News Brief

The King of Italy and the royal family were given an enthusiastic reception by the Jews of Tripoli, who number 15,000, during the royal visit to the Jewish quarter of the city. On entering the Jewish quarter, El Hara, the royal family was received by Signor Simeone Hagiag, the president of the Tripoli Jewish community, the members of the Board of the Jewish community, the chairman of the local Zionist organization, Signor Raffaele Habib, and Signor Di Segni, the architect of the new Great Synagogue of Tripoli.

The members of the Jewish sports club Maccabi formed a guard of honor.

Along the whole of the route to the Great Synagogue dense crowds lined the streets, cheering as the royal party went by.

A triumphal arch crowned by the Tables of the Law had been erected at the entrance to the synagogue, the inauguration of which had been kept over till the royal visit. The king was received at the synagogue b– the members of the Tripolitan Beth Din (Colleggio Rabbinico Tripolino), and before the open Ark of the Law the MiShebairash was recited.

The president of the Jewish community. Signor Hagiag delivered an address of welcome and expressed loyalty on behalf of the Jews of Tripoli and of Cyrenaica. He then unveiled a slab which had been placed in the synagogue in commemoration of the royal visit, the inscription being in Hebrew and Italian.

The king entered into conversation with the leaders of the community and made many interested enquiries regarding the position of the Jewish population of Tripoli.

Before their departure from Tripoli, the queen and the princesses visited the Jewish schools and the Talmud Torah, where they showed much interest in the work and in the health condition of the children.