Lag B’Omer in Djerba, Tunisia
In May this year, a suspected terror attack disrupted celebrations for Lag B’Omer in Tunisia, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries. The attack cast a shadow on the celebration of the festival, especially among the many Jewish pilgrims who visited the ancient El Ghriba Synagogue.
Tunisia’s Jewish community is one of the oldest in the diaspora, and the famed synagogue has been in use for over 2 000 years. It is located on the island of Djerba in a beautiful setting off the coast. Once a large, thriving Jewish community, the remaining Jews of Tunisia — today numbering around 1 500 — live in close proximity to their treasured synagogue.
At the height of the Jewish presence in the country, the Tunisian Jewish population reached approximately 100 000. People settled there in ancient times, after the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem, and the population was bolstered by those fleeing the Inquisition in Spain. Members of the community began emigrating after Tunisia declared independence from France in 1956.
The Jews of Sudan
News media around the world has focused on the recent conflict in Sudan. These tragic events that are resulting in the displacement of thousands of Sudanese citizens brought to mind the question of whether there was ever a Jewish community in Sudan.
The country indeed has a Jewish history. While not a state that ever had a major community of Jews, there was a vibrant community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After the Suez Crisis of 1956, life became uncomfortable for the Jewish community, with many antisemitic attacks. As a result, people immigrated to various other countries — largely moving to Israel, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. By the 1970s, the Jewish community of Sudan was no more. Read more here.
Do you know anyone with origins in Sudan? Share any stories you know of by sending an email to editor@ctjc.co.za.
• Published in the June 2023 issue – Click here to start reading.
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