Toshavim

Toshavim (תושבים, "residents") is a generic reference to non-Sephardic Jews who inhabited lands in which the Jews expelled from Spain in 15th century settled ("Megorashim", "expellees"). The Jews in the area of North Africa known as Maghreb are also referred to as Maghrebim (Maghrebi Jews). In particular, the term "Toshavim" was applied to the Jews of Morocco. Both groups are considered indigenous to the area despite their migration and diaspora origins.

During the middle ages migration between the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa was common due to local political and economic conditions and depending on the ruling kingdom and treatment of Jews. Jews from Spain often fled to Morocco as early as the seventh century and during the twelfth century, Jews in both countries fled, crossing back and forth between the two lands.

Toshavim had their own minhagim (Judaic traditions) and they spoke Judeo-Arabic or Judeo-Berber dialects.

The new arrivals did not always deal well with the local Jews. For example, in Algiers they called the local Jews derisively "turban-wearers" and vice versa, the Spanish Jews were called "beret-wearers".

Despite the fact that Toshavim were apparently overwhelmed and absorbed by Sephardic immigrants, the differences in many areas of communal lives of Toshavim and Megorashim persisted for a very long time: separate negidim, separate synagogues, separate teachers, separate cemeteries, etc. For example, in Fez, Morocco, the common minhag for (most of) the two communities was accepted only in 18th century.