History of the Jews in Libya

The location ofLibyainAfrica

Thehistory of the Jews in Libyastretches back to the 3rd century BCE, whenCyrenaicawas under Greek rule. The Jewish population of Libya, a part of theSephardi-Maghrebi Jewishcommunity, continued to populate the area continuously until modern times. DuringWorld War II,Libya's Jewish population was subjected toantisemiticlawsby theFascist Italianregime and deportations byNazi Germantroops.

After the war, anti-Jewish violence caused many Jews to leave the country, principally forIsrael,though significant numbers moved to Italy and North America. Under ColonelMuammar Gaddafi,whoruled the country from 1969 to 2011,the situation deteriorated further, eventually leading to the emigration of the remaining Jewish population. The last Jew in Libya, 80-year-old Rina Debach, left the country in 2003.

Ancient history

The oldest trace of a Jewish existence in Libya appears inSirte,which some archaeological surveys made on the "Barion" region there dated its synagogue to the 10th century BCE, during KingSolomon's reign.

Ptolematic period

Jewish migration toCyrenaica,a region with significant Greek influence in what is now northeast Libya, likely stemmed from their substantial presence in neighboring Ptolemaic Egypt.AfterPtolemy I Soter's conquest ofJudea,many Jews were initially taken as captives but were later freed, while others emigrated to Egypt voluntarily, attracted by economic opportunities and Ptolemy's tolerant policies. In 312 BCE, Ptolemy settled many Jews inCyrenaicato strengthen his kingdom.

The historical record provides only limited information on the development of Jewish communities in Cyrenaica during the Ptolemaic period. One notable figure from this time isJason of Cyrene,who wrote a historical account of theMaccabean revoltduring the second century BCE. This account was later summarized in2 Maccabees.While Jason's work suggests advanced education and an interest in Jewish nationalistic causes, it is unclear whether his perspectives were representative of broader Cyrenaican Jewry. Nonetheless, his writings indicate some level of interaction between Judea and Cyrenaica during this period.

In 146 BCE inscriptions found atBenghaziand elsewhere in Libya, give details about wealthy, well established and organised Jewish communities.

Roman period

During the Roman era, Jewish communities in Cyrenaica became more prominent, with inscriptions revealing their integration into civic life. By the early imperial period, Jews held various positions within the city administrations of Cyrene and other cities. This integration is reflected in inscriptions that document Jews serving in civic roles and acquiring citizenship.

There is evidence of Jews living inBenghazifrom 13 BCE. They were considered citizens, but were ruled by a Jewisharchonunlike the rest of the Jews in that area.Ein Targhuna,nearMassah,is believed to have been a Jewish military settlement during the Roman period. The site features Jewish rock-cut tombs, a menorah carving, possibly belonging to Jewish troops relocated byAugustus.

Augustusgranted Cyrene's Jewish population certain privileges throughFlavius,the governor of the province. At the time, they maintained close contact with the Jews inJerusalem.In 73 CE, during theFirst Jewish–Roman WarinJudaea,there was also a revolt by the Jewish community in Cyrene led by Jonathan the Weaver, which was quickly suppressed by the governorCatullus.Jonathan was denounced to the governor ofPentapolis.In vengeance, the Romans killed him and many wealthy Jews in Cyrene. Several Libyan Jews from around this period are known today, such asJason of Cyrene,whose work is the source of theSecond Book of Maccabees,andSimon of Cyrene,who is believed to have carried the cross of Jesus as he was taken to hiscrucifixion.

Replica of a Roman milestone found atShahhat,with an inscription documenting the repair of a road damaged during theDiaspora Revolt(115–117 CE)

TheDiaspora Revoltof 115–117 CE saw Jewish communities in Cyrenaica,Egypt,andCyprusrising in rebellion duringTrajan's reign.This revolt had a messianic dimension, as one ancient source refers toLukuas,the leader of the Jewish rebels in Libya, as "king," suggesting that the uprising evolved from an ethnic conflict into a nationalist movement withmessianicaspirations for political independence.It is possible that the rebels in Libya, whose actions caused widespread destruction and included a raid into Egypt, were attempting to initiate a broader movement aimed at a large-scale return toJudea.Ancient sources depict the revolt as exceptionally brutal, with reports of mutilation and cannibalism; however, contemporary scholars often view these accounts as exaggerated for rhetorical effect.InCyreneand its surroundings, the revolt inflicted extensive damage on civic infrastructure, temples, and roads, necessitating substantial reconstruction byHadrianat the beginning of his reign.The revolt's suppression by Roman generalMarcius Turboresulted in widespread devastation and the near-total expulsion of Jews from Cyrenaica. While there may be some evidence of Jewish farmers in ruralMarmaricaby the end of the second century, a significant Jewish presence was not re-established in Cyrenaica until the 4th century.

According to Jewish tradition, after theBar-Kokhba revoltof 132-135 AD, the Romans deported twelve boatloads of Jews from Judea to Cyrenaica. Approximately half a million Jews are thought to have already been living there at the time.Most lived in farming villages while those by the sea were often sailors. Many others were potters, stonemasons, weavers, and merchants.

Middle Ages

The Spaniards, whoconquered Libyain 1510 and held it for a brief period, drove some of the Jews to the mountain areas ofGharianandTajura.Others were taken as prisoners and tortured under the laws of the inquisition, whilst others were taken to Naples and sold as slaves.

Modern times

Ottoman rule

During theOttoman period,Jewish families fromTripoliwere attracted to Benghazi. This period gave new life and impetus to the Libyan Jewish community.

In 1745 epidemics and poverty drove out the inhabitants, but around 1,750 members of the previous Jewish community returned and reconstructed the community, which began to flourish with the arrival of Jewish families from Italy.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Benghazi had 400 Jewish families divided into two groups, those of the town and the surrounding region and those who were born in Tripoli and Italy, they both recognised the authority of one rabbi, but each had its own synagogue.

TheMuslim brotherhood of the Sanusiyawas well-disposed toward the Jews of Benghazi, appreciating their economic-mercantile contributions and their peaceful attitude. The community enjoyed a complete freedom, and were not forced to live in a special quarter. Because of their commercial activity the town became an important trading centre for Europe and Africa.

TheSlat Abn Shaif SynagogueinZlitenbefore World War II

Italian rule

A Libyan Jewish classroom in Benghazi Synagogue before World War II

Main article:The Jews of Libya during the Holocaust

In 1903, the records of theAlliance Israelite Universelleshow 14,000 Jews living in Tripoli and 2,000 in Benghazi. In comparison to Zionist activities in other Arab countries,Zionismstarted early in Libya and was extensive, it was followed by many activities such as exchanging letters concerning Zionism matters between Benghazi and Tripoli during the period 1900–1904. An organization had been set up for the dissemination of the Hebrew in Tripoli and young people from the Benghazi community came to study there. The meeting between the young Jews of Benghazi and the Tripolitanian Zionists bore fruit in the form of a “Talmud Torah” which was an evening school in Tripoli.

Secretary of the community board of Benghazi (left) and members of the rabbinic court

In 1911, Libya was colonised byItaly.By 1931, there were 21,000 Jews living in the country (4% of the total population of 550,000), mostly inTripoli.The situation for the Jews was generally good. But, in late 1939, theFascist Italianregime began passinganti-Semiticlaws. As a result of these laws, Jews were fired from government jobs, some were dismissed from government schools, and their citizenship papers were stamped with the words "Jewish race."

In the 1920s a few incidents linked to theArab-Jewish conflict in Palestinewere reported. The incidents that occurred in Tripoli and Benghazi, those which occurred in Tripoli were not so serious compared to the ones in Benghazi. According to Gustavo Calo, the chief rabbi of Benghazi, there was actually an attempted pogrom but according to the opinion of Elia Fargion the president of the community, this assessment was exaggerated.

Data from 1931 indicates that spoken Italian was relatively widespread across the Jewish population. In Benghazi, 67.1 percent of Jewish men and 40.8 percent of Jewish women spoke Italian, compared to 34.5 percent of Arab men and 1.6 percent of Arab women.

In 1934, a chapter of Ben-Yehuda was established in Benghazi, first as a soccer team and later with cultural activities, such as the commemoration of Jewish holidays and Zionist Festivities.

In the late 1930s, Fascist anti-Jewish laws were gradually enforced, and Jews were subject to terrible repression.

Until 1936 life under Italian rule proceeded peacefully for the Jews. In 1936, however, the Italians began to enforcefascistlegislation, aimed at modernising social and economic structures, based on conditions current in Italy. With the implementation of anti-Jewish racial legislation in late 1938, Jews were removed from municipal councils, public offices, and state schools and their papers were stamped with the words "Jewish race."

Germaninfluence in Libya had been felt since 1938. However, Germany's direct involvement in the colonial authorities’ affairs and management did not completely materialise until 1941. It was only when Italy entered the war in 1940 that Libya became subjected to directFascist-Nazicollaboration and “Nazi-Style” deportations.

Despite this repression, 25% of the population of Tripoli was still Jewish in 1941 and 44 synagogues were maintained in the city.In 1942, German troops fighting theAlliesin North Africa occupied theJewish quarter of Benghazi,plundering shops and deporting more than 2,000 Jews across the desert. Sent to work inlabor camps,more than one-fifth of this group of Jews perished. Jews were concentrated in the cities of Tripoli andBenghazi,with small communities inBaydaandMisrata.

The worst experience for Libyan Jews in the war was the internment of Cyrenaican Jews inGiado,a concentration camp located 235 kilometres from Tripoli. In January 1942, the Italian authorities began to applyMussolini’s “Sfollamento” (evacuation) order to Libyan Jews. Mussolini ordered the Jews of Benghazi, Derna, Tobruk, Barce, Susa and other towns in the region to be sent to a concentration camp in Gharian in retaliation.An eyewitness described these horrifying moments: “In thesynagoguethey started hanging up lists every day of 20-30 families that had to leave...They took Jews from Benghazi and from the vicinity: Derna, Brace, Tobruk...The journey took five days. We travelled about 2,000 km. from Benghazi to Giado. They took us like animals to the slaughter house. Forty people in each truck and each truck had two Italian policemen. They took only Jews. According to the rumour it was the Germans who gave the order”.

In June 1942, the execution of Mussolini's orders was completed and all Cyrenaican Jews were transferred to Giado.

The living conditions in the camp were deplorable, bringing about infection and illness and, consequently, plagues that killed numerous people in the camp. They were buried on a valley nearby that used to be a burial place of Jews hundreds of years ago.

In addition to the camp's poor conditions, the behaviour of the Italian officers did not spare any type of humiliation, oppression and abuse, especially on Friday nights when the Maresciallo patrolled the buildings and saw the special food of the Sabbath, he used to kick it and spill it on the floor or urinate on it and thus a few families remained without food for the whole Sabbath. (4)

Allied control and after World War II

Further information:Jewish exodus from Arab and Muslim countries § Libya

On January 24, 1943, the British liberated the camp and immediately undertook emergency measures to control the plague of typhus and lice that already killed 562 of its inhabitants. TheBritish militarydecided to evacuate Giado between the spring and summer of 1943. The Jews were first evacuated from the camp to better housing in the vicinity, to receive medical care and be properly fed. Then gradually each week, a number of families was selected to be put on trucks and sent back to their homes. The expenses for transport of these Jews back to Cyrenaica and the initial assistance were financed by theAmerican Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Upon the establishment of British rule on January 23, 1943, the Jewish community was in a deplorable economic, social and psychological state. The demeaning effects of the Italian racial laws, war and concentration camps took a heavy toll on the Jewish community.

The British also boosted the spirits of the Jews with promises to repatriate them to their homes in Benghazi, and giving them the chance to rehabilitate their lives. After full repatriation of Benghazi Jews it was reported that there were 3,400 Jews in Benghazi (before the war, in June 1939 the Jewish community of Benghazi numbered 3,653).Yet many of the Jews who returned to Benghazi were unemployed, while those with jobs were unable to support themselves on what they earned. The Benghazi Jewish community suffered more than any other Jewish community in Libya since it was hit harder by the perils of war.

1945 anti-Jewish Tripolitania pogrom

Main articles:1945 Tripolitania pogromand1948 Tripoli pogrom

Some of the worst anti-Jewish violence occurred in the years following the liberation of North Africa by Allied troops. From 5 to 7 November 1945, more than 140 Jews were killed and many more injured in apogrom in Tripolitania.The rioters looted nearly all of the city's synagogues and destroyed five of them, along with hundreds of homes and businesses.In June 1948, anti-Jewish rioters killed another 12 Jews and destroyed 280 Jewish homes.This time, however, the Libyan Jewish community had prepared to defend itself. Jewish self-defence units fought back against the rioters, preventing more deaths.

Both in November 1945 and June 1948 the Jews of Benghazi did not suffer anti-Jewish pogroms at the hands of Arabs similar to the Jews of Tripoli, though small-scale incidents did occur. Thus, several Jews were beaten up in mid-June 1948, a shop was looted, and a fire broke out in a synagogue, but the local police introduced order and there was no need for the British Army to intervene.

Once emigration to Israel was permitted in early 1949, the majority of the community of 2,500 Jews in Benghazi emigrated to Israel through the end of 1951.

The general environment during the years after the emigration to Israel, was generally positive, no special events, riots or pogrom occurred during this period between 1949 and 1967 and it estimated that 200 Jews Lived in Benghazi during that time.

In the late 1940s, some 40,000 Jews lived in Libya. The Libyan Jewish community suffered great insecurity during this period. ThefoundingofIsraelin 1948, as well as Libya's independence from Italy in 1951 and subsequent admission into theArab League,led many Jews to emigrate. From 1948 to 1951, and especially after emigration became legal in 1949, 30,972 Jews moved to Israel.

Kingdom of Libya

On 31 December 1958, the Jewish Community Council was dissolved by law. In 1961, a new law was passed requiring a special permit to prove true Libyan citizenship, which was, however, denied to all but six Jewish inhabitants of the country.Additional laws were enacted allowing the seizure of property and assets of Libyan Jews who had immigrated to Israel.

In 1964, letters to US SenatorJacob Javitsfrom JewishUnited States Air Forcepersonnel serving onWheelus Air Base,a US Air Force facility in Libya, revealed the extent of antisemitic sentiment in the country. The letters revealed that children and dependents of Jewish personnel living off-base had to conceal their Jewish identities, fear for the physical safety of children caused the cancelation of a Jewish Sunday school program, and that the US Air Force was pressuring Jewish personnel to hide their Jewish identities and censored all material that referenced Jews, Judaism, or Israel to avoid offending most of the local population.

1967 Tripoli anti-Jewish pogrom

Further information:1967 Tripoli pogrom

By 1967, the Jewish population of Libya had decreased to 7,000. After theSix-Day WarbetweenIsraeland its Arab neighbors, Libyan Jews were once again the target of anti-Jewish riots. Duringthese attacks,rioters killed 18 people and more were injured.

Leaders of the Jewish community then askedKing Idris Ito allow the entire Jewish population to "temporarily" leave the country; he consented, even urging them to leave. Through an airlift and the aid of several ships, theItalian Navyhelped evacuate more than 6,000 Jews toRomein one month.A few scores of Jews remained in Libya.

The evacuees were forced to leave their homes, their businesses and most of their possessions behind. Of those evacuated to Italy, about 1,300 immigrated to Israel, 2,200 stayed in Italy, and most of the rest went to theUnited States.The Libyan Jews who remained in Italy primarily stayed in Rome, becoming an influential part of the local Jewish community.

Gaddafi's rule

By the time ColonelMuammar Gaddaficame to power in 1969, roughly 100 Jews remained in Libya. Under his rule, all Jewish property was confiscated, and alldebtsto Jews were cancelled. In 1970, the Libyan government declared theDay of Revenge,which celebrated the expulsion of Jews and Italians from Libya, a national holiday. Despite emigration being prohibited, most of the remaining Jews succeeded in escaping the country and by 1974, only 20 Jews remained in Libya.

In 2002, the last known Jew in Libya, Esmeralda Meghnagi, died. In the same year, however, it was discovered that Rina Debach, a then 80-year-old Jewish woman who was born and raised in Tripoli but thought to be dead by her family inRome,was still living in anursing homein the country. With her ensuing departure for Rome, there were no more Jews in the country.

In 2004, Gaddafi indicated that the Libyan government would compensate Jews who were forced to leave the country and stripped of their possessions. In October of that year he met with representatives of Jewish organizations to discuss compensation. He did, however, insist that Jews who moved toIsraelwould not be compensated.Some suspected these moves were motivated by his sonSaif al-Islam Gaddafi,who was considered to be the likely successor of his father. In the same year, Saif had invited Libyan Jews living in Israel back to Libya, saying that they are Libyans, and that they should "leave the land they took from the Palestinians."

On 9 December, Gaddafi also extended an invitation toMoshe Kahlon,the Deputy Speaker of theKnessetand son of Libyan immigrants, to Tripoli, purportedly to discuss Jewish property in Libya.On this occasion, he said:

We are not against Jews, but we have a problem with Zionism and Zionist leaders who oppress the Palestinians, and also you, Arabs of '48. We didn't massacre Jews, it was the west that did that. We gave them refuge. Occupation will bring disaster upon the Israeli entity, adding to his guests, We invited you because your voices are not being heard, and I want the world to hear you.

— Muammar Gaddafi

In 2010, it was claimed that Gaddafi had Jewish ancestry.Two Israeli women of Libyan-Jewish origin, a grandmother and granddaughter, came forward claiming to be relatives of Gaddafi. The grandmother claimed to be Gaddafi's second cousin. According to her, her grandmother had a sister who was married to a Jewish man, but ran away after he mistreated her, then converted to Islam and married Gaddafi's grandfather, a Muslimsheikh.The daughter of this marriage was Gaddafi's mother.However,National Transitional CouncilChairmanMustafa Abdul Jalilinvited Libyan Jewish representative David Gerbi to meet with him after the World Organization of Libyan Jews designated him the group's official delegate to the governing body. Gerbi was reportedly warmly received byBerberrebels in theNafusa Mountainsin August 2011, and an Amazigh NTC official was quoted as saying, "We want to create closer relations between Muslims and Jews. Without Jews we will never be a strong country."

On 1 October 2011, Gerbi returned toTripoliafter 44 years of exile.With the help of aU.S.security contractor and the permission of NTC fighters and three local sheikhs, Gerbi hammered down a brick wall erected to block the entrance to the city's historic Dar Bishi Synagogue. He declared it a "historic day" for Libya and told the crowd gathered there, "This is for all those who suffered under Gaddafi." However, some residents remained wary of Gerbi's intentions and were quoted by aCNNreporter as expressing distrust for Jews.Gerbi's work on the synagogue ended abruptly after two days when the terms of permission fell into dispute.

See also

• Maghrebi Jews
• History of the Jews in Carthage
• Cave-dwelling Jews
• Judeo-Tripolitanian Arabic

External links

• Experiences of survivor Benjamin Doron, born in Benghazi, Libya,in Yad Vashem website.
• The Jews of Libya,in Yad Vashem website.