Belmonte, Trancoso and Guarda
I had no idea what to expect when I planned to spend Shabbat in the almost mythical Converso community of Belmonte, but what I experienced I won’t ever forget. There, […]
Tag Archives: Portugal
Coimbra University
A paper trail of Jewish life remains in Portugal, and is preserved in the libraries of Coimbra University. It is the oldest university in Portugal, dating back to the 13th […]
Porto Remnants
Memories of Jewish life lie just beneath the surface in Portugal. Amazingly, most of the people that I’ve met have told me that they have Jewish ancestry, ‘Jewish customs’ (cleaning […]
Mekor Haim Synagogue, Porto
In my mind, Portugal has been one of those place that Jews left, and not where Jews go. But here I am arriving. My three hour plus layover in Lisbon, […]
Returning to Portugal
On Wednesday, November 27, 2013, I return to Portugal. Well, return might not be the right right word, as I’ve never been there before, and as far as I know, […]
Marranos/Conversos
As I am a rabbi at a synagogue called the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, I guess some people figured I was the ideal destination for Converso descendants, looking to reclaim […]
Shalom Says Hello 