The Shlucha Who Overcame Immense Culture Shock

Rebbetzin Pessia Matusof a”h and her husband Shlomo served as Shluchim in Morroco for decades, beginning in 1950. Her selfless dedication to her Shlichus and the girl’s seminary that she directed transformed the lives of hundreds of Jewish families living in Morroco at the time.

Twelve years ago, just a few months after her passing, three of her grandchildren were blessed with baby girls whom they named after her. In honor of their Bas Mitzvahs this year, the families have released a short documentary about their illustrious grandmother entitled “From Leningrad to Casablanca”.

For Rebbetzin Matusof, moving to the Sephardic community in Morroco after growing up in a Chassidic home in Russia was an immense culture shock. In the film, Mrs Danielle Gabay, formerly from Morroco now living in Montreal, remembers how difficult it was. “Having been born in Russia, her first languages were Russian and Yiddish,” Gabay recalls. “Arriving in Morroco, she became the director of the school where she was required to understand the mentality of the students while communicating with the parents in a variety of new languages that she had never spoken before, from Arabic to French to Spanish. Nonetheless, she succeeded in building bridges with whoever she met. It was absolutely magical.”

Despite losing her parents at a young age and experiencing enormous hardships during the war, Pessia was a beacon of light and positivity to all who knew her. The film portrays her miraculous survival in Leningrad during the Nazi siege of the city in World War 2 to her marriage and appointment as Shluchim in Morroco. Former students and family members also share their memories of this special Shlucha who inspired so many during her time on Shlichus.

“It is a merit and a responsibility to carry the name of our great grandmother”, wrote the Bas Mitzvah girls, “and we hope to continue to follow in her footsteps.”

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