Online Program
Adventures Online: The Jewish Heritage of Portugal
Program No. 24311RJ
Join experts for an immersive look into Portugal’s Jewish community through history during this live, online learning adventure that offers a look into Jewish heritage and traditions.
Itinerary
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Day
1
Orientation, Introductions, The Jewish Presence, Tomar
Location:
From the comfort of your own home.
Orientation
Orientation and Introductions
As we meet our staff, we will have a brief overview on how to use Zoom, the program’s topic, guidelines, and the daily schedule.
Session 1
Introduction to Portugal
(Lecture)
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.”
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Break
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Session 2
The History of the Jewish Presence in Portugal
(Lecture)
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.
Jews and Christians - Two Religions, One Community?
(Field Trip)
The field trip includes Tomar, a small town that preserves one of the oldest Medieval synagogues in Portugal. A “walk” to the hill top shows 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.”
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Wrap-up
Daily Wrap-up
We will end with a review of the topics we have discussed today and a preview of what’s ahead for tomorrow.
End of Day
Today's session will end.
Day
2
The Last Kabbalist, Medieval Lisbon, Belmonte, Jewish Museum
Location:
From the comfort of your own home.
Session 1
Welcome
Greet everyone and review the day's schedule.
"The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon"
(Lecture)
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.
Break
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Session 2
Explore Medieval Lisbon
(Field Trip)
Explore Medieval Lisbon and places related to the massacre of 1506. Beginning at the castle of Saint George overlooking Lisbon and the Tagus River, the field trip 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. The highlights of downtown Lisbon shine on the way to Rossio Square in the heart of the city, where we will end at the Memorial of the Massacre of 1506.
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Break
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Session 3
The Belmonete Jewish Museum
(Field Trip)
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.
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
The Evolution of the Portuguese Diet in Relation to Different Religious Groups
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.
Wrap-up
Daily Wrap-up
We will end with a review of the topics we have discussed today and a preview of what’s ahead for tomorrow.
End of Day
Today's session will end.
Day
3
War Refugees, Mendes, Cascais & Estoril, Community Today
Location:
From the comfort of your own home.
Session 1
Welcome
Greet everyone and review the day's schedule.
Refugees in Portugal During World War II
(Lecture)
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.
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Break
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Session 2
The Portuguese Riveria
(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 field trip will alternate with a train ride.
Q&A
We will have time for questions with program staff.
Break
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Session 3
Talk With a Representative of the Jewish Community of Porto
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.
Break
Take some time to stretch, relax, and prepare for our next lesson.
Portuguesue and EU Policies on Refugees Today
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.
Wrap-up
Program Wrap-up
We will recap what we’ve learned over the past few days and say farewell. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Program Conclusion
This concludes our program.