El Ghriba Synagogue

About

The roots of the El Ghriba Synagogue are said to stretch back to the 6th century BC, when priests from the Temple of Jerusalem settled on the Island of Djerba after fleeing the Babylonians. The current temple was built at the end of the 19th century on the site of an earlier building. With a modest facade, the interior is richly decorated with colorful tiles and hand-painted accents. Throughout, you’ll find analogies to the Jewish faith, such as the 12 original windows in the main hall representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and the missing third column- said to be a reminder of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem. Beneath the holy arc is a recess marking the spot where the body of a girl was supposedly found. Another legend says that a stone or a door from Solomon's Temple or the Second Temple was used in the building. Please note: appropriate dress is required to enter - you will be supplied with a headscarf if you don’t have one.