Jews have lived in Tunisia for thousands of years, before the destruction of the First Temple in 587 BCE.
Throughout the centuries, Tunisian Jews developed and maintained a distinct culture, despite persecution.
When Tunisia came under the direct control of Nazi Germany during World War II, Germany quickly imposed laws that persecuted and discriminated against the Jewish community.
As in Germany, Tunisian Jews were forced to wear a Yellow Star as a mark of Judaism, they were stripped of their property, and faced discriminatory taxation policies. Thousands were sent to Tunisian concentration camps, while others were sent to extermination camps. Eventually, Tunisia’s Jews faced executions.
After World War II, Tunisia’s Jews came under control of France. In 1956, however, when Tunisia gained independence, the newly independent state banned the Jewish Community Council while Jewish owned building, synagogues and Jewish cemeteries were confiscated and destroyed by the Tunisian government. Jewish emigration quickly followed with most Jewish leaving for Israel and France.
When a war erupted between France and Tunisia in 1961, Jews again faced an undeserved backlash. Accused of disloyalty to Tunisia, Jewish business faced special governmental restrictions while Jews across the country faced arbitrary arrests and detentions by police. Jewish emigration continued at accelerated rates. Between 1948 and1967, the Jewish community shrunk from 105,000 to 20,000.
Following the Six Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors, mob violence against the shrinking community made life intolerable. Even more fled the country.
Today, there are under 1,500 Jews left in Tunisia. Although they are given religious freedom and protection by the Tunisian government, the Jews are subject to discrimination and attacks by radical groups. Still, the community manages to maintain its tradition and culture.
