TUNISIA AND ITS JEWISH COMMUNITIES:
PAST AND PRESENT
April 27 - May 6, 2010

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 lecture invitations including a UNESCO sponsored conference in Tunisia, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, the University of Sousse in Tunisia and the World Affairs Council in Philadelphia. He also served as a consultant and had an appearance on The Sahara, a fall 2006 documentary produced for the History Channel.

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!

Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Jerba

Tuesday, April 27 - Tunis arrival
Arrive in Tunis from European gateway, where you transfer to your hotel in the northern seaside area of Tunis, less than ten minutes from Carthage. Evening rendezvous with your fellow tour participants followed by dinner in a restaurant specializing in Tunisian Jewish style cuisine. Overnight in Tunis. (L)

Wednesday, April 28 - 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.

Visiting a synagogue in Hara Kabira

Lunch will be near the seaside. Following lunch, you drive into the heart of old Tunis for a walking tour of the medina, Tunisia's historic heart. We will also make time for a visit to some of the remaining Jewish sites within Tunis. Following the walking tour, you will have some time to explore and shop within the souk on your own, returning to your hotel with the bus, or on your own. Dinner will be in an enjoyable venue. Overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Thursday, April 29 - northwest Tunisia
Today you will have the opportunity to explore the western portion of Tunisia, which was not only a stronghold of the Roman Empire, but also home to small Jewish populations until the early 1980's. You leave tonight with simply an overnight bag, as your room will be awaiting you upon your return. The drive west takes you through wheat growing regions, with a stop in Testour, to hear about its Jewish notoriety and eventually brining you to El Kef, where you can visit a recently restored synagogue.

Market scene in Houmt Souk, Jerba

From El Kef, you drive north 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)

Friday, April 30 - northwest/Tunis
This morning you drive through scenic rural roads, eventually arriving to Dougga, known in Roman times as Thugga. Covering some sixty acres, Dougga remains the largest of the Roman sites in Tunisia. From Dougga, you drive back towards the coast, arriving in Tunis by mid-afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is free to return to the souk if you wish, or to explore more of Carthage or the Bardo on your own. Dinner will be with some members of the Tunis Jewish community. Overnight in Tunis. (B,L,D)

Saturday, May 1 - Tunis for Shabbat
This morning is unstructured. For those who would like to attend Shabbat services at a synagogue, arrangements will be made to direct you to a synagogue that is within a 20 minute walk from your hotel or for those who prefer to drive, a short drive. A buffet lunch will be offered at your hotel. An afternoon walking tour of parts of central Tunis, including areas in and around the medina will be available for those who wish to participate. For those who would like to participate in some of the touring, but prefer not to walk, rides will be arranged. Your dinner is independent tonight. TunisUSA will provide a variety of dining suggestions, some of which are within walking distance of your hotel, while those preferring something further, taxis are plentiful, inexpensive and metered. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L)

Celebration at the Ghriba for Lag B'omer

Visiting the Ghriba synagogue

Sunday, May 2 - Jerba
You depart this morning on a flight to the island of Jerba. In the Jewish calendar, today 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. This afternoon you will mix with the Jerban Jews who 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 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)

Monday, May 3 - 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 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)

Tuesday, May 4 - ksour region/Gabes/Sfax
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)

Wednesday, May 5 - 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 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 sholars 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 drive back to Tunis with a brief stop in Sousse, where there is a small Jewish community remaining. From Sousse, you return to Tunis by early evening. After having an opportunity to refresh yourself at your hotel, you will depart for your farewell dinner. Overnight in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Thursday, May 6 - Tunis departure
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the U.S. (B)