El Ghriba synagogue
The ancient El Ghriba Synagogue, (Arabic: معبد الغريبة), also known as the Djerba Synagogue, is located on the Tunisian island of Djerba. It is situated in the Jewish village of Hara Seghira, (currently known as Er-Riadh), several kilometres southwest of Houmt Souk, the capital of Djerba.
History
The synagogue is the destination of an annual pilgrimage of many Tunisian Jews for the holiday of Lag BaOmer, which takes place after the celebration of Passover.[1][2][3] The grave of a Jewish virgin who came carrying scrolls from Palestine is under the synagogue.[4][5] The hostel is visited by many pilgrims from France,[6] though this was disrupted by a terrorist attack in 2002.[7]
Attacks
On Simchat Torah 1985, one of the policemen charged with the security of the synagogue opened fire at the congregation causing the death of three people, including a child.[8]
On April 11, 2002, a truck full of explosives was detonated close to the synagogue, killing 21 people, of whom 14 were German tourists, 2 French nationals and 5 Tunisians. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Ghriba synagogue bombing.
See also
External links
References
- ^ Synagogue en Tunisie Livres Groupe - 2010 - 32 pages La synagogue de la Ghriba () est une synagogue tunisienne situe dans le village d'Er Riadh sur l'le tunisienne de Djerba. Elle est rattache au rite sfarade."
- ^ International Religious Freedom (2000): Annual Report Page 482 Barbara Larkin - 2001 "It also partially subsidizes restoration and maintenance costs for some synagogues. ... The Government also encourages Jewish emigres to return for the annual Jewish pilgrimage to the historic El-Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Jerba."
- ^ Tunisia handbook - Page 416 Justin McGuinness - 2002 -"El Ghriba Er Riadh was originally known as Hara Sghira or 'Little Neighbourhood'. It Synagogue was here that most Jews moved ... Inside the synagogue heads will have to be covered (head covers provided). The Ghriba synagogue is a smart ..."
- ^ Women's history in global perspective: Volume 1 - Page 112 Bonnie G. Smith - 2004 "An annual international pilgrimage is still performed in the island's best-known synagogue, the Ghriba ("the ... In local lore, however, the site where the Ghriba synagogue now stands has been conflated with pious legends about a young ..."
- ^ Azriel Louis Eisenberg The synagogue through the ages - 1974 "Her eternal resting place is alleged to be under the Holy Ark. Unique to the La Ghriba synagogue is a large hostel which is built opposite the synagogue. It is a typical caravansary (an inn for camel caravans) common in Moslem countries ..."
- ^ Jews in Arab lands today: photographs Micha Bar-Am, Rût Pôrṭer, Bet ha-tefutsot ʻal shem Naḥum Goldman - 1996 In the El Ghriba Synagogue, Djerba 1995 Type C print Plate 60 The pilgrims who come to the Rashbi hillula in El Ghriba arrive from all over Tunisia and abroad, mainly from France. Today many Tunisian Jews live abroad and this event ...
- ^ Tunisia - Page 278 Abigail Hole, Michael Grosberg, Daniel Robinson - 2007 "The community's survival on Jerba was called into question in April 2002 when a truck bomb exploded at El-Ghriba synagogue, killing 19 people in an event locals call 'Le Catastrophe'. Muslim and Jewish locals are quick to point out ..."
- ^ Jewish communities of the world, Avi Beker, World Jewish Congress, Published by World Jewish Congress, 1996, p. 212