Ceuta and Melilla: Europe's most fortified border also serves as a Jewish religious boundary

The article explores the dual role of the border fences in Ceuta and Melilla, which are both Europe's most fortified frontier and a Jewish religious boundary. It highlights the annual inspection by Rabbi Aaron Peretz, who uses the fence as an eruv. The piece also covers the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of Moroccan nationals entered, and the geopolitical tensions it raised. It discusses the Jewish history of Melilla, including the Egoz ship disaster, and residents' suspicions of Moroccan involvement.

The article examines the dual role of the border fences in the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which are both Europe's most fortified frontier and a Jewish religious boundary. Rabbi Aaron Peretz conducts an annual inspection of the fence in Melilla, which serves as an eruv, a halachic boundary allowing Jews to carry on Shabbat. The article also covers the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of Moroccan nationals entered Spanish territory, prompting Spain to deploy additional security forces. The crisis has revived fears about the vulnerability of these cities and raised suspicions of Moroccan involvement, though the Spanish government has not directly accused Rabat. The article highlights the Jewish history of Melilla, including its community of around 1,000 people and the tragic sinking of the Egoz ship in 1961, which killed 44 people. It also notes the strategic exposure of these cities and the historical memory of the Green March in 1975, which shapes residents' perceptions of the current situation.