Zarzis Synagogue

Orthodox synagogue in Zarzis, Tunisia

33°30′00″N 11°07′00″E / 33.5000°N 11.1167°E / 33.5000; 11.1167ArchitectureTypeSynagogue architectureCompleted1905

The Zarzis Synagogue (Arabic: كنيس جرجيس; Hebrew: בית הכנסת משכן יעקב, romanized: Beit HaKnesset Mishkan Ya’akov, lit. 'Mishkan Yaakov Synagogue'), is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the coastal town of Zarzis, Tunisia. The synagogue was completed in 1905, when the Jewish community of Zarzis numbered approximately 1,000.[1]

An arson attack in 1982, following Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon, left the synagogue and Torah scrolls totally destroyed. It was subsequently rebuilt and used by the town's remaining 150 Jews.[2]

The lavishly decorated synagogue leads into an open-air courtyard which has adjoining rooms which serve as the talmud torah. As of 2007[update], Rabbi Eliyahu Sofer was the head of the community.

See also

  • mapAfrica portal
  • Judaism portal

References

  1. ^ "Synagogue Mishkan Yaakov, Zarzis, Tunisia". Digital Heritage Mapping | diarna.org. 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Zarzis". The Museum of The Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
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