Adventures Online: The Jewish Heritage of Portugal

Welcome, Orientation, Introductions. The Group Leader will greet everyone and review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, Zoom meeting protocols, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions. We will then say hello to our fellow Road Scholars. 11:30 a.m. Lecture. We will have an introduction to Portugal, its geography, language, and aspects of history that will prepare us for understanding the roles played by Portuguese Jews. According to the Jewish Virtual Library, “From the Golden Age of Discovery to the Inquisition, Portuguese Jewry went from the heights of wealth and success to the depths of anguish and despair.” Followed by Q&A.

12:15 p.m. Break. 12:30 p.m. Lecture. We will be joined by Inês Fialho-Brandão, a historian from whom we’ll learn about the history of the Jewish presence in Portugal since Roman times until the forced conversion in 1496 to Catholicism and the introduction of the Inquisition in Portugal in the 16th Century. Followed by Q&A. 1:50 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “visit” Tomar, a small town that preserves one of the oldest Medieval synagogues in Portugal. We will start with a “walk” to the hill top and see the view over the historic center to the castle — constructed in 1160 — that served as the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal for 700 years. The castle and the convent within have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. From the UNESCO inscription: “Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period — the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations.” Later we’ll stroll along old streets and squares en route to our exploration of the synagogue. Followed by Q&A. 2:50 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. Lecture. We will be joined by acclaimed novelist Richard Zimler who will give us a presentation on his novel “The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon” which recounts the massacre of forcibly converted Jews that began on April 19, 1506. By the time this antisemitic riot ended a few days later, between 2,000-4,000 “New Christians” had been slaughtered. Zimler’s book describes the city and re-creates daily life in Lisbon in the early 16th Century. He reveals it to be a dangerous place for those known to be converted Jews and who have been targeted by the Church as stubborn and sinful enemies. Richard will also talk about his experience as an American Jew living in Portugal for more than 30 years. Followed by Q&A.

12:10 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “explore” Medieval Lisbon and places related to the massacre of 1506. Beginning at the castle of Saint George overlooking Lisbon and the Tagus River, we will move through the streets of the Alfama Quarter — the oldest part of the city that survived the natural disasters of 1755 — and the old Jewish Quarter. We’ll also see highlights of downtown Lisbon on our way to Rossio Square in the heart of the city, where we will end at the Memorial of the Massacre of 1506. Followed by Q&A. 1:10 p.m. Break. 1:30 p.m. Virtual field trip. We will “depart” Lisbon and cross the center of Portugal to the rural mountain area of Belmonte. We will explore the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator who discovered the sea route to Brazil in 1500. We’ll also learn about the existence of a Jewish community that was already prosperous in the 13th Century and that survived until 1496 when the Manuel I, King of Portugal, decreed the forced conversion of all Jews to Catholicism. At the Belmonte Jewish Museum, we will see how a crypto-Jewish community survived over the centuries, maintaining its rituals and traditions, and how it has become a very active community since the 1980s. 2:30 p.m. Interactive discussion. Several experts have developed studies on the evolution of the Portuguese diet in relation to different religious groups. With our Group Leader, we will discuss how religious interdictions served to denounce neighbors and friends during the Inquisition for what they included in their diet or refused to include in their diet, and how New Christians managed to deceive Christians making them think they ate pork. 2:50 p.m. Wrap-up and notes for tomorrow. 3:00 p.m. Today’s session will end.

11:00 a.m. Review of the day. 11:05 a.m. Lecture. Inês Brandão will return for a presentation on refugees in Portugal during World War II. We’ll also learn about the role of Aristides Sousa Mendes — known as the Portuguese Schindler — who saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis. Professor Brandão will contextualize the arrival of thousands of Jewish refugees during World War II to Portugal, the relationship of these refugees with the authorities and with locals, who they were, where they stayed, and where they went. Followed by Q&A.

12:05 p.m. Break. 12:15 p.m. Virtual field trip. Cascais and Estoril are known has the Portuguese Riviera. Since the late 19th Century, they have been cosmopolitan havens for kings and queens in exile — as well as spies during World War II. Hotels and beautiful villas hide fascinating stories we will examine. We will start at the citadel of Cascais where we can see the coastline all the way to Lisbon. Our virtual walk will alternate with a train ride. Followed by Q&A. 1:15 p.m. Break. 1:30 p.m. Conversation. We will be joined by a representative of the Jewish community who will tell us about the challenges faced by the community today, and the recognition of descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews — people who can obtain Portuguese nationality by demonstrating the tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin. 2:20 p.m. Interactive discussion. We will discuss the policy of the European Union regarding the arrival of refugees annually to Europe from Africa, Asia and more recently Ukraine. We’ll also focus on how Portugal positions itself in relation to the quotas attributed to the country by the EU. 2:40 p.m. Wrap-up and farewells. 3:00 p.m. This concludes our program.