THE WEB OF TUNISIAN JEWS

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Do we have customs and traditions that are unique and very dear to us? Certainly!! And the goal of this page is to research, catalog and offer them to the future generations. Because what is transmitted through these customs and traditions goes way beyond the ritual inherent to these delicious moments. I am convinced deep inside that all these customs and traditions are truly part of what makes our character, of what gives us this tremendous edge that we hold over the rest of the planet. 

Ever since Tunisian Jews have left Tunisia, these traditions have had a tendency to slowly disappear to be replaced by the customs of the dominant Ashkenazic majority or even worse to be diluted in some kind of "hodgepodge Sephardic tradition".  But we are fighting back!! We are not going to let this happen!! We are embarking on a quest to recover our heritage and reclaim the magical touch of our traditions.
 

• Cheoudat Yithro (the boys holiday)
• The billada
• The girls holiday
• Eating rice during Pessah
• Nar againe
• Ayin (the evil eye)
• Kemia (unique to our culture)
• Obsession with food
• Exaggeration in all subjects

ORIGIN  OF THE  BILLADA

 in 1705, the Rabbinical court of Tunisia is presided by the Head Rabbi Simah SARFATI.  He is born in Morocco even though the name SARFATI indicates a French origin (Sarfat).  One day, he fell gravely ill. "Incurable disease", diagnosed the doctors called to the bedside of the sick rabbi. But one night, Elihaou ANNABI, the prophet who presides at all births appeared in a dream to the Rabbi to inform him of the only remedy that could save him :
He was to organize on the seventh day after the birth of each newborn boy( on the eve of their Brith Mila) an evening of Zohar study (The book of splendor).  

The community responded with enthusiasm to his dream and instated this tradition which was embraced as well by all the ensuing generations. The custom is still observed nowadays  and has taken the name of  BILLADA(in Ladino or old Castillan or Portuguese : Velleda or wake).

Rabbi Sarfati recovered from his incurable disease and left for Jerusalem via Istanbul. He passed away in 1717 and was buried on the Mount of Olives.

From "Generation suivante" by William Guez.

For any information, critics and commentaries, send an email to : jhalfon@mediaone.net

copyright 1999. J. Halfon. All rights reserved.