Friday, March 16, 2012

Tunisian news: Sfax synagogue again vandalised


The Beth El synagogue at Sfax...broken into

Last Friday evening the synagogue in Sfax was broken into for the second time in six months. The motive was theft, but religious artefacts were apparently thrown to the floor in a complete disregard for the sanctity of this house of worship.

The news was relayed by telephone to Camus Bouhnik, a Sfax-born Jew, by his friend Habib.

*In other news, The Tunisian Front of Islamic Associations is organising a protest calling for the implementation of shariaa – Islamic law derived from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed – in the new constitution, Tunisialive Online reports. Entitled, “Friday of Supporting Shariaa,” the protest is scheduled to be held in front of the National Constituent Assembly after the Friday prayer.

*(With thanks: Kouichi)
Jacob Lellouche, a Tunis restauranteur who stood unsuccessfully in the Tunisian parliamentary elections, has set up a website, Dar-el-Dhekra (House of Memory) to memorialise the history and culture of the 2,000-year-old Jewish community before it disappears altogether. Lellouche also has plans for a Museum of Jewish History.

It is a matter of conjecture who would visit the Museum, however, now that tourism has slumped since the outbreak of the 'Arab Spring'. Due to the increasing influence of Islamism in Tunisia, a museum is also likely to be vulnerable to attack.

1 comment:

  1. The breaking into and looting of Jewish sights will not stop unless their own government puts an end to that passtime. They were able to throw out their dictator so why can't they put an end to this????
    SultanaLatifa

    ReplyDelete