As Jesus’ disciples, my friend and I visited the Tunisian Jews in their protected area Hara Kbira (the large Jewish quarter) in Houmt Souk, on the Island of Djerba, when we discovered their empty streets during the day!

When we asked the locals, they said it was their Pesach (Passover) week; all their shops should be closed during the day. Some of them might open for a while for family reasons.

But we met with one family, I believe the Lord has led us to during the time we were hanging around in their narrow streets. They opened their shop for a family purpose for a while, then they closed up. The father is called Simon, the one we talked to and introduced ourselves to. We were led to proclaim the gospel through our own testimonies of Christ… He was amazed when he heard that we are Tunisian Christians, precisely “Yeshua Hamashiack’s followers,” I said! And that we received Jesus the Messiah in our dreams... At some point, he was perplexed and astonished at the same time, how come?! He said that they do believe only in the first 5 books of Moses and the coming of their promised Messiah, who is to bring Peace to the world. He continued on saying: “the one that came among us (Jesus) was the one who brought wars after wars to the Jewish population!”

I felt sadness in my heart when he said that, but that’s what they do believe… In the meantime, he went on saying that they love Tunisia and are glad to be here on this island from the first generations who came in since the destruction of the Soliman’s Temple.

Two days later, we met with another one called Samuel at his small patisserie, and we wanted to buy some fruit delights while we preached the gospel to him. Hearing that, he seemed gentle and peaceful, but not willing to comment on. He said: “everyone would choose something that is peaceful in their lives…” being glad that he lives on the island with his family members. He said the majority of his family moved to France and Israel, looking for a better life.

Later on, while we were walking in their streets we passed by a small synagogue where we met with another Jew called Huita at the front door. He seemed like a religious man, but he listened to us anyway when we introduced ourselves as the Lord’s servants sharing the gospel with them… The same reply he gave to us as the others, but adding that they believe in some of the prophets like Isaiah. We took the opportunity to quote Isaiah 7:14 9:6-7, but he doesn’t seem to understand that the Messiah was indeed the One prophesied in those verses, who came in the midst of them! Instead, he apologised that he needed to leave… 

We prayed for them that their eyes and hearts would be opened to the Truth, and God would lift up their blindness and see His light… Amen.

Faten 

Tunis - Tunisia