Scienceמיכאל אביטבול

Michel Abitbol

Michel Abitbol is a Moroccan-Israeli historian who studies the history of Morocco and of the Jews of North Africa.

born 1943History of North African JewsHeading the Ben-Zvi InstituteHistory of Morocco

Born: 14 April 1943, Casablanca
Occupation: historian, orientalist, Judaic scholar

Michel Abitbol was born in 1943 in Casablanca

Michel Abitbol was born on 14 April 1943 in Casablanca, Morocco.

He became a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he chaired the Department of African Studies and later became professor emeritus. His work focuses on North Africa, its Jewish communities and French Jewry. In the 1980s he also taught courses at Université Paris VIII and Yale University.

He headed the Ben-Zvi Institute in Jerusalem from 1978 to 1981 and from 1987 to 1994. He is scientific director of the Center for Research on Moroccan Jewry, founded in 1994. He sat on the Shenhar Committee and chaired the pedagogical secretariat under Education Minister Yossi Sarid.

He writes his books in French, including histories of Morocco, of the Jews and of Israel. In 2000 he received the Prix Thiers. He is also a council member of the New Israel Fund.

Michel Abitbol's life in 8 milestones

1943
Born in Casablanca, Morocco.
1978
Became director of the Ben-Zvi Institute.
1983
Published a book on North African Jews under Vichy.
1987
Returned to head the Ben-Zvi Institute.
1994
The Center for Research on Moroccan Jewry, which he directs scientifically, was founded.
2000
Received the Prix Thiers.
2009
Published a history of Morocco.
2018
Published a history of Israel.