The Jewish community's existence in Libya goes back to the time of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Under the Roman rule the Jews were living in harmony with the native Berbers, until the first century when the Israeli zealot Jonathan incited the poor to revolt in Cyrene (in 73 BC), only to be crushed by the Romans.

A second revolt followed in 115 in Cyrene (in Cyrenaica, Eastern Libya), in Egypt and in Cyprus. The number of Jews in Libya during the Italian occupation was estimated at about 25000 Jews, mainly living in the old city of Tripoli (al-h'ara), which was characterised by its narrow and roofed lanes.

When the Germans occupied Benghazi the Jews were subjected to an ordeal that saw them persecuted and even deported, and as a result many Jews fled to other North African states and Europe for refuge.