It is a discreet but major turning point for one of the most symbolic religious events in Tunisia. The annual Jewish pilgrimage to Ghriba, scheduled for May 11 to 18, 2025, will be held this year in a limited format: only Jews residing in Tunisia will be able to participate, and only for rituals confined inside the synagogue.
The decision, announced by the organizing commission for the religious visit, marks a break with previous editions which attracted thousands of pilgrims from several countries each year. The pilgrimage had also become a tourist and symbolic showcase of interreligious coexistence in Tunisia.
Officially, the Commission does not mention security reasons, but several overlaps suggest that this refocusing aims to reduce risks. This choice comes in a regional context under tension, with a strengthening of vigilance measures in several countries.
He also occurred two years after an deadly armed attack bereaved the 2023 pilgrimage.
Despite this reduction, the organizers insist on the spirit of tolerance and peace surrounding this celebration. In their press release, they thank the authorities for their mobilization, and emphasize that “Tunisia remains a land of coexistence”.
