Grand Synagogue of Tunis

Grand Synagogue of Tunis
French: Grand synagogue de Tunis
The synagogue, in 2008
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
LocationAvenue de la Liberté, Tunis
CountryTunisia
Grand Synagogue of Tunis is located in Tunis
Grand Synagogue of Tunis
Location of the synagogue in Tunis
Geographic coordinates36°48′37″N 10°10′48″E / 36.81028°N 10.18000°E / 36.81028; 10.18000
Architecture
Architect(s)Victor Valensi [fr]
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleArt Deco
FounderGiacomo Di Castelnuovo
Groundbreaking1933
Completed1937; 1990 (restoration)
Capacity400 people

The Grand Synagogue of Tunis (French: Grand synagogue de 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 Victor Valensi [fr], 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

Main article: Jewish exodus from the Muslim world § Tunisia

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][2]

In 2011 Islamic extremist rioters attacked the synagogue and damaged it, chanting Khaybar, Khaybar during the riot.[1]

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.[4][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Great Synagogue (Temple of Osiris) at Tunis, Tunisia". Digital Heritage Mapping | diarna.org. 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Great Synagogue at Tunis, Tunisia". Digital Heritage Mapping | diarna.org. 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Lord Ahmad visits Tunisia: June 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Two officers stabbed outside Tunisian synagogue". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Two officers stabbed outside Grand Synagogue in Tunisia". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Tunisian officers stabbed near synagogue; suspect arrested". AP News. Associated Press. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

Media related to Great Synagogue of Tunis at Wikimedia Commons