May 29, 2016 13 Special Focus Jewish pilgrimage in ’s school of tolerance

Lamine Ghanmi

Djerba

ewish students attend class- es with their Muslim coun- terparts at a primary school near their Jewish neighbour- hood on Tunisia’s Djerba is- Jland somehow undisturbed by the political tumult unravelling the re- ligious and cultural fabric of coun- tries in the Middle East and North Africa. They are an example of how Djer- ba, a Mediterranean tourism hub, remains an oasis of peaceful coex- istence between and Muslims in Tunisia. “Jews studying with Muslim pu- pils is part of our daily life. It is a normal diversity for our human society. It is part of our specificity as Tunisians,” said Zineb Aoun Jen- deli, a primary school inspector. Coexistence between pupils of different faiths is nurtured by careful management of the school staff and teachers. “I do not see the pupils as Jews or Muslims. They are schoolboys and schoolgirls. I do not like to high- light the distinction between them on the basis of their faiths,” she added after visiting Souani primary school to enforce good teaching rules and performance. The school is on the edge of Hara Kebira, the island district where most Jewish families live. Muslim and Jewish students at a public school in Djerba. The majority of Tunisia’s esti- mated 1,500 Jews live on Djerba. Coexistence between pupils of flares up, she banned her children ters with the Jews. They are our and us. We try our best to keep dif- “The way Tunisia treats its Jew- different faiths is nurtured by care- from watching television to avoid neighbours and our brothers.” ferences and the conflicts from ish citizens and all its religious mi- ful management of the school staff the conflict influencing them,” she Hafa Cohen, an 8-year-old, outside away from influencing our norities serves as a strong positive and teachers. said. proudly writes her name in . children,” said Youssef Wazzen, a model for the rest of the world,” “We teach Islamic education for Chadli Letaifa, a teacher at the “After school I visit homes of my jeweller and a Jewish community Thames said. “We appreciate the Muslim pupils on Saturdays when school, said: “Foreign visitors of other friends from the school dur- organiser. commitment of the Tunisian gov- Jewish pupils are absent because the school do not believe what they ing Muslim holidays. We play to- Knox Thames, the US State De- ernment to protect this communi- they observe the Jewish Sabbath,” see here but for me it is normal. I gether,” she said. partment’s special adviser for re- ty, which has resided in the country said headmistress Fatiha Abeddi. grew up here hearing my great par- Hafa and the other children ligious minorities and Ira Forman, for more than 2,500 years.” “We have 21 classes where about ents telling me that the home we joined Jews from Djerba and other special envoy for monitoring anti- Forman added: “It is our hope 100 are Jews. Parents from both live in was built by a Jew and the cities of Tunisia and abroad to cel- Semitism at the State Department, that this community will continue faiths help us. One mother of a Jew- beds we sleep on are made by a Jew. ebrate the pilgrimage to Ghriba were among participants at the to be a symbol of diversity and tol- ish pupil told me that when conflict “As Muslims we shared work, — the oldest synagogue in Africa. May 25th-26th Djerba Jewish festi- erance within a stable and robust between Israelis and Palestinians social life and everything that mat- “There is no such thing like them val. democracy.”

Interview Struggling for the rights of religious minorities in an Arab land

Roua Khlifi end all suffering of individuals as a freedom of belief but the problem result of discrimination, anti-Semi- is that the same constitution that tism or racism,” Thabet said. guarantees freedom of religion also The number of Jews in Tunisia bans non-Muslims from running in dropped from about 100,000 during presidential elections,” she said. amina Thabet said cel- the second world war to fewer than “Presenting one’s candidacy in ebrating Jewish events in 1,500 today. Thabet insisted that elections is not a luxury. It is not a a predominantly Muslim Jewish Tunisians are not a group privilege but rather a right among country such as Tunisia is apart but an important component other rights that are guaranteed by an opportunity to stress of society that has contributed sig- law. If we respect Tunisian citizens, Ythe importance of diversity and nificantly to Tunisian and then all should be treated as equal.” shed light on the situation of reli- history. Thabet said she regards the Ghri- gious minorities. “They are not a separate commu- ba pilgrimage as an important event the absence of laws banning and pe- she said. Jewish Tunisians are deeply root- nity but rather the most well-known in the history of Tunisian spiritual- nalising discrimination. Thabet said Tunisian society is es- ed in the history of the country, with non-Muslim religious group of Tu- ity as it has a symbolic value — that “In Tunisia,” she said, “it is still sentially tolerant and that Tunisians their presence dating to the Punic nisians in the country,” she said. of tolerance and co-existence. not possible, in the absence of a are using newly won freedoms to era two millennia ago. Despite the “We also have , Baha’is “It is an opportunity to declare strict and clear law, to file a com- uphold values of tolerance. She cit- dwindling number of Jews in Tu- and atheists. All these groups de- that we are not all Muslims and it is plaint about religious discrimina- ed as an example a recent hidden- nisia since independence in 1956, serve to be recognised.” a beautiful thing to witness,” Thabet tion. camera programme on Tunisian the annual pilgrimage of Jews to the said. “It is important to acknowl- “This is what the association has television. Ghriba synagogue in Djerba remains “If we respect edge the presence of Tunisian Jews been fighting for during the past “It is a spark of hope to see how at the centre of the traditions and and that these are able to practice five years. If people committing Tunisians reacted in a social experi- culture of Tunisia, especially since Tunisian citizens, their religious beliefs in peace.” discriminatory acts are sanctioned, ment segment staged by a TV show,” the Ghriba synagogue is the oldest then all should be She said it was important to “dis- others will think twice before doing she said. “They all defended an ac- in Africa. treated as equal.” sociate the status of Tunisian Jews the same thing.” tor pretending to be a Jew who was Thabet is president and one of from the Palestinian-Israeli-con- Thabet said Jewish history should denied service at a local café. They the founders of the Tunisian As- Yamina Thabet, president of flict”. take more space in the history of all came to his rescue and defended sociation for Support of Minorities, the Tunisian Association for Thabet also warned against keep- Tunisia as taught in the country’s him against the owner of the coffee established in 2011 to ensure the Support of Minorities ing silent about abuses and discrim- schools and that children should shop thinking the discrimination protection of individual liberties, ination based on religion. know about Muslim families in the was real.” including freedom of religion. The Thabet added that while Tuni- “It is true that Tunisian Jews country who fought to protect Jew- She added: “Tolerance is a work association strives to end all forms sia is a country that recognises its are able to practice their religion ish families during the Nazi occupa- in progress, something to be imple- of religious discrimination in the multicultural history, the rights of in peace,” she said. “This does not tion of Tunisia. mented, to be deeply rooted in the country. religious minorities are not guaran- mean we should avoid talking about “This is an important part of his- Tunisian mindset.” “The association aims to work teed. abuses. We must do this to improve tory that should be also taught in on building a favourable ground in “The situation of religious mi- the situation of religious minori- schools. This is part of the history Roua Khlifi is a regular Travel and society to accept all differences and norities remains a bit ambiguous. It ties.” of the country where all religions, Culture contributor to The Arab to promote open minds. We hope to is true that the constitution ensures Thabet expressed worry about all colours and all races coexisted,” Weekly. She is based in Tunis.