Reducing barriers how the Jews of Djerba are using tourism to assert their place in the modern nation state of Tunisia

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Island of Djerba is one of Tunisia’s most important tourist venues. Once a year, it becomes the host site for the only Jewish pilgrimage in the entire Islamic world, an event that takes place at the synagogue of El Ghriba, itself the oldest synagogue in North Africa. The Jewish community in Djerba is today confronted not only by the challenges of declining numbers due to outmigration and an aging population, but also by issues arising from a lack of political representation. The result has been a rise in forecasts about a continued decline in community numbers and a corresponding attrition in the number of people making the pilgrimage to El Ghriba. At the same time, with the increase in Jihadist threats since the attack against the synagogue in 2002 and the revolution of 2011, the importance of ensuring that the pilgrimage to El Ghriba can continue to occur has become an issue of national concern. The pilgrimage is now launched every year under the auspices of officials of the State, such as President Marzouki and and different Ministers of Tourism and takes place under heavy military and police protection. Both the pilgrimage itself and the community now seem to be invested with a new role intrinsic to the overall economic and security status of the country. This article proposes an analysis of the different strategies employed by the Jewish community to use tourism to reassert its role as a full and active citizen of Tunisia, while at the same time maintaining the vitality of the pilgrimage to El Ghriba.