Grand Synagogue of Tunis explained

Grand Synagogue of Tunis
Image Upright:1.4
Map Type:Tunisia Tunis
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Religious Affiliation:Judaism
Location:Avenue de la Liberté, Tunis
Country:Tunisia
Organisational Status:Synagogue
Organizational Status:-->
Functional Status:Active
Founded By:Giacomo Di Castelnuovo
Groundbreaking:1933
Year Completed:1937; 1990
Capacity:400 people

The Grand Synagogue of Tunis, also called the Great Synagogue of Tunis or the Temple of Osiris, is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Avenue de la Liberté, in Tunis, Tunisia.

History

The idea for a synagogue was originally requested by the 19th-century Italian Jewish statesman Giacomo Di Castelnuovo, and finally established in 1937 by French architect, who chose to design it in the Art Deco style.[1] The synagogue was shut down by Nazi Germany during the German occupation of Tunisia, but resumed operations after the country was liberated by Allied forces.[2]

Post World War II

In 1967, anti-Jewish rioters motivated by the then-ongoing Six-Day War trashed and looted the synagogue, burning it to the ground and destroying the sacred Torah scrolls, resulting in the abandonment of the building. In the 1990s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali funded the building's restoration.[1]

In 2011 Islamic extremist rioters attacked the synagogue and damaged it, chanting Khaybar, Khaybar during the riot.

Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited the Grand Synagogue during a two-day visit to Tunisia in early June 2022.[3] On 24 June 2022, a person ran towards the synagogue and stabbed two officers, lightly injuring them.[4] [5] Authorities identified the stabbing as a terrorist attack and said its perpetrator had previously been arrested on terrorism and violence-related charges.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Great Synagogue (Temple of Osiris) at Tunis, Tunisia . 2022-06-26 . 2015 . Digital Heritage Mapping diarna.org .
  2. Web site: Great Synagogue at Tunis, Tunisia . 2022-06-26 . 2015 . Digital Heritage Mapping diarna.org .
  3. Web site: Lord Ahmad visits Tunisia: June 2022 . 2022-06-26 . GOV.UK . en.
  4. Web site: Two officers stabbed outside Tunisian synagogue . 2022-06-26 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: 24 June 2022 . Two officers stabbed outside Grand Synagogue in Tunisia . 2022-06-26 . . en-US.
  6. Web site: 24 June 2022 . Tunisian officers stabbed near synagogue; suspect arrested . 2022-06-26 . AP News . . en.