Zarzis Synagogue

Zarzis Synagogue

Interior of Zarzis Synagogue
Basic information
Location Tunisia Zarzis, Tunisia
Affiliation Orthodox Judaism
Rite Sephardic
Status Active synagogue
Leadership Eliyahu Sofer

Zarzis Synagogue (Arabic: كنيس جرجيس) also known as Beit HaKnesset Mishkan Ya’akov (Hebrew: בית הכנסת משכן יעקב), is located in the coastal town of Zarzis, Tunisia. It was built in around 1900 when the Jewish community of Zarzis numbered approximately 1,000. An arson attack in 1982 by local Arabs following Sabra and Shatila massacre of Muslim Palestinians by Christians in Lebanon, left the synagogue and Torah scrolls totally destroyed. It was subsequently rebuilt and is currently used by the town's remaining 100 Jews.

The lavishly decorated synagogue leads into an open-air courtyard which has adjoining rooms which serve as the talmud torah. The head of the community is currently Eliyahu Sofer.