TunisUSA - The Specialists of Tunisian and Turkish Travel

May 20-29, 2008

Your host for part of this very special tour will be TunisUSA founder, Jerry Sorkin.

Sorkin, a specialist in Middle East and North African studies, has spent considerable time in Tunisia over nearly two decades. During this time he has developed close relationships with a myriad of Tunisians in various parts of the country and of various walks of life, including the Jewish communities in Tunis and on the island of Jerba.

Sorkin is a frequent lecturer with recent lecture invitations including a UNESCO sponsored conference in Tunisia, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and an appearance on The Sahara, a fall 2006 documentary produced for the History Channel. In December 2006, Sorkin was a guest speaker at the University of Sousse in Tunisia, speaking on the topic of "Unique Methods of Cultural Bridgebuilding".

During this in-depth tour, participants will not only see Tunisia, but will experience the country and its people in a manner that few tours can offer. A particular highlight will be the opportunity to meet and interact with the Jerban Jewish community, including attending activities for the festival Lag B'omer. The Jerban community, which dates its presence on the island to more than 2,000 years, is normally, very insular.

Due to the nature of this deluxe tour and some of the venues visited, space is limited!

[GhribaSynag graphic]
Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Jerba

Tuesday,May 20th - Tunis arrival
Upon your arrival, mid-day arrival in Tunis from your European gateway, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the suburbs of Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is free for rest and relaxation from your flight. A pre-sundown rendezvous at the hotel will be arranged, before driving to the synagogue in La Goulette, where there will be an opportunity to join some of the members of the Jewish community for the mincha/m'erev service in this Tunis suburb, once home to a sizeable Jewish community. Dinner this evening will be at a restaurant specializing in Tunisian Jewish style cuisine. Overnight in Tunis. (D)

Wednesday, May 21st - Tunis environs
This morning, you start your day with a visit to the Bardo Museum, a former Ottoman palace housing one of the finest collections of Roman and Carthaginian mosaics in the world. This will help set the stage in learning about Tunisia's history during Roman times. From the Bardo, you drive to the suburbs of Tunis where you will visit Carthage, the most famous (though by no means the largest) of the ancient sites in Tunisia, but one which historians find traces of Jewish presence. Following your visit to the ruins of this ancient Phoenician city, you continue to the nearby picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, whose architecture was inspired by its Andalusian settlers. Lunch will be near the seaside. Following lunch, you drive into the heart of old Tunis for a walking tour of the medina. We will also make time for a visit to some of the remaining Jewish sites within Tunis, including the Grand Synagogue in the center of Tunis. Overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Procession of the "menara" for the festival Lag B'omer.

Thursday, May 22nd - Jerba

Auctioning the procession honors.

You depart this morning on a flight to the island of Jerba. In the Jewish calendar, tomorrow is the 18th of Iyar, the beginning of the Jewish festival of Lag B'Omer. While the festival is not very celebrated in the West, among the Jews of North Africa, particularly Tunisia, this is a festive day celebrating the spring and a time to pay homage to prominent Jewish scholars in North African Jewish history. Tonight, being the "eve of Lag B'Omer", Jerban Jews participate in the day by joining in the procession of the community's menara to the Ghriba synagogue, joined by literally thousands of Jews visiting the island from Israel, France and elsewhere. This is a day unlike other days throughout the year in Jerba, with pilgrims and indigenous Jerbans, both Jew and non-Jew participating. Unlike other activities throughout the year in Jerba, Jewish men and women both, participate in the frenzy of the pilgrimage. You will depart late afternoon to the Ghriba synagogue where you will then be able to witness and participate in the activities taking place in conjunction with the festival. The atmosphere around the Ghriba synagogue in the late afternoon becomes very carnival like. Speeches, song, processions and lots of festive activity will be taking place. A buffet dinner will be at your hotel later in the evening. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Friday, May 23rd - Jerba
You start the day with an island tour of Jerba. The island has a special character. You will have a walking tour of the village of Hara Kabira, the largest of the island's two Jewish villages. Your visit to the "hara" will include seeing some of the village's synagogues. Hara Kabira has nearly a dozen synagogues, most of which are still in use today. You will have the opportunity to visit the communal oven of the Jewish community and hear about the role it plays in the holiday and Shabbat meals, as well as hearing about the active role of Jewish education in Jerba, today. Your island tour eventually brings you to Houmt Souk, Jerba's main market town and the location of many of Jerba's Jewish merchants. After having a walking orientation of Houmt Souk and its souk, you may choose to spend some time exploring Houmt

Visiting a synagogue in Hara Kabira

Souk independently, along with the option of enjoying lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants or you may return to our hotel to relax by the pool or ocean. The remainder of the afternoon is unstructured. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. Overnight in Jerba. (B, D)

Saturday, May 24th - Jerba
Today, being Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, no touring is scheduled. The day is unstructured for you to enjoy the amenities of your hotel, or for those who wish to attend synagogue, arrangements will be made. Meals will be available at your hotel. Overnight in Jerba. (B, L, D)

Sunday, May 25th - ksour region/Gabes/Sfax

Arabic AND Hebrew signage in Houmt Souk, Jerba.

This morning you depart the island of Jerba and drive to the region of Matmata, a region known for its troglodyte, or underground dwellings. You will have an opportunity to visit one of these dwellings before heading north to El Hamma, also a site of pilgrimage for many Jerban Jews. From El Hamma, you drive to Gabes, an oasis town and once home to a small Jewish community. You will have the opportunity to go through the oasis by horse drawn carriage and learn about life within an oasis. From Gabes, you continue north with an eventual arrival to Sfax by late in the day. Overnight in Sfax. (B,L, D)

Monday, May 26th - El Jem/Kairouan/Tunis
This morning you depart Sfax driving northwest to El Jem to see the Roman coliseum, the largest of its kind in North Africa. El Jem also has a wonderful museum of mosaics. From El Jem, you drive to via Mahdia, a small, but historic town along the coast. There is a synagogue remaining in Mahdia, though not a community. We will have the opportunity to visit the synagogue, which is overseen by one of the only remaining Jewish families of Mahdia. From Mahdia, you continue north to Sousse, where there is a small Jewish community remaining, as well as a synagogue that has recently gone through renovations. Your base in Sousse is a seaside, spa hotel, approximately ten minutes out of the Sousse city center. Overnight in Sousse. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, May 27th - Northwest Tunisia
This morning you depart Sousse and approximately one hour west, you arrive in Kairouan. Kairouan is today, a rather provincial town. The city was founded and subsequently developed during early Islamic times, with Kairouan's Great Mosque, dating from -the 7th century, reputed to be the oldest mosque in the Islamic world, making Kairouan the fourth holiest city, following Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. During medieval times, it also had a Jewish community whose scholars nearly rivaled those of Babylonia. Kairouan's location along the caravan routes also provided a base for a flourishing crafts industry. The region still provides the base for much of Tunisia's craft industry, particularly rugs and textiles. From Kairouan, you northwest, through scenic countryside, with a topography unlike that which you have experienced thus far in Tunisia. This becomes the region of Tunisia that was not only the breadbasket for the Roman Empire, but also home to small Jewish populations until the early 1980's. Upon arrival in El Kef (known under the French as "Le Kef"), you will get to see some of the historic aspects of El Kef, including a visit to a restored synagogue where you will hear about the former Jewish community of the town. Lunch will be in the region, followed by your departure to Bulla Regia. This well-preserved site has numerous examples of underground architecture, as well as well-preserved mosaics, in situ. From Bulla Regia, you drive north into the cork forests of the Khoumerie Mountains, the most eastern sector of the Atlas Mountain range. Overnight in Ain Draham. (B,L,D)

Wednesday, May 28th - Northwest Tunisia
This morning you depart the region of Ain Draham and taking scenic country roads, eventually arrive to Dougga. Dougga is Tunisia's largest Roman site. Covering some sixty acres, Dougga was known as the city of temples and its existence is thought to date back to the 4th century B.C. Following your visit to Dougga, you head back toward Tunis, passing through Testour, which also had a small Jewish community. Late afternoon arrival in Tunis. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Should you wish to return to the medina for any last minute shopping or explore other parts of the city, you are free to do so. We will rendezvous in the evening for your very special farewell dinner. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Lighting candles in the Ghriba

Thursday, May 29th - Tunis departure
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

COST per person, is based on double occupancy in deluxe/first class hotels.

All touring, entrance fees, baggage handling and all meals as indicated by B, L and D.

KOSHER meals are NOT guaranteed. If strictly kosher meals are required, there will be an additional supplement.

Airfare from the United States is not included.

Costs per person, based on double occupancy: $3,300.

Single supplement is $495.