Archive

Former Jewish Community, Zliten, Libya

Description

Zliten was home to a Jewish settlement as early as the 2nd century. However, the settlement grew substantially between the 1600s and 1800s. The Jewish community’s income came from the taxes on kosher slaughter and kosher wine. They also made money from the annual Lag Ba-Omer celebrations that took place at the Abu Shaif Synagogue for which the city is known. The celebrations were so popular that the community rented two buildings to accommodate all of the visitors (1).

Between the founding of the settlement and the growing of the community, there was a time where there was no Jewish community in Zliten. During the 12th and 13th centuries, The Almohad Dynasty (From Arabic الموحدون al-Muwahhidun, i.e. "the monotheists" or "the Unitarians") controlled Zliten. They were a Berber, Muslim dynasty that persecuted the Jewish community and led to the destruction of the community which would not be revived until the 1600s (2).

Following the establishment of direct Ottoman rule in 1835, there was an influx of Jews that settled in the streets surrounding the governor’s palace outside of the Muslim Quarter. There was tension between the Jewish and Muslim communities as a result of religious and economic differences. The Muslim community resented the commercial relations between the Jewish and European merchants. Religious tensions grew around the synagogue Abu Shaif which was located near the tomb of Sidi Abd Al-Salem, a sacred site for Muslims (3). Abu Shaif was burned down in 1868, looted in 1897, and another attempt was made to burn it in 1903. It did burn down in either 1912 or 1915 but it is believed to have been by accident (4). 

By the 1900s the Jewish community worked mostly as artisans, while the wealthier members of the community worked in trade. The head of the community at the time was Saul Shtiwi. Other leaders of the community in the 20th century were David Salhub, Huwato Ganish, and Jacob Kahlon all of whom were rabbis. Makhluf Shakir of Msellata, was the community’s last rabbi and served until the community dissolved (5).

During World War I, Arab insurgents attacked the town and looted Jewish property. Jewish institutions in the Zliten included two synagogues, a cemetery, and a chevra kadisha, and charitable organizations. The Jews evacuated Zliten under the protection of the Italians. They remained in a camp in the suburbs of the town and returned to their homes only after the Italians reoccupied the town in 1918 (6).

The Jewish community did well during the interwar period. However, Zionist activity began in Zliten in 1934 with the establishment of the Ben Yehuda. By the end of the 1930s, there were about 100 young people involved in the Zionist youth movement. They studied Hebrew and were involved in Zionist activities at their club (7).

In 1940, all Zionist activity ceased, as a result of fascist racial laws. Though only a few Jews from Zliten were conscripted for forced labor, the town’s Jews faced a number of restrictions. As a result of the discrimination they faced, most of the Jews left Zliten in 1942. They returned in 1943, after the British occupation, and a few served in the British police force (8).

On November 5, 1945, a pogrom broke out against Jews throughout Libya, including Zliten. Though Zliten’s Jews were not physically harmed a number of houses were looted or destroyed. In 1948, particularly after the establishment of the State of Israel, the relationship between the Jews and the local population deteriorated significantly. Most of Zliten’s Jews left for Tripoli in 1949. From there they continued to Israel, where they settled in Moshav Zeitan (9).

Zliten, Libya

© Mapbox, © OpenStreetMap

Gallery

‹ › ×