Tunisia has had a Jewish minority since Roman times. In 1948 the Jewish population was an estimated 105,000, but by 1967 most Tunisian Jews had left the country for France and Israel, and the population had shrunk to 20,000. As of 2004 an estimated 1,500 still remain, particularly on the island of Djerba (noted for its synagogues), comprising the country's largest indigenous religious minority. On the whole, however, Tunisian Jewry lived peaceably with the rest of the population prior to World War II and were able to achieve rapid emancipation.

Between November 1942 and May 7, 1943, Tunisia was occupied by Nazi Germany. This caused a further deterioration in the condition of the Jews, who had been subject to the discriminatory Vichy laws (see France, Anti-Jewish Legislation) from November 1940. Upon their arrival the Germans imposed the establishment of a local council (Judenrat) which was headed by Paul Ghez. The Nazis took hostages, requisitioned property, and imposed heavy fines on the Jewish community. Taxation and confiscation of property was greatest in Djerba, where the Nazis levied a tax of 88 lb. (40 kg.) of gold on the community, and at Sfax, Sousse, and Tunis, where the Great Synagogue was turned into a German stable. The Nazis also mobilized all Jews between the ages of 18 and 28 and sent some 4,000 of them to labor camps situated on the front line of battle and near airfields. There was a considerable number of casualties from intensive Allied bombardment, hygiene was almost nonexistent, and some succumbed to maltreatment. During this period, there were large roundups of Jews, individual deportations to death camps in Europe, arbitrary local executions, and large-scale plunder.