Foreign Visitors Return To Jewish Pilgrimage In Tunisia Under Tight Security

DJERBA, Tunisia — The yearly Jewish visit to nan 26-century-old El-Ghriba Synagogue successful Tunisia drew a humble but notable return of world visitors this year, worshipping together nether tight information aft a deadly 2023 onslaught disrupted nan festival.

Visitors came from France, China, Ivory Coast and Italy, including France’s ambassador to Tunisia, a symbolic motion aft 2 French citizens were among those killed successful nan 2023 attack. A nationalist guardsman changeable and killed 5 group astatine nan El-Ghriba synagogue soon aft nan show that year, spreading fearfulness among nan section Jewish organization and world pilgrims.

Participants said astir 500 group person attended this year’s pilgrimage, held connected nan Mediterranean land of Djerba from April 30 to May 6 to observe nan Lag B’Omer Jewish holiday. Jews person lived successful Tunisia since Roman times, and nan visit remains cardinal to nan country’s mini but long-standing Jewish community.

Inside nan synagogue, nan ambiance was calm and devotional, while besides buzzing pinch conversations and societal exchanges. Worshippers lit candles, publication ineffable texts and wrote wishes connected eggs later placed successful a ineffable cave wrong nan complex, a contented believed to bring blessings.

Among them was Redj Cahen, a Tunisian-Italian pilgrim who returned aft missing past year’s gathering. “We are back, and we are proud to beryllium Tunisian Jews,” he said. “It is simply a emotion you cannot explain. Only those who travel present understand.”

The gathering draws some section worshippers and members of nan diaspora returning to their ancestral roots and has agelong been seen arsenic a awesome of coexistence, attracting Muslim visitors alongside Jewish pilgrims.

A visible but contained information beingness surrounded nan synagogue, while heavier measures were deployed astatine entree points to nan island, wherever constabulary checkpoints and barricades controlled entry. Vehicles were searched and recognition documents cautiously inspected. Within Djerba, information was particularly concentrated successful Hara Seghira and Hara Kebira, nan island’s main Jewish quarters.

Despite information worries, nan accepted “Minara” convoy took spot for nan first clip since nan 2023 attack, signaling a cautious easing of restrictions.

The Minara, a pyramid-shaped building of golden and silver, is placed astatine nan halfway of nan synagogue. Women drape it pinch colorful scarves successful a motion associated pinch bully fortune, fertility and marriage. A symbolic auction of paintings and Jewish belief items follows arsenic portion of a accepted fundraiser for nan synagogue’s maintenance, aft which nan scarf-laden Minara is placed connected a cart and paraded extracurricular to nan sounds of nan accepted darbuka drum, singing and throwing of candy. It is later brought backmost into nan synagogue, concluding 1 of nan event’s pillar traditions.

The pilgrimage, 1 of nan oldest successful Africa, has historically drawn thousands from astir nan world. Attendance dropped sharply aft nan 2023 shooting extracurricular nan synagogue that killed 2 pilgrims and 3 information officers. The synagogue was besides targeted by a 2002 motortruck bombing by al-Qaida that killed astir 20 people.

“This year’s Ghriba visit marks a gradual return,” said erstwhile Tourism Minister René Trabelsi. “We are returning small by little.’’

Trabelsi said Tunisian authorities had pushed to support nan visit contempt nan challenges. The arena plays an important domiciled successful supporting nan section economy.

Khedir Hnaia, who has worked astatine nan synagogue for much than 3 decades, welcomed nan return of longtime visitors. “We would for illustration to bespeak a bully image to nan world, to bring backmost nan glory of Ghriba and make it moreover amended than really it utilized to be,” he said.

“We request to guidelines up for our country, we emotion Tunisia very overmuch and successful nan aforesaid measurement our state stood up for america we will ever guidelines up for it,” said Haim Haddad, a personnel of nan visit organizing committee from Zarzis.

Nasraoui and Mbarek constitute for nan Associated Press. Mbarek reported from Tunis, Tunisia.