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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]](http://www.tunisusa.com/images/GhribaSynag.jpg)
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)
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| Procession of the "menara" for the festival Lag B'omer. |
Thursday, May 22nd - Jerba
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| Auctioning the procession honors. |
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
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| Visiting a synagogue in Hara Kabira |
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
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| Arabic AND Hebrew signage in Houmt Souk, Jerba. |
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)
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| 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.
