A landmark on the island of Djerba since the 7th century BC, the La Griba synagogue is the venue for an annual pilgrimage on the Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer. However, procedings could not be further from traditional Jewish celebrations.
Legend has it that Jewish settlers first arrived on Djerba after the destruction of Jerusalem's First Temple. They refused to return to Jerusalem when Ezra arrived to announce the temple's reconstruction, placing a curse on Ezra and electing to remain on the island. A Jewish community still exists in the villages of Hara Kbira and Er Riadh.
While the Jewish world commemorates Lag B'Omer with bonfires and prayer, Djerba stages a procession which attracts thousands of international pilgrims. Within the synagogue a shrine, said to contain a stone from the First Temple, is filled with eggs (said to guarantee fertility for the women who place them there). Outside, a towering wooden monument is wheeled through the streets, covered in fabric offerings, as pilgrims throng in its wake.
This remarkable event is a wonderful chance to capture the historical energy of the dwindling Jewish population on an island where identikit beach resorts are becoming the norm.
Event details can change. Please check with the organisers that the event is happening before making travel arrangements.
