View source for Djerba

{{Short description|Island off of the coast of Tunisia}}
{{for|the Persian Gulf bagpipe|jirba}}
{{redirect|Gerba Island|the Northern Australian island also known as "Gerbar"|Gabba Island}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
{{original research|date=September 2021}}
}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox islands
| name                            = Djerba
| native_name                     = {{lang|ar|جربة}} ({{transliteration|ar|Jirba}})<br />{{Nobold|{{lang|el|Μῆνιγξ}} ({{transliteration|el|Meninx}})}}<br />{{Nobold|{{lang|he|ג׳רבה}} ({{transliteration|he|Djerbah}})}}
| image_name                      = Djerba Island.jpeg
| image_caption                   = Satellite image of Djerba
| map                             = Tunisia
| map_caption                     = Location of Djerba in Tunisia
| nickname                        = "The Island of Dreams"
| location                        = [[Gulf of Gabès]], Mediterranean Sea
| coordinates                     = {{coord|33|48|N|10|53|E|type:isle_region:TN_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2                        = 514
| length_km                       = 27
| width_km                        = 26
| coastline_km                    = 125
| highest_mount                   = 53 [[Guellala|Dhahret Guellala]]
| elevation_m                     = 20
| country                         = {{flag|Tunisia}}
| country_admin_divisions_title   = [[Governorates of Tunisia|Governorate]]
| country_admin_divisions         = [[Medenine Governorate|Medenine]]
| country_largest_city            = [[Houmt Souk]]
| country_largest_city_population = 79,000 (2023 estimate)
| population                      = 184,000 (2023 estimate)
| population_as_of                = 2023
| density_km2                     = 358
| ethnic_groups                   = [[Tunisians]] ([[Arabs]], [[Berbers]], [[History of the Jews in Tunisia|Jews]], [[Black people|Black Tunisians]])
| demonym                         = Djerbian, Jerbi
| languages                       = [[Arabic]] ([[Official language|official language]]),[[Tunisian Arabic]] ([[Spoken language]]), [[Berber languages|Berber]], [[French language|French]]
| footnotes                       = {{designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = WHS
| designation1_offname = ''Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory''
| designation1_date = 2023 <small>(45th [[World Heritage Committee|session]])</small>
| designation1_number = 1640<ref>{{cite web |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1640 |title=Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory |access-date=2023-09-24}}</ref>
| designation1_criteria = v
| designation1_type = Cultural
 }} 
}}



'''Djerba''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɜːr|b|ə|,_|ˈ|dʒ|ɛər|b|ə}}; {{langx|ar|جربة|Jirba}}, {{IPA|aeb|ˈʒɪrbæ|IPA|Jerba.wav}}; {{langx|it|Meninge, Girba}}), also [[transliteration|transliterated]] as '''Jerba'''<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Jerba |volume=15 |page=322}}</ref> or '''Jarbah''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Converter: Arabic, ar, 'alyrbiah', العربية |url=http://www.uconv.com/ar.htm |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.uconv.com}}</ref> is a Tunisian island and the largest island of [[North Africa]] at {{convert|514|km2|sp=us}}, in the [[Gulf of Gabès]],<ref name=EB1911/> off the coast of [[Tunisia]]. Administratively, it is part of [[Medenine Governorate]]. The island had a population of 139,544 at the 2004 census, which rose to 163,726 at the 2014 census. Citing its long and unique history, Tunisia has sought [[UNESCO World Heritage status]] protections for the island,<ref name="whc.unesco.org">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/events/1403/|title=Regional Workshop on the World Heritage Nomination Process|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Center|website=UNESCO World Heritage Center|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> and, in 2023, Djerba was officially designated a World Heritage Site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1640/ |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
{{essay|section|date=June 2024}}
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2024}}
Djerba is speculated to have been the island of the [[lotus-eaters]]<ref name=EB1911/><ref>Polybius; Strabo 1.2.17.</ref> where [[Odysseus]] was stranded on his voyage through the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Djerba was known as the island of Lytos in the time of the Greeks. It was possible to locate one of its villages from the Qantara Tower, and the name Djerba was given to the area near Houmt Souk. 

=== Antiquity ===
The [[Berbers]] are indigenous to the [[Maghreb]]. They inhabited the coasts and mountains and worked in [[cultivating]] the land. Their [[home]]s are caves and houses carved or built from stones and mud, or straw and tree branches in the form of huts on top of the mountains and [[plateau]]s. Others lived a [[nomad]]ic lifestyle, traveling with their livestock, and they lived under tents. Some sects of them lived by the means of [[plundering]]. Others still lived in populous cities that they built, as proven by [[Ibn Khaldun]] and others. Ibn Khaldun says in the history of Ibn Khaldun, Part One. - 8 of 258:

{{Blockquote|text=″Africa and the [[Maghreb]], when the Banu Hilal and Banu Sulaym crossed into it at the beginning of the fifth century (hijri) and invaded it for three hundred and fifty years, were destroyed and all of its areas returned to ruin, after the entire area between the Sudan and the Roman Sea had been built up, as evidenced by the traces of construction in it, including monuments, building statues, and evidence of villages and homes.″|author=}}

Their clothing consists of striped woolen fabric and a black robe. They wear a cordon and a robe. They shave their heads and do not cover them with anything, and they cover their faces with a sham, which is still in practice today. They eat koski, speak and write Challah, and some people, especially in southern Tunisia, such as the mountains of Matmata and Doueirat, still use this language when communicating: it is a distinct language in itself, known from ancient times and frequent until now, and it has its own popular oral literature.

Djerba was settled by different people in antiquity, first by the Greek and later by the [[Phoenicia]]ns in the 12th century BC. who came from Tyre and Sidon. During this period, trade flourished in Djerba, thus spreading the pottery industry and the manufacture of [[Purple Dye|purple dye]], which historians mentioned was comparable to, if not superior to, the purple of Tyre, and was sold at the highest prices. It seems clear that the Phoenicians were the ones who introduced the planting of olive trees, thus spreading the industry of olive pressing.

After the Phoenicians came the Romans, and the island witnessed great prosperity during the Roman era, the urban effects of which still indicate it today. In the fifth century, the [[Vandals]], a Germanic tribe who had emigrated to the Maghreb in 429 AD, conquered the island under the leadership of its king, [[Gaiseric]].

=== Middle Ages ===
==== Islamic conquest ====
During the [[Early Muslim conquests]] by the Arabs, Djerba was among the places included in the Arab conquest at the hands of [[Ruwayfi ibn Thabit|Ruwayfi ibn Thabit al-Ansari]] in the year 665 during the invasion of Tunisia by [[Mu'awiya ibn Hudaij]], in which the Ibadi sect prevailed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=صحابة زاروا تونس : رويفع بن ثابت الأنصاري (القائد الزاهد المتوكل على الله) |language=ar |url=https://www.turess.com/alchourouk/561126 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=turess.com}}</ref>

Then it became "Afriqiya" after its conquest under the rule of the governors, and their reign lasted for nearly a century from 716 to 800. The state went through several disturbances until the [[Aghlabid dynasty|Aghlabid state]], which was in dispute with the [[Rustamid dynasty|Rustumid state]] in Algeria. Djerba was sometimes subordinate to the Aghlabids and sometimes to the Rustamids, but it was always semi-independent, until the establishment of the [[Fatimid Caliphate]], which controlled the area from 909 to 972. The island then became part of the possession of emir [[Buluggin ibn Ziri|Bulukīn ibn Zīrī]] al-Sanhaji, whom [[al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah|al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi]] appointed as ruler of [[Ifriqiya]] after the [[Fatimids]] moved their capital to [[Cairo]].

The Sanhaji state went through two successive stages: an era of prosperity and an era of turmoil. In the first stage, Kairouan experienced prosperity for 78 years until the arrival of the [[Banu Hilal|Hilalids]] in the year 1049. As for the second stage, Djerba suffered many calamities due to the invasions it was exposed to. Perhaps the most prominent of these was when “[[Roger II of Sicily|Rogar al-Narmandi]]”, conquered the stronghold in 1135 in response to repeated piracy in the Mediterranean. After its subjugation, the town's women and children were sent to Sicily, despite the violent resistance shown by the pirate lords and local folk. Djerba remained under [[Kingdom of Africa|Norman occupation]] from 1135 to 1159. Over two decades later however, while the Normans and their ruler [[William I of Sicily|William I]], were primarily focused on their [[Byzantine–Norman wars|massive invasion of the Byzantine Empire in 1185]], the [[Almohad Caliphate]], with its origins in the sandy deserts of [[Morocco]], "woke up from its slumber and remembered that its enemy was sitting on a cherished piece of its soil. It prepared a large army in a huge fleet, forced the Frankish garrison to withdraw, and the island entered the rule of the Almohads." The control of the island later passed down to the [[Berbers|Berber]] [[Hafsid dynasty]] by early 13th century.

==== From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century ====
The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] entered a part of Africa in 1574 and made it an Ottoman province, similar to what they did in the Central Maghreb in 1519-1520 and in Tripoli in 1551. However, this Tunisian province, which was formed at a later date, soon developed its political system before its Algerian and Tripolitan neighbors since the late 16th century. At that time, the rule of the Dey with sole authority appeared (in the first half of the 17th century), then a semi-monarchical hereditary system during the era of the Muradid Beys (1628-1702) and then the Husseinis (after 1705). These Husseinis succeeded in building the edifice of a state firmly established in the country and enjoying broad independence from external powers (Istanbul or the Dey of Algiers), especially during the reign of Hammuda Pasha (1782-1814).

The two giant empires - the Ottoman and the Spanish - took advantage of the weakness of the Hafsid state to intervene in Tunisia from 1534-1535. In addition to the island of Djerba, Darguth Pasha was able to occupy Gafsa in 1556 and Kairouan (the capital of the Almoravid Emirate of Chabia) in 1557, and the Bayler Bey (Supreme Commander) “Ali Pasha” or “Alaj Ali” entered the city of Tunis. In 1569, before the Spanish evacuated him from it in 1573.

The Ottoman Sultan Selim II decided to eradicate the Spaniards from Tunisia for strategic reasons (monitoring the southern bank of the Strait of Sicily), political reasons (completed the occupation of the countries of this bank from Egypt to the borders of the Far Maghreb), and religious reasons (jihad was one of the constants of Ottoman policy). With the help of the people, the Ottomans were able to storm the huge fortress of La Goulette, then seize Tunis and completely eliminate the Spanish presence during the summer of 1574.

The modern era opened with a deep crisis in all Maghrebian countries, including Tunisia, which ended with the Ottomans’ accession there and its transformation into an Ottoman province.

However, its political system quickly developed during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries into an independent “semi-national monarchy” with only formal ties of loyalty to Istanbul. They control (varyingly according to the regions and groups) a specific space that is different from the space of the neighbouring provinces.

Then Tunisia fell into the trap of colonialism, as German Chancellor Bismarck declared to the French ambassador in Berlin (January 4, 1879): “The Tunisian pear has ripened and it is time for you to pick it...” Indeed, since the first third of the nineteenth century, the conditions of the Tunisian province have gradually deteriorated and worsened under the pressure of the rising European expansionist powers, until the province stabilized in a comprehensive crisis that facilitated the French intervention in 1881.

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the island witnessed radical transformations, and perhaps the most prominent thing that distinguishes this era is the migration of its people to engage in trade in some Islamic cities and Tunisian cities. During the period of French rule, the people of the island had an effective contribution to the Tunisian national movement. Following independence, Djerba became one of the most prominent Tunisian tourist attractions and a destination for tourists from all over the world.

=== Since 1881 ===
The island was subjected to attacks by [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt]]. It was also damaged as a result of Yunus Bey’s invasion of it in the year 1738 AD, and it was damaged by the epidemics of 1705 and 1706, 1809, 1864, and its economy was greatly damaged, then it suffered under the yoke of French colonialism in 1881 AD, until it gained its independence in 1956 AD.

==== Demands to become a “Tunisian Governorate” ====
The island of Djerba is administratively affiliated with the governorate of Medenine, but some people on the island have been demanding since the January 2011 revolution for secession from the governorate of Medenine and for Djerba to become the twenty-fifth Tunisian governorate, which did not resonate with Tunisian officials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-04 |title=جربة: الأهالي يطالبون بإعلان الجزيرة ولاية |url=https://www.shemsfm.net/amp/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9/280509/%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=2024-04-04 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204185402/https://www.shemsfm.net/amp/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B3_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9/280509/%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9 |url-status=dead |website=shemsfm.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-04 |title=المنعرج الحاسم في ملف "جربة الولاية رقم 25" - أنباء تونس |language=ar |url=http://www.kapitalis.com/anbaa-tounes/2021/05/20/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204190200/http://www.kapitalis.com/anbaa-tounes/2021/05/20/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85/ |url-status=live |website=kapitalis.com |last1=Kefi |first1=Ridha }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-13 |title=هل من المشروع المطالبة بإحداث ولاية جربة؟ - أنباء تونس |language=ar |url=http://www.kapitalis.com/anbaa-tounes/2020/04/25/%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%B1/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813022049/http://www.kapitalis.com/anbaa-tounes/2020/04/25/%D9%87%D9%84-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A5%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AB-%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%B1/ |url-status=live |website=kapitalis.com |last1=Kefi |first1=Ridha }}</ref>

=== Jewish history ===
{{summarize section|date=January 2019}}
{{See also|History of the Jews in Djerba}}
According to their oral history, the Jewish minority has dwelled on the island continuously for more than 2,500 years, following the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem .<ref name=rishonim>{{cite book | last = Teich | first = Shmuel | title = The Rishonim | publisher = Mesorah Publications | date = 1982 | location = Brooklyn, New York | isbn = 978-0-89906-452-9 }}</ref><ref name=report>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90222.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Tunisia]. United States [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] (14 September 2007). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref> The first physical evidence that historians know of comes from the 11th century, and was found in [[Cairo Geniza]].<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|title=The Last Arab Jews: The Communities of Jerba, Tunisia|last1=Udovitch|first1=Abraham L.|last2=Valensi|first2=Lucette|publisher=Harwood Academic Publishers|year=1984|isbn=978-3-7186-0135-6|location=London, England|pages=8–11, 24–25}}</ref> The descendants of this community still live in Houmt Souk.

This community is unique in the Jewish diaspora for its unusually high percentage of [[Kohen|Kohenim]], direct [[patrilineal]] descendants of [[Aaron]], the first high priest from Mosaic times.<ref name=":03" /> Local tradition holds that when [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] levelled [[Solomon's Temple|Solomon's temple]] and laid waste to Judah and the city of Jerusalem in the year 586 BC, the Kohenim who settled in Djerba were among the refugees who were able to avoid slavery.<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/WATCH-Candle-lighting-in-Djerba-a-Jewish-community-to-admire-518201|title=WATCH: Candle lighting in Djerba – a Jewish community to admire – Diaspora – Jerusalem Post|website=jpost.com|date=16 December 2017 |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref>

A key point in this oral history has been backed up by genetic tests for [[Y-chromosomal Aaron|Cohen modal haplotype]] showing that the vast majority of male Jews on Djerba claiming the family status of Cohen had a common ancient male ancestor which matches that of nearly all of both historically European and Middle Eastern Jewish males with a family history of patrilineal membership in the Jewish priestly caste.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.languagesoftheworld.info/southwest-asia-and-north-africa/tunisias-diverse-djerba-island-and-its-annual-jewish-pilgrimage.html|title=Tunisia's Diverse Djerba Island and Its Annual Jewish Pilgrimage|date=2 June 2015|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> Thus, the island has been known by many Jews as the island of the Kohenim. According to the legend, during the destruction of the temple, the Kohenim, who were serving the temple at the time of destruction escaped from Jerusalem and found themselves on the island of Djerba.<ref name=":03"/> The legend claims the Kohenim carried the door and some stones from the Temple in Jerusalem which they then incorporated into the "marvelous synagogue", also known as [[El Ghriba synagogue|Ghriba]], which still stands in Djerba.<ref name=":03"/>

The Jewish community differs from others in Djerba in their dress, personal names and accents. The Jewish rabbinate of Djerba have established an [[eruv]], which establishes the communal area in the city in which Jews can freely carry objects between their homes and community buildings on [[Shabbat]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Schroeter|first=Daniel|date=1985|title=Review of The Last Arab Jews: The Communities of Jerba, Tunisia, (Social Orders 1.)|journal=Middle East Studies Association Bulletin|volume=19|issue=1|pages=63–64|jstor=23057816|doi=10.1017/S0026318400014905|s2cid=164480553 }}</ref> Some traditions that are distinctive of the Jewish Djerba community is the [[kiddush]] prayer said on the eve of [[Passover]] and a few prophetic passages on certain Shabbats of the year.<ref name=":03"/>

One of the community's synagogues, the [[El Ghriba synagogue]], has been in continuous use for over 2,000 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162940|title=Tunisian Cleric Says Jews are Apes|website=Israel National News|date=7 December 2012 |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> The Jews were settled in two main communities: the Hara Kabira ("the big quarter";Arabic:"الحاره الكبيرة") and the Hara Saghira ("the small quarter";Arabic:" الحاره الصّغيرة"). The Hara Saghira identified itself with Israel, while the Hara Kabira identified with Spain and Morocco.<ref name="SpectorWigoder2001">{{cite book|last1=Spector|first1=Shmuel |last2=Wigoder|first2=Geoffrey|title=The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust: A-J|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MFn3KeENnA0C&pg=PA312|year=2001|publisher=NYU Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-8147-9376-3|page=312}}</ref>

The next influx of Jewish people to the Island of Djerba occurred during the Spanish Inquisition, when the Iberian Jewish population was expelled.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Behind The Headlines: Amid Sea of Muslim Neighbors, Tunisia Jews Observe Traditions|last=Widman|first=Miriam|date=19 December 1994|work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}</ref> The Jewish population hit its peak during the time that Tunisia was fighting for independence from France 1881–1956.<ref name=":1"/> In 1940, there were approximately 100,000 Jewish-Tunisians or 15% of the entire population of Tunisia.<ref name=":1"/>

In the aftermath of World War II, the Jewish population on the island declined significantly due to [[Aliyah|emigration to Israel]] and France. {{As of|2011}}, the Jewish permanent resident community on the island numbered about 1,000,<ref name="report"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Ettinger |first=Yair |url=http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/sociologist-claude-sitbon-do-the-jews-of-tunisia-have-reason-to-be-afraid-1.337440 |title=Sociologist Claude Sitbon, do the Jews of Tunisia have reason to be afraid? |work=Haaretz|date=17 January 2011 |access-date=4 October 2012}}</ref> but many return annually on pilgrimage. However, once the State of Israel was established, and political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa was building up many Jewish people were expelled from Tunisia.<ref name=":1"/> Although the Jewish community of Tunisia was on the decline, the Jewish community of Hara Kebira witnessed an increase of population due to its traditional character.<ref name=":1"/> The community on Djerba remains one of the last remaining fully intact Jewish communities in a Muslim majority country. The most traditionally observant Jewish community is growing because of large natural families despite emigration and a new [[Orthodox Jewish]] school for girls has recently been inaugurated on the Island to serve alongside the two boys [[yeshiva]] schools. According to ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' "Relations between Jews and Muslims are complex—proper and respectful, though not especially close. Jewish men work alongside Muslim merchants in the [[souk]], for example, and enjoy amicable ties with Muslim customers."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/insular-jewish-community-of-djerba-tunisia-has-weathered-revolution-and-terrorism-but-can-it-survive-girls-education-1423869146|title=Tunisian Jewish Enclave Weathers Revolt, Terror; Can It Survive Girls' Education?|first=Lucette|last=Lagnado|date=13 February 2015|access-date=6 December 2018|via=www.wsj.com|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
[[File:Lag BaOmer.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Lag BaOmer festival in Djerba's El Ghriba synagogue|Lag BaOmer festival in Djerba]]
The historical conflicts between Muslims and Jewish people have been largely absent in Djerba. This is reportedly attributed due to all the people of the island being at some point Jewish, and therefore share similar practices in their ways of life.<ref name=":03"/> Some of these Jewish practices that can be seen in Muslim households in Djerba are the lighting of candles on Friday night, and the suspending of [[matzot]] on the ceiling from one spring to the next.<ref name=":03"/> The Jewish and Muslim communities have coexisted peacefully in Djerba despite political unrest regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The people of Djerba say that the two communities simply pray in different places, but are still able to converse.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title=Tunisian Jews Enjoy Religious Tolerance and Peace In Djerba|last=Hanley|first=Delinda C.|date=December 2003|work=The Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs|issue=10|volume=22|pages=46–49}}</ref> A Jewish leader once stated "We live together, We visit our friends on their religious holidays. We work together. Muslims buy meat from our butchers. When we are forbidden to work or cook on the Shabbat, we buy bread and [[kosher food]] cooking by Muslims. Our children play together".<ref name=":2" />

On 11 April 2002, [[Al-Qaeda]] claimed responsibility for a [[Ghriba synagogue bombing|truck bomb attack]] close to the famous synagogue, killing 21 people (14 German tourists, 5 Tunisians and 2 French nationals).<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7812187.stm Tunisian bomb attack trial opens], BBC.co.UK; accessed 28 July 2020.</ref>

Since the "[[Arab Spring]]", the Tunisian government has extended its protection and encouraged Jewish life on the island of Djerba.<ref name="jpost.com"/> Citing the long and unique Jewish history on Djerba, Tunisia has sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the island.<ref name="whc.unesco.org"/> There are currently 14 synagogues, 2 [[Yeshiva|yeshivot]] and 3 kosher restaurants.<ref name="jpost.com"/>

A Jewish school on the island was [[firebombing|firebombed]] during the [[2018 Tunisian protests|national protests held in 2018]], while security forces in Djerba were reduced, being preoccupied with protection efforts elsewhere.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Tunisian Jewish school attacked as anti-government protests rage elsewhere|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-protests/protests-hit-tunisia-for-third-night-as-pm-warns-of-clampdown-idUSKBN1EZ0OI|newspaper=Reuters|date=11 January 2018}}</ref> This attack was among many other uprisings that were occurring throughout Tunisia at the time.<ref name=":0" />

On 9 May 2023, [[El Ghriba Synagogue]] was the target of a [[2023 Djerba synagogue shooting|mass shooting]] on a large gathering of Jewish pilgrims that takes place every year at the synagogue. Five people were killed including: two Jewish cousins, a Jewish-French tourist, and two Tunisian security guards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-09 |title=5 killed in shooting near Lag Ba'omer fest at ancient synagogue in Tunisia |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-742572 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Ecclesiastical history ===
[[File:Église Saint-Joseph de Djerba 02.jpg|thumb|right|Saint Joseph Catholic Church in [[Houmt El Souk]]]]
The city Girba in the [[Roman province]] of [[Tripolitania]] (mostly in modern Libya), which gave its name to the island, was important enough to become a [[suffragan bishop]] of its capital's archbishopric. Known Bishops of antiquity include:
* Proculus (Maximus Bishop fl.393)
* [[Quodvultdeus]] (Catholic Bishop fl.401–411) attending [[Council of Carthage (411)]] 
* Euasius (Donatist Bishop fl.411) rival at Council of Carthage
* Urbanus (Catholic bishop fl.445–454)
* Faustinus (Catholic bishop [[floruit|fl. 484]]), exiled by King [[Huneric]] of the [[Vandal Kingdom]]
* Vincentius (Catholic bishop fl. 523–525)

The 1909 ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' lists only two: "At least two bishops of Girba are known, Monnulus and Vincent, who assisted at the Councils, of Carthage in 255 and 525".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last=Vailhé|first=S.|date=1909|title=Girba|encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia|location=New York|publisher=Robert Appleton Company|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06570c.htm}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Djerba has a hot [[desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BWh'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif|title=World map of Köppen-Geiger climate classification|website=koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at|access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref> that borders on a hot [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'').

{{Weather box
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|location = Djerba (1981–2010, extremes 1898–present)
|Jan record high C = 31.8
|Feb record high C = 35.2
|Mar record high C = 35.0
|Apr record high C = 38.6
|May record high C = 43.7
|Jun record high C = 46.0
|Jul record high C = 46.1
|Aug record high C = 46.3
|Sep record high C = 42.8
|Oct record high C = 42.3
|Nov record high C = 34.4
|Dec record high C = 28.6
|year record high C = 46.3
|Jan high C = 16.5
|Feb high C = 17.8
|Mar high C = 20.3
|Apr high C = 23.1
|May high C = 26.6
|Jun high C = 30.0
|Jul high C = 32.9
|Aug high C = 33.5
|Sep high C = 30.9
|Oct high C = 27.6
|Nov high C = 22.4
|Dec high C = 17.8
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 12.9
|Feb mean C = 13.7
|Mar mean C = 15.8
|Apr mean C = 18.3
|May mean C = 21.8
|Jun mean C = 25.2
|Jul mean C = 27.8
|Aug mean C = 28.7
|Sep mean C = 26.7
|Oct mean C = 23.4
|Nov mean C = 18.6
|Dec mean C = 14.5
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 9.2
|Feb low C = 9.6
|Mar low C = 11.6
|Apr low C = 14.2
|May low C = 17.5
|Jun low C = 20.8
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 24.3
|Sep low C = 22.8
|Oct low C = 19.5
|Nov low C = 14.7
|Dec low C = 11.0
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 0.0
|Feb record low C = 1.0
|Mar record low C = 4.0
|Apr record low C = 5.0
|May record low C = 6.0
|Jun record low C = 12.0
|Jul record low C = 15.0
|Aug record low C = 14.0
|Sep record low C = 14.0
|Oct record low C = 10.0
|Nov record low C = 3.0
|Dec record low C = 1.0
|year record low C = 0.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 27.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 14.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 15.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 11.8
|May precipitation mm = 5.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 1.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 20.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 36.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 27.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 41.3
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 3.4
|Feb precipitation days = 3.1
|Mar precipitation days = 2.7
|Apr precipitation days = 1.8
|May precipitation days = 1.1
|Jun precipitation days = 0.5
|Jul precipitation days = 0.0
|Aug precipitation days = 0.1
|Sep precipitation days = 2.1
|Oct precipitation days = 3.5
|Nov precipitation days = 2.8
|Dec precipitation days = 3.5
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan humidity = 69
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 66
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 65
|Jun humidity = 66
|Jul humidity = 63
|Aug humidity = 65
|Sep humidity = 69
|Oct humidity = 68
|Nov humidity = 67
|Dec humidity = 70
|year humidity = 67
|Jan sun = 208.5
|Feb sun = 214.9
|Mar sun = 247.1
|Apr sun = 275.5
|May sun = 311.3
|Jun sun = 336.0
|Jul sun = 369.5
|Aug sun = 348.3
|Sep sun = 262.8
|Oct sun = 242.2
|Nov sun = 212.8
|Dec sun = 206.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 6.7
|Febd sun = 7.4
|Mard sun = 7.9
|Aprd sun = 8.8
|Mayd sun = 10.1
|Jund sun = 10.7
|Juld sun = 12.1
|Augd sun = 11.3
|Sepd sun = 9.2
|Octd sun = 8.0
|Novd sun = 7.1
|Decd sun = 6.6
|yeard sun = 8.8
|source 1 = Institut National de la Météorologie (precipitation days/humidity 1961–1990)<ref name=IMN1>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191219211209/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/9e1ed3a1-69f5-4ef9-a05e-daa8126fdb7c/resource/acf0d32e-92b3-4247-9281-1b3a1587d23f/download/normales_1981_2010.txt
| archive-date = 19 December 2019
| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/9e1ed3a1-69f5-4ef9-a05e-daa8126fdb7c/resource/acf0d32e-92b3-4247-9281-1b3a1587d23f
| title = Les normales climatiques en Tunisie entre 1981 2010
| publisher = Ministère du Transport
| language = fr
| access-date = 20 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMN2>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221032155/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/c8d4b465-056c-41e2-a666-05160d19784e/resource/3d38ac83-8a3c-4207-b327-9684131292b3/download/normales_1961_1990.txt
| archive-date = 21 December 2019
| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/normales-climatiques-en-tunisie-entre-1961-1990/resource/3d38ac83-8a3c-4207-b327-9684131292b3
| title = Données normales climatiques 1961–1990
| publisher = Ministère du Transport
| language = fr
| access-date = 20 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMNextremes>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221032448/http://data.transport.tn/dataset/b19bf5d3-5f47-43a3-befc-80a4f4f1d267/resource/0f4ff280-9f86-4e4f-bc18-29df886c2a30/download/extremes.txt
| archive-date = 21 December 2019
| url = http://data.transport.tn/dataset/extremes-climatiques-en-tunisie/resource/0f4ff280-9f86-4e4f-bc18-29df886c2a30
| title = Les extrêmes climatiques en Tunisie
| publisher = Ministère du Transport
| language = fr
| access-date = 20 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMNclimate>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221032448/https://www.meteo.tn/index.php/donnees-climatiques | archive-date = 21 December 2019 | url = https://www.meteo.tn/index.php/donnees-climatiques | title = Période ensoleillée 1981-2010 climatiques en Tunisie | work = Institut National de la Météorologie | publisher = Ministère du Transport | language = fr | access-date = 26 December 2019}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|name=Station ID|The Station ID for Djerba is 57070211.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.transport.tn/dataset/reseau-des-stations-meteorologiques-synoptiques/resource/9d68c101-4789-4e6a-bdff-8952d727c0c1 |title=Réseau des stations météorologiques synoptiques de la Tunisie |publisher=Ministère du Transport |language=fr |access-date=20 January 2020}}</ref>}}
|source 2 = NOAA (humidity and daily sun 1961–1990),<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-I/TS/60769.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Jerba Climate Normals 1961–1990
| access-date = 24 January 2015}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1167
| title = Station Djerba
| publisher = Météo Climat
| language = fr
| access-date = 13 July 2017}}</ref>
|date=January 2015
}}

{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Colspan=14|Climate data for Djerba
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C (°F)
|style="background:#F0F0FF;color:#000000;"|16.0<br />(61.0)
|style="background:#E1E1FF;color:#000000;"|15.0<br />(59.0)
|style="background:#F0F0FF;color:#000000;"|16.0<br />(61.0)
|style="background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;"|17.0<br />(63.0)
|style="background:#FFD755;color:#000000;"|19.0<br />(66.0)
|style="background:#FF9C00;color:#000000;"|22.0<br />(72.0)
|style="background:#FF4E00;color:#000000;"|26.0<br />(79.0)
|style="background:#FF2700;color:#FFFFFF;"|28.0<br />(82.0)
|style="background:#FF3A00;color:#FFFFFF;"|27.0<br />(81.0)
|style="background:#FF6200;color:#000000;"|25.0<br />(77.0)
|style="background:#FF9C00;color:#000000;"|22.0<br />(72.0)
|style="background:#FFEBAA;color:#000000;"|18.0<br />(64.0)
|style="background:#FFB200;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|20.9<br />(69.8)
|-
!Mean daily daylight hours
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#F7F722;color:#000000;"|11.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;"|12.0
|style="background:#FFFF44;color:#000000;"|13.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF55;color:#000000;"|14.0
|style="background:#FFFF44;color:#000000;"|13.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;"|12.0
|style="background:#F7F722;color:#000000;"|11.0
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#F0F011;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#FFFF33;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|12.0
|-
!Average [[Ultraviolet index]]
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|6
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|8
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|9
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|10
|style="background:#6b49c8;color:#000000;"|11
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|10
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|8
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|6
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|6.8
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source #1: Weather2Travel (sea temperature) <ref name="Weather2Travel">{{Cite web |url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/tunisia/djerba.php |title=Djerba Climate and Weather Averages, Tunisia |publisher=Weather2Travel |access-date=19 July 2014 }}</ref>
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source #2: Weather Atlas <ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/tunisia/djerba-climate |title=Djerba, Tunisia – Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=4 April 2017 }}</ref>
|}

==Migratory bird sanctuary==
Djerba Bin El Ouedian is a [[wetland]] and habitat for migratory birds. It is located at 33 ° 40 'N, 10 ° 55 'E. On 7 November 2007 the wetland was included on the list of [[Ramsar sites in Tunisia|Ramsar sites]] under the [[Ramsar Convention]], due to its importance as a [[bird sanctuary|bird refuge]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ramsar.org/wetland/tunisia?site=44200#map-leaflet|title=Tunisia – Ramsar|website=www.ramsar.org|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Africa}}
* [[European enclaves in North Africa before 1830]]
* [[Borj El Kebir]]
* [[Menachem Mazuz]], former [[Attorney General of Israel]] & supreme judge
* [[Yael Shelbia]], Israeli model, descendant of Djerba inhabitants 
* [[Djerba–Zarzis International Airport]]
* [[Menzel (Djerba)|''Menzel'' (Djerba)]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage|Djerba}}
{{Catholic|wstitle=Girba}}
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t0872.htm GigaCatholic with titular see incumbent biography links]

{{World Heritage Sites in Tunisia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Djerba| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Medenine Governorate]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek geography of North Africa]]
[[Category:Catholic titular sees in Africa|Girba]]
[[Category:Historic Jewish communities]]
[[Category:Islands of Tunisia]]
[[Category:Jewish Tunisian history]]
[[Category:Mediterranean islands]]
[[Category:Ottoman Tunisia]]