Shootings near the Djerba synagogue in Tunisia

VIOLENCE: 4 killed in shooting near Lag Ba'omer fest at ancient synagogue in Tunisia. Thousands of Jewish pilgrims arrive to the island of Djerba every year for Lag Ba'omer festivities (Zvika Klein, Jerusalem Post).

Two visitors and two security guards were killed in a shooting near the ancient El Ghriba Synagogue (also known as the Djerba Synagogue,) in the city of Djerba in Tunisia on Tuesday. It is as of yet unclear if the visitors were worshipers taking part in a pilgrimage at the synagogue.

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Reports are still coming in. They currently conflict on how many people were killed and wounded. The most recent information I can find:

At least three killed in attack near synagogue in Tunisia (By Eyad Kourdi and Hande Atay Alam, CNN)

Tunisia: Five people shot dead near synagogue. Israel said one of the two civilians killed in the attack near Ghriba synagogue held Israeli citizenship (Middle East Eye)

The reports agree that the shooter (who was killed by police) was a naval installation security guard.

There have been longstanding concerns about terrorism in Tunisia, including at Djerba in connection with Lag B'Omer. That seems likely here, but it's too early to be sure yet what happened.

For the Ghriba Synagogue at Djerba and the annual pilgrimage associated with it, see here and links.

UPDATE (11 May): More information here:

Djerba Tunisia: Worshippers killed near Africa's oldest synagogue (BBC News)

Tunisia’s Jewish pilgrimage and Tuesday’s shooting, explained (Ben Sales, JTA)

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

No 2020 pilgrimage to Ghriba Synagogue, Tunisia

ANOTHER CANCELLATION: Virus nixes Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisia's Ghriba (AFP).

For a report on the annual pilgrimage to Djerba island in 2015, see here. And for more on the ancient Ghriba Synagogue there, see here and links.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.

Tunisian PM visits Djerba

DIPLOMACY: Tunisian PM in Djerba for Jewish pilgrimage to Ghriba. Over 2,500 Jews and 12,000 visitors every year (ANSAmed). The Ghriba Synagogue is an ancient synagogue site on the island of Djerba. It is an annual site of Jewish pilgrimage on Lag B'Omer. The visit of the Tunisian Prime Minister is an important political statement, not least in connection with the recent proposal to make the island a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Background here and links.

Djerba to be proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

EXCELLENT IDEA: North Africa's oldest synagogue to become a world heritage site? Tunisia seeks UNESCO World Heritage status for Djerba Island, "isle of kohanim" and site of 2,500 years old Ghriba synagogue (AFP via Arutz Sheva). I haven't been able to find out exactly how old this synagogue site is, but it does seem to be old.

As as aside, it looks as though the Lag B'Omer celebrations in Djerba went safely, despite the recent terrorism alert. That is good news.

Background on the Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Djerba in Tunisia is here and links.

Another terrorism alert at Djerba

TRAVEL ADVISORY - AGAIN THIS YEAR: Terror warning for Djerba Lag B'Omer celebration. Counterterrorism Bureau sharpens current travel warning for Tunisia following terrorist motivation increase to attack Jews. A synagogue has reportedly existed at the same site on the island of Djerba since antiquity, but I have not been able to locate any sources or evidence so far. The current synagogue has been there since the 19th century.

There have been similar terrorism warnings for Djerba at Lag B'Omer in the last couple of years, but everything proceeded safely nonetheless. Let's hope for the same this year. Background here, here, here, here, and links.

Lag B'Omer celebrated safely at Djerba

THAT WAS BRAVE: Jewish pilgrims mark Lag Ba'omer on Tunisian island (AP/Israel HaYom).

Amid fears of religious violence, southern island of Djerba hosts annual Jewish pilgrimage under unprecedented security • Some 2,000 Jews gather at ancient Ghriba synagogue to mark holiday • Rabbi: Site a symbol of tolerance between Muslims and Jews.

The pilgrims chose to defy the recent terrorism alert for the island. I'm glad they came through it safely.

Terrorism alert in Tunisia

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Israel warns Jewish pilgrims of ‘severe’ terror threat in Tunisia. As Lag B’Omer festival approaches, counter-terror agency sees ‘concrete’ jihadist threat on historic Djerba island (Times of Israel).

Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Bureau on Monday highlighted a “severe” travel advisory for Tunisia.

Many Jews who hail from the Mediterranean Arab country travel each year to the island of Djerba in the country’s south, the historic home of an ancient community of Jewish priestly families, to celebrate the Lag B’Omer holiday, which this year falls on May 25-26.

The bureau, a branch of the Prime Minister’s Office, on Monday urged Israelis and Jews not to visit the country this year due to the “high” likelihood of attacks by jihadist groups.

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That's a pity. More on the Tunisian island of Djerba and its ancient synagogue is here and links. And there's more on Tunisian archaeology and the terrorist threat to its tourist industry here and links.

The El Ghriba Synagogue in Tunisia

THAT'S THE SPIRIT! Hundreds of Jews Make Pilgrimage to Ancient Tunisian Synagogue, Despite Terror Threats.

(JNS.org) Hundreds of Jews are making a pilgrimage to the ancient Tunisian synagogue of El Ghriba on the island of Djerba, despite warnings of a possible terror attack against Jewish targets.

“There is a lot of security, there are soldiers and police everywhere and that is very reassuring to us,” French-Jewish tourist Lorine Bendayan told AFP.

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I can't find any clear information on exactly how old this synagogue is, but people seem to think it was founded in antiquity. The current structure dates to the nineteenth century.

Background on the situation in Tunisia is here and links.