ABSTRACT
In a long-term perspective, the Jewish community played a relevant influence in Libya for both the social and cultural development of the country and its relations with the Mediterranean basin. Such a pivotal role was emphasised by the backward Libyan society. The chapter proposes the profiles of some distinguished Jewish personalities and families who contributed to the Libyan society. Through their initiatives, the Jews shaped the civilian landscape, especially in Tripoli with monuments and buildings, imposed an effective socio-cultural aggregation and finally opened a Mediterranean perspective in such a poor country through spread-trade relations. In a long-term perspective, under the Italian colonialism, the Jewish community was forced to face with the policies of ‘Italianness’, which impacted on the Libyan society, especially under fascism.
