Israelite Night Shelter

The Jewish Night Shelter was a vital charitable institution within the Jewish community of Tunis, created to host the homeless and those in extreme need—mostly impoverished members of the community. Established in the early 20th century, this shelter played a crucial humanitarian role by offering a place to sleep, a warm meal, and basic comfort to those in distress.

More than just a place to spend the night, the shelter embodied communal solidarity and a deep sense of collective responsibility for the vulnerable. Located near historic Jewish neighborhoods, it welcomed elderly individuals, widows, unemployed workers, and even transient migrants.

The Jewish Night Shelter was often supported through private donations, local philanthropists, or community bodies such as the Jewish Community Council and charitable associations. It reflected a broader tradition of mutual aid in Tunisian Jewish life, where human dignity and caring for the poor were central moral values.