Tunisia and its Jewish Communities: Past and Present

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Tunisia Schedule By Day
Tunisia Tour Hotels
Scholars and Tour Leader

Meals included in the tour are indicated in parentheses at the end of each day's activities.

SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 28
Depart U.S.A.

Thursday, April 29
Arrive in Tunis
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel in the northern seaside area of Tunis, less than 10 minutes from Carthage. For those who are energetic, some light afternoon touring will begin. Overnight at Les Residence in Tunis. (D)

Friday, April 30
Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said
Visit 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. Next, you will be driving to the suburbs of Tunis to visit Carthage, the most famous of the ancient sites in Tunisia, and one in which historians find traces of Jewish presence. Following the visit to the ruins of this ancient Phoenician city, continue to the nearby picturesque village of Sidi Bou Said, whose architecture was inspired by its Andalusian settlers. In the evening attend services at Beit Mordechai Synagogue in La Goulette, a suburb of Tunis followed by dinner. Overnight at Les Residence in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Saturday, May 1
Shabbat in Tunis
The morning is unstructured. For those who would like to attend Shabbat services, arrangements will be made. Others can relax at the hotel or spend time exploring. In the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of parts of central Tunis. Dinner is at a special venue. Overnight at Les Residence in Tunis. (B, D)

Sunday, May 2
Lag B'Omer in Djerba
Depart this morning on a flight to the island of Djerba. In the Jewish calendar, it is the 18th of Iyar, the beginning of the Jewish festival of Lag B'Omer. While the festival is not celebrated much 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. Join the Djerban Jews in the procession of the community's Grande Menara, a huge candelabrum, to the Ghriba Synagogue, with literally thousands of Jews visiting the island from Israel, France and elsewhere. Pilgrims and indigenous Djerbans, both Jew and non-Jew participate. Unlike other activities throughout the year in Djerba, Jewish men and women together participate in the pilgrimage. Speeches, songs, processions and lots of festive activity will be taking place. Dinner will be at the hotel. Overnight at SAS Radisson in Djerba. (B, D)

Monday, May 3
Djerba and its Jewish Villages
Start the day with an island tour of Djerba and a walking tour of the village of Hara Kabira, the largest of the island's two Jewish villages. Hara Kabira has nearly a dozen synagogues, most of which are still in use today. You will have the opportunity to visit some and tour the Jewish community bakery to hear about its role in holiday and Shabbat meals. You will also learn about the active role of Jewish education in Djerba. Next you'll go to Houmt Souk, Djerba's main market town and the location of many of Djerba's Jewish merchants. After a walking tour of Houmt Souk and its souk (market), you can explore independently, enjoy lunch at one of the many seafood restaurants or return to the hotel to relax. The remainder of the afternoon is unstructured. Dinner and overnight at SAS Radisson. (B, D)

Tuesday, May 4
Dougga and the Medjez Valley
This morning you will fly back to Tunis and depart for Dougga, the most extensive Roman site in Tunisia, featuring a restored theatre, the remains of a town brothel and an intriguing Libyco-Punic mausoleum. Lunch will be eaten on the return trip at a farm in the Medjez Valley. Return to Tunis late in the day. Final farewell dinner in a special restaurant. Overnight at Tunisia Palace Golden Yasmin in Tunis. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, May 5
Departure
Those continuing to Israel for the AABGU culinary tour will be transferred to the airport together. Those traveling elsewhere will be transferred individually to the airport at the appropriate times.

HOTELS

La Residence (Tunis)
Widely considered the finest hotel in Tunisia, and located on the golden sandy beaches of the Mediterranean, La Residence was built in the grand tradition of the Arab-Andalusian style. The property includes beautiful rooms, world-class thalasso therapy and spa facilities and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.
www.theresidence.com/tunis/vuk/index.html

SAS Radisson (Djerba)
Opened in 2006, The Radisson offers a chic interior and high-tech amenities. Located on a beautiful beach and connected to a newly refurbished thalasso and spa center, the hotel has spacious rooms, a beautiful lobby, restaurants and bars.
www.djerba.radissonsas.com

Tunisia Palace Golden Yasmin (Tunis)
Opened a few years ago, this boutique hotel is in the heart of Tunis, and just steps away from the medina, the historic heart of Tunis. Rooms are beautifully designed.
www.goldenyasmin.com/tunisia-palace/en/index.htm


SCHOLARS AND TOUR LEADER

BGU Faculty Speakers
Faculty from the BGU Departments of Politics and Government, Middle East Studies and Sociology will join the tour as guest scholars offering talks about research relating to the itinerary.

Jerry Sorkin, Tour Leader
Jerry Sorkin, a Middle East and North African specialist, will host portions of this special tour. Jerry has spent considerable time in Tunisia over nearly three decades. He is a frequent lecturer with speaking engagements that included a UNESCO-sponsored conference in Tunisia, the Smithsonian Institute, the World Affairs Council and the University of Pennsylvania's College of General Studies. Jerry is conversant in Arabic, French and Hebrew and resides part-time in Tunis, with a primary residence in Philadelphia.

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