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Moknine at Moknine, Tunisia
Jews are traditionally thought to have settled in Moknine in 1550 when Jews from Mahdia escaped Spanish persecution by seeking asylum from the Arabs of Moknine. This led to the establishment of a Jewish community and by the mid-19th century, there were 100 families living in Moknine.
Description
Jewish Community: The Jewish community of Moknine lived in the Jewish quarter of the city and mainly worked as traders and craftsmen. Traders were active in the trade of wool, oils, and skins and imported fabrics and spices. The craftsmen worked primarily as cobblers, carpenters, tinsmiths, silversmiths, and goldsmiths. The city of Moknine had two established synagogues. The older synagogue was built in the 19th century and the newer and larger synagogue was built after World War I. These two places of worship were relatively close to each other and acted as community centers for the Jewish population. The Jewish community also had an established cemetery where kabbalist Rabbi Pinhas Wazan was buried and the sited attracted pilgrims twice a year.
Zionist Activity: In 1918 a Zionist group known as Agudat Israel was established in Moknine. The main objective of this group was to collect donations for the Jewish national fund and find members for their cause. Zionist activity was significantly reduced by 1934 as a result of violent anti-Semitic demonstrations by the local Muslim population. While local authorities prevented a pogrom from occurring these events incited fear in the Jewish community. During World War II Zionist activity in North Africa came to an almost complete halt but resumed after the defeat of the Germans in North Africa and continued till 1948 when the state of Israel was established.
The Jewish Community During WWII: By 1940 the city of Moknine came under the rule of the pro-Nazi Vichy government and while Jews were relatively safe in Moknine, they experienced great emotional distress as the local Muslim population became more hostile. The German occupation of Moknine lasted from 1942 to 1943 and during this period the city became a refuge for Jews from Sousse, who were fleeing air raids, forced labor, and imposed identification. As a result of this migration, the Jewish population surged from 700 to 2,0001. During the later half of the German occupation in 1943 men in Moknine ages, 18-45 were eventually forced to perform conscripted labor for the Germans in Sousse. After the war ended in 1945 only 600 Jews remained in Moknine2. From 1948-1952 a majority of the remaining community immigrated to Israel and by 1956 the Jewish population numbered 152 people.
Moknine, Tunisia
© Mapbox, © OpenStreetMap
Sources
Notes
1 ANU Museum
2 ANU Museum
3 ANU Museum
Works Cited
1. “The Jewish Community of Moknine.” ANU Museum of the Jewish People. Accessed August 2, 2022. https://dbs.anumuseum.org.il/skn/en/c6/e123146/Place/Moknine.