An Outline of the Social Structure of the Jewish Communities in Djerba and Southern Tunisia from the End of the 19th Century until the 1950's / קווים למבנה החברתי של קהילות יהודי ג'רבה ודרום טוניסיה מסוף המאה היט עד לעליות ארצה

Southern Tunisian Jewry has an uninterrupted and relatively peaceful history going back into antiquity. The general Berber population, particularly of the island of Djerba, has since the late 19th century developed a pattern of migrant merchants, who operate throughout Tunisia and retire in their old age to their homes. In this context, the Jews entered local commerce and filled the major local positions, however they did not engage in international or in itinerant commerce or trade. Djerban Jewry is therefore extremely sedentary and lacking in geographic mobility. As a consequence, the local community is relatively powerful over its individual members. Social control, particularly in religious matters, is strong because of the high visibility of individuals. Community organs are highly developed in comparison to other Jewish communities in North Africa. The continued development of community organs in the period under discussion is described in the paper on the basis of rabbinical treatises of recent generations.