El Ghriba Synagogue

Djerba Island, Tunisia

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El Ghriba Synagogue on Djerba Island in Tunisia is one of Africa's oldest and most revered Jewish sites, possibly dating back over 2,500 years to Jewish exiles fleeing the destruction of Solomon's Temple around 586 BCE, with legends claiming it incorporates a stone or door from the Jerusalem Temple.

Located in the village of Hara Sghira near Er-Riadh, the synagogue serves as the heart of Djerba's Jewish community of about 1,300 people and draws thousands for an annual pilgrimage on Lag BaOmer, featuring rituals for health, fertility, and prayer.

Its simple whitewashed architecture includes an inner courtyard, arched loggias, and a prayer hall, reflecting centuries of coexistence between Jews and Muslims on the island despite past challenges like a 2002 bombing. Today it symbolizes enduring Jewish heritage in the Arab world and welcomes visitors to explore its spiritual legacy.