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

The Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla, enclaves in North Africa, are known for their highly fortified borders with Morocco, designed to prevent illegal migration into the EU. However, for the Jewish community in Melilla, the security fence serves a dual purpose: it also functions as the city's eruv, a halachic boundary allowing Jews to carry on Shabbat. Rabbi Aaron Peretz conducts an annual inspection of the fence to ensure its integrity for this religious purpose.

"The security fence also serves as the city’s eruv. We don’t need to build one. Every year we simply check that the enclosure remains intact."

These cities recently faced a significant crisis when tens of thousands of Moroccan nationals breached the Ceuta border, raising fears among residents about their vulnerability and prompting suspicions that Morocco orchestrated the event. Despite this, the cities maintain a rich multicultural heritage with churches, mosques, Hindu temples, and synagogues coexisting. Melilla's Jewish community, though smaller than its peak of 7,000, remains vibrant, with its history linked to the tragic sinking of the Egoz, a clandestine vessel carrying Moroccan Jews to Israel.