Tunisia
The Tunisian Republic, or Tunisia, is an Arab state on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, between Algeria and Libya. It was a self governing part of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, whose ruler was known as the Bey of Tunis until becoming a French Protectorate of Tunisia in 1881. France ruled the country from 1881 to 1956 with the Beys continuing in office,in a largely ceremonial role. During WWII, Tunisia was held by the pro-German French Vichy Government from 1940 until 1943, when it was captured by Allied forces, and returned to (Free) French rule. Independence from France was granted in1956, initially as a constitutional monarchy under the Bey, In 1957, the country adopted a republican constitution and becamie the Tunisian Republic.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
There is a long established Jewish Community in Tunisia, going back over 2,000 years. The Jewish population numbered about 105,000 in 1948 and had shrunk to about 20,000 at the time of independence in 1956. Most of the Jewish population of 2,000 resides in Tunis, but some in the small communities of Djerba, Sfax, Sousse and Nabeul.
Community offices:
15 rue du Cap Vert
Tel: 282-469 & 287-153. [October 2000]
Chief Rabbi: Rabbi Haim Madar
26 rue de Palestine
Tel: 282-406 & 283-540. [October 2000]
Sefardic SIG. [May 2010]
"THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF TUNISIA" by Alexander Rosenzweig
History. [October 2000]
Homepage of the Tunisian Jews in English [October 2000]
Case study: The Tunisian Jewish minority in the face of oppression - The end of one of the oldest Jewish Minority in Tunisia, 1881-1967 by Edith Haddad Shaked [May 2006]
http://www.ifrance.com/cohenhadria/histoire/originetunis.htm:in French [October 2000]
http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/communities/wjcbook/tunisia/index.htm - link no longer available. "The largest communities are in Tunis and on the island of Djerba (Hara Keriba and Hara Sghira). There are also approximately 200 Jews living in the Sousse-Monastir region on the Gulf of Mammamet". [October 2000]
MILITARY CEMETERY: Headstones with Stars of David on gravesites are maintained abroad by The American Battle Monuments Commission. Source: Commission sheet entitled "Headstones Emplaced at Grave Sites (World Wars I and II"; dated 9 May 1994): W.W.II-North Africa (nr. Carthage, Tunisia). 56 headstones. Source: Jonathan L. Eisenberg, Minnetonka, Minnesota; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or c/o This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [1998]