Kesher Talk

The leader of the Tunisian Jewish community is an associate of the country’s autocratic leader and sometimes prefers a Friday-night drink rather than a Sabbath meal. Roger Bismuth is the modern-day version of the shtadlan, a Hebrew term given to the Jewish leaders in 18th century Europe who functioned as important interlocutors between the community and the government.

... His prominent public role outside of Jewish life in Tunisia qualifies him as a faithful spokesman for the government of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. When Bismuth talks about topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict and democratic reform, it highlights how critical it is for the tiny Jewish community in Tunisia to meld its interests with those of the government.

Ben Ali became indebted to Bismuth two years ago when he rescued the president from an embarrassing diplomatic misstep that followed the bombing of Djerba’s El-Ghriba synagogue. Bin Ali had angered foreign governments by telling them the explosion was nothing more than a car accident. Assurances from the industrialist, an honorary member of the American Jewish Congress, that the Jewish community felt protected by the government and had been updated by the government diffused the crisis.("The ‘Shtadlan’ Of Tunis", The Jewish Week)

posted by William @ 4/12/2004 08:51:32 AM