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.

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At a Glance

Portugal has a rich Jewish history that is both complicated and fascinating. Join historians and authors for a live, online learning adventure that offers a look into the traditions and modern life of Portugal’s Jewish community. Embark on online field trips to the town of Tomar to learn about one of the oldest medieval synagogues in Portugal, and to medieval Lisbon to trace the events of the massacre of 1506. Explore the mountain region of Belmonte online to get insight into its Crypto-Jew community, and take an online journey to Cascais and Estoril to explore the history of the Portuguese Riviera. Take in lectures and presentations on the history of Jewish presence in Portugal, meet author Richard Zimler to hear about his novel on the 1506 massacre, learn about the evolution of the Portuguese diet and how it relates to different religious groups, and discuss the past and present subject of refugees. Along the way, join in discussion with your fellow Road Scholars as you become immersed in the stories and history of Portugal’s Jewish heritage.

What You'll Learn

  • Meet American journalist Richard Zimler and author of “The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon,” to learn about the 1506 massacre in Lisbon, and hear about his experience as an American Jew living in Portugal for 30 years.
  • Join the historian Inês Brandão to learn about the history of refugees who stayed in Portugal between 1936-1955, and hear stories of Aristides Sousa Mendes, known as the Portuguese Schindler.
  • Take an online field trip to Belmonte to learn about its Crypto-Jew community, and learn how the community was contacted by mine engineer Samuel Schwarz.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. This session is offered live only and will not be available on demand. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
Featured Expert
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Paula Bizarro Moreira
Paula Moreira was born in Portugal and currently lives in Lisbon. She enjoys art, learning about different cultures and cinema. She has taken a variety of different courses ranging from art and image to Judaism and Jewish heritage in Portugal. Paula also speaks four languages. Since 1980, she has been leading groups throughout Europe and has worked as a consultant in tourism product planning, designing and development. Paula studied psychology, tourism and cinema at University in Lisbon, receiving a master’s degree in psychology.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Paula Bizarro Moreira
Paula Bizarro Moreira View biography
Paula Moreira was born in Portugal and currently lives in Lisbon. She enjoys art, learning about different cultures and cinema. She has taken a variety of different courses ranging from art and image to Judaism and Jewish heritage in Portugal. Paula also speaks four languages. Since 1980, she has been leading groups throughout Europe and has worked as a consultant in tourism product planning, designing and development. Paula studied psychology, tourism and cinema at University in Lisbon, receiving a master’s degree in psychology.
Profile Image of Richard Zimler
Richard Zimler View biography
Richard Zimler is a novelist (born 1956). His works have been published in 23 languages and have become bestsellers in 13 countries including the USA, UK, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, and Portugal. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in comparative religion from Duke University and a Master’s in journalism from Stanford University, then worked for eight years as a journalist in the San Francisco Bay area. In 1990, he moved to Porto, Portugal, and taught journalism at the College of Journalism and the University of Porto.
Profile Image of Inês Brandão
Inês Brandão View biography
Inês Brandão has a degree in History from the University of Edinburgh and a Master's degree in Islamic Studies and Museology from the University of New York. She is interested in the history of refugees who stayed in the Cascais/Estoril area of Portugal during the period between 1936 and 1955.
Profile Image of Elisabete Manteigueiro
Elisabete Manteigueiro View biography
Elisabete Manteigueiro graduated in Portuguese Language and Culture. She has worked at Empresa Municipal de Belmonte since 2009. Among several activities, she leads explorations in the different museum spaces of the municipality and collaborates in the realization of cultural events.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.





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