Djerba

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Djerba

Native name: جربة (Arabic Jerba) Μῆνιγξ (Greek Meninx)
Djerba
Geography
Location	Gulf of Gabès
Area	514 km2 (198 sq mi)
Administration
Tunisia
Governorate	Medenine
Largest settlement	Houmt Souk (pop. 75,904)
Demographics
Demonym	Djerbian Jerbi
Population	163,726 (2014 census)
Pop. density	309/km2 (800/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Tunisians (Arabs, Berbers, Jews and Black African)

Djerba (/ˈdʒɜːrbə, ˈdʒɛərbə/; Arabic: جربة‎, romanized: Jirba IPA: [ˈʒɪrbæ] (listen)), Italian: Meninge or Girba, also transliterated as Jerba^[1] or Jarbah,^[2] is, at 514 square kilometers (198 sq mi), is a Tunisian island and the largest island of North Africa, in the Gulf of Gabès,^[1] off the coast of Tunisia. It had a population of 139,544 at the 2004 census, which rose to 163,726 at the 2014 census. Citing the long and unique history that of its Jewish minority of Djerba, Tunisia has sought UNESCO World Heritage status protections for the island.^[3]

History[]

Legend has it that Djerba was the island of the lotus-eaters^[1][4] where Odysseus was stranded on his voyage through the Mediterranean sea. The tradition of the Jewish minority of Djerba says in the year 586 BC, some of the Israelite temple priests who were able to escape the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple there, settled in Djerba; an unusually high percentage of Jews on the island to this day maintain family status of the priestly caste, and a genetic link has been confirmed by DNA testing.^{[citation needed]}

The island was called Meninx (Ancient Greek: Μῆνιγξ)^[5][6][7] until the third century AD. Strabo writes that there was an altar of Odysseus.^[8]

The island had three principal towns. One of these, whose modern name is Būrgū,^{[citation needed]} is found near Midoun in the center of the island. Another city, on the southeast coast of the island at Meninx, was a major producer of priceless murex dye, and is cited by Pliny the Elder as second only to Tyre in this regard. A third important town was the ancient . The island was densely inhabited in the Roman and Byzantine periods, and probably imported much of the grain consumed by its inhabitants. The island appears in the 13th century (with possible 4th century origins) Peutinger Map.^{[citation needed]}

Ghazi Mustapha Fort, Djerba, Tunisia

During the Middle Ages, Djerba was occupied by Ibadi Muslims, who claimed it as their own. The Christians of Sicily and Aragon disputed this claim with the Ibadites. Remains from this period include numerous small mosques dating from as early as the twelfth century, as well as two substantial forts.^{[citation needed]}

The island was controlled twice by the Norman Kingdom of Sicily: in *1135–1158 and in *1284–1333. During the second of these periods it was organised as a feudal lordship, with the following Lords of Jerba: 1284–1305: Roger I
1305–1307, and 1307–1310: Roger II (twice)
1310: Charles
1310: Francis-Roger III.

There were also royal governors, whose times in power partially overlapped with those of the Lords: c. 1305–1308: Simon de Montolieu
1308–1315: Ramon Muntaner.^{[citation needed]}

In 1503, Barbary pirate Oruç Reis and his brother Hayreddin Barbarossa took control of the island and turned it into their main base in the western Mediterranean, thus bringing it under Ottoman control. Spain launched a disastrous attempt to capture it in November 1510.^{[citation needed]}

In 1513, after three years in exile in Rome, the Fregosi family returned to Genoa, Ottaviano was elected Doge, and his brother, Archbishop Federigo Fregoso (later cardinal), having become his chief educator, was placed at the head of the army, and defended the republic against internal dangers (revolts of the Adorni and the Fieschi) and external dangers, notably suppression of the Barbary piracy: Cortogoli, a corsair from Tunis, blockaded the coast with a squadron, and within a few days had captured eighteen merchantmen; being given the command of the Genoese fleet, in which Andrea Doria was serving, Federigo surprised Cortogoli before Bizerta. Soon after, he carried out an invasion and occupation of the island and returned to Genoa with great booty.^{[citation needed]}

El Ghriba synagogue

Spanish forces returned to Djerba in 1520, and this time were successful in capturing the island. It was twice occupied by Spain, from 1521 to 1524 and from 1551 to 1560.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 May 1560, the Ottoman fleet, under the command of Piali Pasha and Dragut, severely defeated the "Holy League" of Philip II of Spain at the Battle of Djerba. From that time until 1881, Djerba belonged to the Ottoman regency of Tunis.^{[citation needed]}

Subsequently, it came under the French colonial protectorate, which became the modern republic of Tunisia.^{[citation needed]}

An archaeological field survey of Djerba carried out between 1995 and 2000 under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania, the American Academy in Rome and the Tunisian Institut National du Patrimoine, revealed over 400 archaeological sites, including many Punic and Roman villas^[9] and an Amphitheatre.

Jewish history[]

This section may be too long and excessively detailed. Please consider summarizing the material while citing sources as needed. (January 2019)

According to their oral history, the Jewish minority has dwelled on the island continuously for more than 2,500 years.^[10][11] The first physical evidence that historians know of comes from the 11th century found in Cairo Geniza.^[12]

This community is unique in the Jewish diaspora for its unusually high percentage of Kohanim (Hebrew; the Jewish priestly caste), direct patrilineal descendants of Aaron the first high priest from Mosaic times.^[12] Local tradition tells that when Nebuchadnezzar II leveled Solomon's temple and lay waste to Judah and the city of Jerusalem in the year 586 BC, among the refugees who avoided slavery were the Kohanim who settled in Djerba.^[13]

A key point in this oral history has been backed up by genetic tests for Cohen modal haplotype showing that the vast majority of male Jews on Djerba claiming the family status of Cohen had a common ancient male ancestor which matches that of nearly all of both historically European and Middle Eastern Jewish males with a family history of patrilineal membership in the Jewish priestly caste.^[14]

Thus, the island has been known by many Jews as the island of the Kohanim. According to the legend, during the destruction of the temple, the Kohanim, who were serving the temple at the time of destruction escaped from Jerusalem and found themselves on the island of Djerba.^[12] The legend claims the Kohanim carried the door and some stones from the Temple in Jerusalem which they then incorporated into the "marvelous synagogue", also known as Ghriba, which still stands in Djerba.^[12]

The Jewish community differs from others in Djerba in their dress, personal names, and accents. The Jewish rabbinate of Djerba have established an eruv, which establishes the communal area in the city in which Jews can freely carry objects between their homes and community buildings on Shabbat.^[15] Some traditions that are distinctive of the Jewish Djerba community is the kiddush prayer said on the eve of Passover and a few prophetic passages on certain Shabbats of the year.^[12]

One of the community's synagogues, the El Ghriba synagogue, has been in continuous use for over 2,000 years.^[16] The Jews were settled in two main communities: the Hara Kabira ("the big quarter";Arabic:"الحاره الكبيرة") and the Hara Saghira ("the small quarter";Arabic:" الحاره الصّغيرة"). The Hara Saghira identified itself with Israel, while the Hara Kabira identified with Spain and Morocco.^[17]

The next influx of Jewish people to the Island of Djerba was during the Spanish Inquisition, when the Iberian Jewish population was expelled.^[18] The Jewish population hit its peak during the time that Tunisia was fighting for independence from France 1881–1956.^[18] In 1940, there were approximately 100,000 Jewish-Tunisians or 15% of the entire population of Tunisia.^[18]

In the aftermath of World War II, the Jewish population on the island declined significantly due to emigration to Israel and France. As of 2011, the Jewish permanent resident community on the island numbered about 1,000,^[11][19] but many return annually on pilgrimage. However, once the State of Israel was established, and political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa was building up many Jewish people left Tunisia.^[18] Although the Jewish community of Tunisia was on the decline, the Jewish community of Hara Kebira witnessed an increase of population due to its traditional character.^[18] The community on Djerba remains one of the last remaining fully intact Jewish communities in an Arab majority country after most were abandoned in the face of anti-Israel and antisemitic pressure and pogroms. The most traditionally observant Jewish community is growing because of large natural families despite emigration and a new Orthodox Jewish school for girls has recently been inaugurated on the Island to serve alongside the two boy's yeshiva schools. According to The Wall Street Journal "Relations between Jews and Muslims are complex—proper and respectful, though not especially close. Jewish men work alongside Arab merchants in the souk, for example, and enjoy amicable ties with Muslim customers."^[20]

The historical conflicts between Muslims and Jewish people have been largely absent in Djerba. This is reportedly attributed to the fact that all the people of the island were at some point Jewish and therefore share similar practices in their ways of life.^[12]

Some of these Jewish practices that can be seen in Muslim households in Djerba are the lighting of candles on Friday night, and the suspending of matzot on the ceiling from one spring to the next.^[12] The Jewish and Muslim communities have coexisted peacefully in Djerba despite political unrest regarding the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The people of Djerba say that the two communities simply pray in different places, but are still able to converse.^[21] A Jewish leader once stated "We live together, We visit our friends on their religious holidays. We work together. Muslims buy meat from our butchers. When we are forbidden to work or cook on the Shabbat, we buy bread and kosher food cooking by Muslims. Our children play together".^[21]

On 11 April 2002, Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a truck bomb attack close to the famous synagogue, killing 21 people (14 German tourists, 5 Tunisians and 2 French nationals).^[22]

Since the "Arab Spring", the Tunisian government has extended their protection and encouraged Jewish life on the island of Djerba.^[13] Citing the long and unique Jewish history on Djerba, Tunisia has sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the island.^[3] There are currently 14 synagogues, 2 yeshivot, and 3 kosher eateries.^[13]

A Jewish school on the island was firebombed during the national protests held in 2018, while security forces in Djerba were reduced, being preoccupied with protection efforts elsewhere.^[23] This attack was among many other uprisings that were occurring throughout Tunisia at the time.^[23]

Ecclesiastical history[]

Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Houmt El Souk

The city Girba in the Roman province of Tripolitania (mostly in modern Libya), which gave its name to the island, was important enough to become a suffragan bishop of its capital's archbishopric. Known Bishops of antiquity include:

• Proculus (Maximus Bishop fl.393)
• Quodvultdeus (Catholic Bishop fl.401–411) attending Council of Carthage (411)
• Euasius (Donatist Bishop fl.411) rival at Council of Carthage
• Urbanus (Catholic bishop fl.445–454)
• Faustinus (Catholic bishop fl. 484), exiled by King Huneric of the Vandal Kingdom
• Vincentius (Catholic bishop fl. 523–525)

The 1909 Catholic Encyclopedia lists only two: "At least two bishops of Girba are known, Monnulus and Vincent, who assisted at the Councils, of Carthage in 255 and 525".^[24]

Titular see of Girba[]

The Ancient diocese of Girba was nominally restored in 1895 as a Latin titular bishopric of the lowest (episcopal) rank.

It has had the following incumbents :

• Victor Roelens, White Fathers (M. Afr.) (1895.03.30 – 1947.08.05)
• Carlos Eduardo de Sabóia Bandeira Melo, Order of Friars Minor (1947.12.13 – 1958.04.11)
• Henryk Strakowski (1958.05.03 – 1965.05.06)
• Mariano Gaviola y Garcés (1967.05.31 – 1981.04.13) as former bishop of Cabanatuan, Philippines (1963.03.08 – 1967.05.31), Military Vicar of the Philippines (1974.03.02 – 1981.04.13), President of Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (1977–1984), Metropolitan Archbishop of Lipa, Philippines (1981.04.13 – 1992.12.30)
• Jacques David (1981.07.27 – 1985.02.21)
• Paul Kim Ok-kyun (Korean: 김옥균 바오로) (1985.03.09 – 2010.03.01)
• Victor Emilio Masalles Pere, auxiliary bishop of the Santo Domingo (2010.05.08 – ?)
• James T. Schuerman, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (2017.01.23 – ...)

Administration and population[]

Berber villages of Tunisia

The island comprises three of the delegations within the Tunisian Département of Médenine. Named after the three towns which form their administrative centers, these delegations, with their areas and their 2004 and 2014 Census populations, are:

Berbers[]

Jerba Berber, a Berber language, called chelha by its speakers, is spoken in some villages, including Guellala, Azdyuch, Sedouikech and Ouirsighen. These village are bilingual, because of the integration with Arabs of Djerba

Religious Demographics[]

Geography[]

Southern coast of the island

Djerba is 25 km long and 22 km wide, with a 514-km2 area. It has a 125 km coastline. Because of the influence of a moderate sea, the climate is very mild. Djerba has a major muslim population with a small jewish minority. The Jewish community, which is very small today (around 900), is well-established on the island. Apart from the county town of Houmt Souk the rest of the island consists of small villages with scattered housing: Sedghiane, Sedouikech, Guellala, Agim... Arboriculture is practiced here: palm, olive, vine trees, fig, apple, almond, apricot, orange and pomegranate. The island also produces vegetables and cereals. The surroundings of the island are favorable to fishing. The main handicrafts are weaving and pottery. The Souks In the heart of the medina, the souks are a network of small shop-lined narrow alleys. The souks are always lively. Here you can find cloth, carpets, utensils and jewelry. The jewellers’ souk reflects the island’s prosperity. Handicraft shops are numerous, for instance, weavers and blacksmiths... ^[25]

Climate[]

Migratory bird sanctuary[]

Djerba Bin El Ouedian is a wetland and habitat for migratory birds. It is located at 33 ° 40 'N, 10 ° 55 'E. On 7 November 2007 the wetland was included on the list of Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention, due to its importance as a bird refuge.^[34]

Tourism[]

Most tourism is focused on the largest city, Houmt Souk, where the Borj El Kebir castle is located.^[35]

Most of the hotels and beaches are part of Midoun city.^[36]

The commune and port of Ajim in the southwest corner of the island and its surrounding areas were used as filming locations for Star Wars. Tourists can visit buildings featured in the original movie, including Obi-Wan Kenobi's house and the Mos Eisley cantina.^[37][38]

Paranoma of Djerba since Hotel Beach

Transport[]

Djerba is served by Djerba-Zarzis Airport, an airport that facilates the transportation of the tourists to the city.

See also[]

• European enclaves in North Africa before 1830
• Borj El Kebir
• Menachem Mazuz, former Israeli Attorney General, and, as to 2020, judge in Israel's Supreme Court, born on this island
• Yael Shelbia, Israeli model, descendant of Djerba inhabitants
• Djerba–Zarzis International Airport

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Djerba.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Djerba.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Girba". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

• GigaCatholic with titular see incumbent biography links

Coordinates: 33°47′N 10°53′E / 33.783°N 10.883°E / 33.783; 10.883