Ms. Natalie Bernstien

Professional Background

Natalie Bernstien is a PhD candidate in modern Jewish history at UCLA. She studies Moroccan Jewish history, focusing primarily on the city of Tangier during World War II. She was a Fulbright student researcher in Meknes, Morocco, as part of the Arabic Flagship Program Capstone year, and in Casablanca, Morocco. Ms. Bernstien’s work has been supported by the Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies, the American Institute for Maghrib Studies, the US Fulbright Program, the Skirball Cultural Center, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

Fellowship Research

Natalie Bernstien was awarded the Sosland Foundation Fellowship for her research project, “The Politics of Movement in Tangier: A Study of Jewish Holocaust Refugees.” Her project explores the city of Tangier during World War II and attempts to understand how Tangier’s status as an international city facilitated the settlement of European Jewish Holocaust refugees in Morocco and how these Jewish refugees were affected by the Spanish occupation during the war. Ms. Bernstein’s research highlights how Tangier served as a critical refuge and safe haven for European Jews fleeing the Nazi regime.

This fellowship allows Ms. Bernstien access to the Museum’s archival holdings, which include selected records from the National Library of Morocco, the private collection of Hélène Benatar (a Jewish lawyer from Tangier), the records of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and records from the French Protectorate in Morocco. More specifically, these collections contain materials about the city of Tangier, including records from both Jewish and Muslim courts from 1914-1950; German propaganda activity; German recruitment materials in the northern region of Morocco; and other materials that illustrate German support for the Moroccan nationalist movement.

Residency Period: September 1, 2024–October 31, 2024