Although we have some indications of Jewish existence in Tunisia dating back to the talmudic period, there is little or no testimony as to the status of Hebrew there during that period. Nevertheless, the few Hebrew (or Aramaic) words found in the Tunisian Arabic dialect, and even in the Berber language spoken in North Africa, may demonstrate that Hebrew was a spoken language in pre-Muslim Tunisia (Tobi 2008).

The first solid evidence of Jewish life in Tunisia, dating from the 10th century, attests that Hebrew was indeed in use, at least by scholars. Thus, the ra…