Tunisia
Photo: Gurpaal Virdee
Jewish pilgrims stay away from Lag B'Omer festival in Tunisia
No more than 500 pilgrims attend religious festival at one of Africa’s oldest synagogues due to security concerns
Security concerns and threats from some Salafi Islamists kept thousands of Jewish pilgrims away from the annual Lag B'Omer celebration on the Tunisian island of Djerba this week.
Jewish Festival
Akiva Novick
'Festilag' in 20 Israeli cities to offer free performances for kids featuring some of the countries most beloved children's characters
No more than 500 pilgrims attended the religious festival celebrated a month after Passover at one of Africa’s oldest synagogues on Wednesday and Thursday – an event that used to attract thousands of visitors.
Numbers have plummeted since the overthrow of authoritarian secular leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in a popular uprising in January last year, leading to months of political uncertainty, and the rise to power in October of an Islamist-led government.
Israel issued a travel advisory urging its citizens ahead of the festival to “avoid” visits to Tunisia this year, citing information suggesting they might come under attack.
Last year just 100 took part because pilgrims were reluctant to wade into the charged political environment of the Arab Spring, and organizers cancelled traditional celebrations because of security concerns.
This year, the ceremonies – which mark the deaths of ancient Jewish clerics, including a second-century mystic – went ahead amid tight security with police and soldiers lining the streets.
