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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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
3 days
1
Orientation, Introductions, The Jewish Presence, Tomar
From the comfort of your own home.
2
The Last Kabbalist, Medieval Lisbon, Belmonte, Jewish Museum
From the comfort of your own home.
3
War Refugees, Mendes, Cascais & Estoril, Community Today
From the comfort of your own home.
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.
Best of all, you’ll…
- 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.
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
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.
Adventures Online: The Jewish Heritage of Portugal
Program Number: 24311
Online article Digging Portugal's Jewish Past: Samuel Schwarz (1880- 1953)
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-45
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon
The Lisbon Route: Entry and Escape in Nazi Europe
The Jews of Spain
GARBO: The Spy Who Saved D-Day (Secret History Files)
Sephardic Jews of Spain and Portugal
Hunting Midnight
Online article “Portuguese Crypto-Jews: The Genetic Heritage of a Complex History”
Guardian of the Dawn
