appointment had to be arranged through the Rebbe’s secretariat.

After listening to Mr. Emar’s explanation, the King expressed his desire to receive the Rebbe’s blessing in the form of a letter. He also specified which brachos he was most interested in. The King further stated that he would respond with an official letter of his own after the Rebbe’s letter was received.

As soon as he returned to Morocco, Mr. Emar contacted Rabbi Shlomo Matusof, and told him it was urgent.

“Mr. Emar told me everything the King had said,” Rabbi Matusof recalls. “Having heard that the Rebbe was a holy and powerful individual and, most importantly, a man of peace, he was very interested in receiving the Rebbe’s bracha. Mr. Emar asked me to go through whatever channels that existed to obtain a letter from the Rebbe for the King.

“Naturally, I was very excited by the prospect. An invaluable opportunity to further the cause of Chabad and spread Yiddishkeit in Morocco had just fallen into my lap...”

Mr. Emar, who was about to return to New York for a visit, requested a yechidus with the Rebbe. In the following letter (freely translated from the French) he outlined his plan:

April 18th, 1985

Casablanca

Kvod Kedushas Admur Rebbe M.M. Schneerson

It is my great honor to inform the Rebbe that, having recently met with King Hassan II of Morocco, I have been entrusted with the mission of imparting a special message to the Rebbe.

With G-d’s help, I will be in New York from May 6th until the 11th, and would be very pleased to have the merit of a personal encounter. In the event that this is impossible during this time period, I would be indebted for an opportunity to meet with a member of the Rebbe’s secretariat.

I allow myself the presumption of an additional request: With the Rebbe’s permission, I would be eternally grateful for a letter addressed to his Royal Highness, King Hassan of Morocco. This would be of great benefit to the Moroccan Jewish community and indeed, would serve to strengthen ties between the royal palace and all of world Jewry.

Please accept, honorable Admur, my unswerving obedience and devotion.

David Emar

President of the Jewish Community of Casablanca and Secretary General of the Board of Jewish Communities of Morocco

Enclosed with this letter was a general outline of the letter King Hassan wished to receive from the Rebbe. It read as follows:

To the esteemed King Hassan II, may G-d praise him in his royal residence in Rabat.

It is many years that Lubavitcher Chassidim have been acquainted with Morocco, her people and her king. The very fact that a Lubavitcher school has functioned in Morocco for close to 40 years freely, and with government assistance  tangibly demonstrates the level of culture, tolerance, and religious freedom that exists in that country.

For this freedom, Morocco must thank its enlightened leaders, beginning with His Royal Highness King Muhammad V and followed by His Royal Highness King Hassan II, who have devoted themselves to developing a democratic society with full religious and cultural rights for its individuals.

The Jewish community of Morocco, as Chabad Chassidim can attest, enjoys complete freedom and even support in this regard, from operating its own schools and cultural institutions to maintaining ties with other Jewish communities around the world. Indeed, ever since independence, the Jewish community of Morocco has been blessed in its leadership by Mr. David Emar, who has dedicated his life to its eternal perpetuation, and in doing so gained the appreciation of the King and his government.

That G-d protects the Moroccan Jewish community is seen in the fact that historically, Morocco’s Jews have safely withstood political turbulence and lived in peace, untouched by the propaganda of fanaticism.

Morocco has truly been blessed by G-d, for its leader is a King who has devoted his wisdom and energies to defending the freedom, democracy and betterment of his people and land from the raging forces of fanaticism and violence that prevail elsewhere.

...Indeed, Morocco has played an important role in maintaining peace throughout the entire region, while retaining its deep respect for the ancient traditional rule of the “Sharif,” and the people’s time-honored relationship with their King.

Peace and democracy can only flourish when there is peace and tranquility. It is, therefore, the wish of all Jewry, and Chabad Chassidim in particular, that Morocco and its King continue to live in peace, tranquility, prosperity and abundance.

Blessings on the King, the royal family, and the Moroccan people.

These letter(s) were personally conveyed to the Rebbe by Rabbi Binyomin Gorodetzky, the Rebbe’s representative to Europe and North Africa.

As it turned out, Mr. Emar was unable to have a personal yechidus, as the Rebbe had by then stopped receiving people individually. The Rebbe’s response to King Hassan would, therefore, be conveyed through Rabbi Gorodetzky. A copy of the letter was also sent to Rabbi Matusof. [Click here to see letter.]

Everything was moving along according to schedule when an unforeseen problem suddenly arose: a typing error was discovered in the letter. According to Moroccan law, the King cannot be sent a letter with a correction. Mr. Emar insisted that there was no alternative but to have the Rebbe’s secretariat retype the letter and the Rebbe sign it again.

After consulting with Rabbi Gorodetzky, Rabbi Matusof explained to Mr. Emar that this was impossible. The head of the Moroccan Jewish community tried valiantly to convince him, but Rabbi Matusof was firm in his refusal. “Look,” he said to him, “I’m not saying this on my own authority, I’m just repeating what Rabbi Gorodetzky told me. The Rebbe simply cannot be bothered with this again. If you really want the King to have the letter, you’re going to have to utilize your political connections and get it through to him.”

Eventually Mr. Emar realized that the Lubavitchers were perfectly willing to forgo the opportunity for contact with the King rather than disturb the Rebbe. A meeting was set up between Rabbi Gorodetzky and King Hassan in the royal palace in Marrakech. Rabbi Gorodetzky flew from France to Casablanca, where Mr. Emar’s private plane whisked him off to Marrakech.

According to Rabbi Matusof, Mr. Emar asked him to be present at the meeting, but he declined because he hadn’t received a clear directive about this from Rabbi Gorodetzky. Rabbi Matusof remained in Casablanca, and only accompanied them to the airport.

It turned out that Mr. Emar did indeed have excellent political connections, and he and Rabbi Gorodetzky were admitted into the palace as soon as they arrived. The king’s servants led them directly to an elegant hall where King Hassan II of Morocco, dressed in military uniform, received them.

The actual encounter was very short. Rabbi Gorodetzky blessed the King in the Rebbe’s name, then handed him the Rebbe’s letter. The King, obviously pleased, thanked Rabbi Gorodetzky warmly. And that was the end of the meeting.

What was the King’s answer to the Rebbe? Rabbi Matusof isn’t telling. All he will say is that this first meeting laid the foundation for the relationship between the Rebbe and King Hassan II that followed, further details of which will be made public, G-d willing, at a later date.

(With thanks to Reuven Matusof)