Denmark, Morocco and the Jews

Summary of the Sephardic World presentation, Denmark, Morocco & the Jews, by Bent Blüdnikow on 29 September 2024

Bent Blüdnikow's talk focused on his book Unbounded Jews: The Game of Denmark and Morocco in the Eighteenth Century, which explores the fascinating history of two Jewish families: Simbel and Buzaglo. His research heavily relies on documents from the Danish National Archive, alongside resources from France, Spain, England, Sweden, Israel, and Germany.

The core narrative begins in 1750 when Sultan Muhammad Ben Abdallah decided to open Morocco to European trade, opting for Denmark as a non-threatening partner. The Sultan heavily relied on Moroccan Jews, many descendants of those expelled from Spain and Portugal, to bridge the language and cultural gap. Samuel Simbel, the Sultan’s primary advisor, orchestrated these diplomatic interactions.

Blüdnikow then narrates the story of Joseph Buzaglo. After a dramatic life as a galley slave, a spy, and a prisoner in the Bastille, Joseph Buzaglo pitched a trade plan to the Danish King, who accepted and dispatched ships to Morocco. However, complications arose, leading to the imprisonment of Danish citizens and Joseph Buzaglo himself. The Sultan sent Samuel Simbel to Copenhagen to negotiate a peace agreement, which led to a fascinating encounter with the Chief Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschütz and accusations of Kabbalism. 

Simbel successfully negotiated the agreement and continued serving the Sultan, even buying Danish bonds in secret to safeguard his wealth from the Sultan’s volatile temper. His son, Joseph Simbel, inherited this wealth and used it to promote a new religion of tolerance in Copenhagen, generating controversy within the Jewish community. He later moved to London, where he married the famous actress Mary Wells in a dramatic prison ceremony.

The Buzaglo family story continued with Joseph’s brother Abraham, a prolific inventor who created a heating stove called the “Busaco”. Abraham eventually transitioned to a medical career, becoming a pioneering sports doctor who believed in treating gout with exercise and specialized machines.

Blüdnikow emphasizes the fascinating and adventurous lives of these individuals, highlighting their role in bridging traditional Jewish life with a more modern era. He argues that their stories are crucial for understanding Danish Jewish history within a broader European and Moroccan context. The talk concluded with a Q&A session, discussing topics like the trading relationship between Denmark and Morocco, the Sultan’s proposition to abolish slavery, and the role of women in these families. 

Blüdnikow’s research demonstrates the importance of looking beyond national narratives to understand the complex and interconnected history of Jewish communities in the 18th century.