Private Jewish Heritage Tour of Lisbon. He was also able to find letters between old family members, one of which contained a hand-drawn family tree. Both Trevor and Jonah initially turned to the internet for help. I would like to thank Anat Levi and Ariel Galili from the Jerusalem branch for all of their efforts and patience, we could not have been Able to reach to where we are now without them. On 1 June 2022 the Jewish Community of Lisbon issued a statement. Lisbon's modern Jewish community: Lisbon's main synagogue called Shaare Tikva, or Gates of Hope, is a historic synagogue in Lisbon. I am satisfied with the services I needed and happy to have known them. They may have birth certs or documents that can help, as well as stories that may be able to point you in the right direction. We are Jews. I'm super glad of choosing Joshua Pex of Law office for immigration solution, lawyers to advise in my case, to me, it is remarkable. Timeframes for the application vary, but most people should expect the process to take around 2 years. It felt a lot more authentic, he says. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department. Links. Since March 2015, several thousands of foreign citizens were granted Portuguese nationality under this law amendment and only a very small number were refused, mostly due to legal and technical reasons or lack of documentation. We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted! The Lisbon City Council issues certificates exclusively to Lisbon residents. ATTENTION: Filling out this form does not replace or dispense with the proper sending of documents namely - the complete pdf with OFFICIAL FORM duly completed and signed, the means of proof, identification documents (see list of documentation) and the required family tree. Dont scrimp on the paperwork either: in Portugal, the rule is always the more paperwork the better. Private Historical Jewish Tour of Lisbon 74 Reviews Lisbon, Portugal Share Save to Wishlist From $136.15 Price varies by group size Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. Slanting white walls intersected by blue forms mark the exterior of a 2.5-story building designed by Studio Libeskind, led by Daniel Libeksind, for Lisbon's upcoming Jewish Museum. The Lisbon Jewish Community (CIL) has confirmed it will continue the process of certifying descendants of Sephardic Jews for the purposes of a law under which they can secure Portuguese nationality, despite the criminal investigation into alleged irregularities on the part of the Jewish Community of Porto (CIP) in the naturalisation of Roman Sometimes documents are hard to find as many have been destroyed, often on purpose. As well as documents relating to his family tree, Jonah also submitted photos of his Bar Mitzvah, recipes that had been passed down through his family, and any other customs he could think of. The outbreak of 2nd World War, the neutrality policy that Portugal followed under the alliance with England and the granting of transit visas to close to one hundred thousand refugees, lead to an influx of tens of thousands of Jews to Portugal. There are indeed some family names which are commonly accepted to belong to descendants of Portuguese Jewish families but your family name may have changed along the years. Applications need to be submitted to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice who then look at your application and decide whether or not youre eligible for citizenship. The fact that anyone arrested by the Inquisition was subject to having his property confiscated insured that the campaign was carried out with alacrity. The services I have received for both our Israeli non profit association but also our social business have helped us solve many issues at hand and provided solutions in complicated situations. I appreciate your candor and evident integrity. The documents must be translated, notarized, and sealed with an apostille (validation. This single document is seen as the most important document in the process. FR | DE | ES. When we have the money, well get a vacation home there, he promises himself. Jewish community certificate with religious-related status in Portugal, under the law in force at the date of entry of the Regulation, proving Sephardic Jewish lineage of Portuguese origin, through surname, family language, genealogy, and family memory. Portuguese Jews and New-Christians who managed to escape, settledin several Mediterranean countries like Morocco, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt,Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Northern Europe cities such as London, Nantes, Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam, Amsterdam,Glckstadt, Hamburg or Cologneand other countries like Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Antilles and theUS, among others. Furthermore, following the recent scandal, the government of Portugal may choose a different authority to veto the descent of prospective applicants. Naturally, there are costs to all of this, especially when you start getting lawyers involved, but there are other benefits to using a law firm as well. Jonah coincidentally already had a strong connection to Portugal, as he was previously dating a Portuguese girl. Application Form Model B - example List of documents. So it is time to get your application in to the Portuguese government now, while the process is understood and well navigated, and your chances of receiving the necessary recommendation can be easily evaluated. All taxes. Lisbon's Jewish community is centered around the Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa, or the Jewish Community of Lisbon, a community center that houses Shaare Tikva. He says finding someone else who has done it is key, and will signiciatnly cut down your own research time significantly. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! James, thank you for sending lawyer recommendations to others. The charge was that the Community granted certificates that affirmed the Sephardi heritage of anyone who sought Portuguese nationality and was willing to pay for it. The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. Hi James, Because we appreciated their lawyers services, we recommended businesses and individuals again and again to go there as well. If you are applying yourself, you can either send the documents or come to Portugal and submit them in person. A request for this Certificate must be addressed to the Jewish Community of Oporto or to the Jewish Community of Lisbon From December 15, 2014, the Jewish Community of Oporto began receiving requests from descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who wish to obtain a certificate issued by the Portuguese Jewish Community attesting this status. But let's just quick gather the facts in few words: Portugal became an independent country back in 1143, almost one thousand years old, but the Jewish population already existed in Portugal for a long time. You Are Here: unblocked sticky ninja east london walking tour self guided jewish community lisbon certificate. Personal family name, records and documents (including image, video and audio) of family ceremonies,weddings, burials, registration at Jewish communities, birth certificates, property deeds, bibliography and book quotes, copies of inquisition archives and alike. Lisbon - Conquered from the Moors in 1147 by Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, the Castle of Sao Jorge stands proudly atop one of the city's seven hills. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. We were very satisfied with the service of Nehama. Does my family name have to be in the list of Sephardic names? Unfortunately, however, this route isnt as easy as it once was. Currently, applicants are not expected to be able to speak Portuguese and this is one of the few routes to Portuguese citizenship where this is the case. We will be applying from the US. Criminal records certificatesissued by the applicants country of birth and countries in which he has resided more than one year, within the previous ninety days. We are now happily living in Israel and are so grateful to have Irena who is a genuinely nice person as our lawyer. I highly recommend! Every time we turned to Joshua we always got a professional quick and helpful respond. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach. Just found your page and it is fantastic! When you hear Decker,Pex,Ofir &Co, you hear 10+ class services, luxurious professionals, confidentiality and exclusive attention to your needs. Closed on Shabbat, Jewish Holidays and Portuguese Bank Holidays. . Certified Document Proving Sephardic Jewish Heritage Portuguese authorities will accept proof of Sephardic Jewish heritage if one obtains a certificate from the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. Thank you, Joshua and Itamar for your help with our Joint Life Application. Take advantage of this while you can to regain your heritage and have the opportunity to travel in a place that was your home., Very interesting. JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. They deserve more then 5 stars!! Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. While both Jonah and Trevor recommend sites like Ancestry.com, the main resource they recommend are the Facebook groups dedicated to the subject of Portuguese and Spanish Sephardic ancestry. We were searching for a law firm that will be honest with us and really work hard for a satisfying result, it wasn't an easy task The family tree should fit on two pages at most, visible and understandable. The official recognition of the community and the construction of the synagogue brought a new impulse to the community life in Lisbon. These donations will be used in the development and maintenance of our services and activities which guarantee the continuation of culture and traditions in our jewish community, as well as in the Portuguese society in general, through several solidarity programs with whom the community contributes. We contacted Mr. Pex and he was ready to help us when he heard of our situation. In Jonahs letter, he mentioned all the Sephardic rituals his family practiced. The advice Mr. Pex gave us was great, such as what to do, he gave useful links, and advice about which officials to contact. Was 100% satisfied. ThePortuguese Inquisition was formally established inPortugalin1536 under King Joo III and, althoughthe last public auto-da-f took place in 1765,was only extinguished in1821 when the country went through a constitutionalist insurrection. A really excellent firm. My Passover seder this year was spent in the company of the small Reform Jewish community in Lisbon, Portugal. Using them guaranteed honesty above all. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. Donations. Site Powered By SiteBuilderAvenue.com This new criteria is confusing, but it shouldnt take too long too work out whether you meet this criteria. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. In addition to the first Jewish quarter, in Pedreira neighbourhood . We found them online; they were the only law firm from all of our searchings which were completely honest and NOT gave us just what we wanted to hear I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. Thanks for your cooperation. Thanks for all you do! For this reason, its a good idea to submit other evidence as well. Go to the Junta da Freguesia. I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! We so much appreciate Mikes representation of us. Tilted walls covered in blue ceramic tiles will break up the white geometric exterior of Tikva, a Jewish museum that New York office Studio Libeskind is designing in the district of Belm in Lisbon. highly recommended. Today the Jewish Community of Lisbon has Sephardi and Ashkenazi members made up of post-war migrants from Germany, Poland, Eastern Europe and South America (mainly Brazil). Consequently, it is hardly news that Jewish quarters existed in Lisbon. The designation of Sephardic Jews refers to the descendants of the ancient Jews and traditional Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula (SefaradorHispania), that is, Portugal and Spain. Always ready to assist without regard to the time it takes. You are Eligible for a Portuguese Citizenship Through Marriage! Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. Her surname was Bair, which is a German-Jewish surname and she was 3/4 Ashkenazi, but he had to look a bit further before he found the Sephardic connection. The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. Portguese citizenship is big business, and there are a huge number of lawyers and experts who can help you through the process. The rabbi was able to look at his parents ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) and was able to confirm that it was Sephardic. 2. Oh dear, like so many people in this post, I too would really appreciate a list of solicitors as well. Despite numbering around two dozen, they are the only option in town other than the Orthodox, which numbers around 500, as the Masorti (Conservatives) shut down a few years ago. * We remind that this pre-analysis is not binding and definitive and does not mean the final approval of your process, checking in advance whether the process is eligible for due study and historical analysis in order to apply for Portuguese Nationality based on Decree-Law no. The Lisbon Jewish Community (CIL) has confirmed that it will continue the process of certifying descendants of Sephardic Jews for the purposes of a law under which they can secure Portuguese nationality, despite the criminal investigation into alleged irregularities on the part of the Jewish Community of Porto (CIP) in the naturalisation of Roman 30-A/2015 and 26/2022 which amended DL 237-A/2006, where is approaved the Regulation of Portuguese Natioanlity concession for descendants of Jews of Sephardic origin. It meant that people from all over the world could easily obtain a second passport, many of whom had never been to Portugal. Married to a Portuguese Citizen? After the massacre the crown softened its New Christian stance for a time, allowing migration. Upon the granting of nationality, the Central Registry Office shall issue and mail to the applicants address a Portuguese birth certificate. Exclusive and specialized guide/driver. The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 1860, a synagogue was built in Faro. But from that time, the community will suffer, due to the European events, a profound change both in its action and in its composition. Emotional memory we expect the applicant to explain in short his motivation to apply for Portuguese nationality based on his Sephardic family and tradition roots. Do I have to come to Portugal in person? Lisbon Jewish Community - Official Site . Trevor speaks what he describes as passable Portuguese, having studied through Duolingo and later through a Portuguese class he took in London. The Jewish Community of Lisbon. Altogether, there are thousands of pending applications and the applicant must be patient and wait for a nationality assignment process to take place beyond 18 months. A simple copy of a valid passport (page containing personal data, picture and signature) expiring date larger than 6 months. Then, the Jews were still considered a foreign colony, and the community had not yet been given legal existence. The first step towards the official recognition of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon dates back to 1868, when a license is conceded by the Government, through a charter from D.Lus giving the "Jews of Lisbon permission to install a cemetery for the burial of their coreligionists". We bless and thank the entire team at Decker Pex Tal Ofir Law Firm. His partners and employees are very blessed to work with him. The majority of Jews are scattered throughout Portugal and not affiliated with religious communities. His husband also speaks Portuguese, having lived in Brazil. Adi Berger was a wonderful advocate for me and I am deeply grateful for her help! In such case, please provide proof of your genealogical relation despite the name change. In just a matter of weeks (as of 01.04.22) these letters may no longer be valid. Following the Alhambra Edict of 1492 and their persecution by theSpanish Inquisition, a very large number of Spanish Jews sought refuge in Portugal and joined the Portuguese Jewish communities. ? and the Hebrew Hospital, providing at a daily basis food, clothing and health care to the refugees. Shaar Tikvah S ynagogue. 8 hours - Shore private tour - from 299 for 2 people. The Shaar-Tikv synagogue celebrates 100 years, see here. Jonah also speaks Portuguese, and has managed to get himself to roughly the C1-level by studying for around 3 hours per day for more than 18 months. EU PASSPORT ! Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. Today, Portugal is home to between 5,000 and 6,000 Jews with the majority in Lisbon and Porto, whose communities have around 500 formal members each. The small print: Portugalist may generate a commission from mentioned products or services. Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. Besides his knowing the laws, regulations and procedures, Ariel also made us feel that he was truly interested in helping us to successfully work through this process in as smooth, timely, and frustration-free manner as possible. My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili. Some people already know that they have Sephardic Jewish heritage, while it can come as a surprise to others. Did anyone get the Portuguese nationality yet? These returning Jews originally worshipped in their homes. Thus, in 1912 is created the Ub le Zion Hebrew studies association, whose great promoter is Adolfo Benarus, professor at the Faculty of Letters of Lisbon, writer and pedagogue, also founder of the Hebrew School in 1929, which once had close to a hundred students. Until the 60s the community remained demographically stable, but the creation of the State of Israel and the outbreak of the Colonial War lead to the departure of some families. The project of the synagogue was designed by one the greatest architects of that time, Miguel Ventura Terra. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! Receipt of citizenship a birth registration form in Portuguese currently takes anywhere from 24 to 29 months. For Trevor, the process was a long one. The Portuguese Jews played an important role in this period in the support of refugees, first through the creation of the Portuguese Commission for the Assistance of the Jewish Refugees in Portugal directed by Augusto Esaguy, and later directly through the Communitys own refugee support section, chaired by Moiss Amzalak and whose great promoter was Elias Baruel. Power of attorney 4. Highly recommend. If/when possible, evidence of some level of ladino speaking proficiency/culture will be highly appreciated although its not a must. Located at the number 59 of Alexandre Herculano Street, it had to be built inside a walled yard, since it was not allowed the construction with frontage to the public road of temples not of Catholic religion, then the official religion of the State. Rua Alexandre Herculano, 59 Lisbon 1250-010. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; Applications should be presented at the Central Registry Offices (Conservatria dos Registos Centrais) in Lisbon, in diplomatic services, and the Portuguese Minister of Justice was invested the power of granting nationality. You will need a lot more than that. After all, they were fleeing Portugal and Spain so its unlikely they would have wanted to maintain a tie to it. The first grave is of Jos Amzalak, who died on February 26, 1804, and buried on land belonging to the English Cemetery of Estrela, undoubtedly because of the English nationality of the first Jews in Lisbon, originating, as seen, from Gibraltar. Absolutely certainty means knowing all the facts about them, including their birth date, death date, marriage date, country of origin, and original full name. All files sent digitally must be accompanied by a SINGLE file with the necessary documents, in PDF, A4 format, A surname is definitely a good place to start, but be aware that having a Portuguese or Spanish-sounding surname isnt enough. Cristina. Between 1826-1835 Poland, Russia, and other Central and Eastern Europe countries required separate Jewish birth, marriage, and death records be kept in areas where several Jewish families lived. Lisbon Jewish Community web site. To find a microfilm: a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Portugal, Lisboa. 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. The first step to apply for a certificate of residence in Portugal is, as often, to go to the Junta da Freguesia, in other words, the Borough Hall closest to your home. The certification period of the Jewish Community of Lisbon varies and will depend on the quality and organization of the documentation with which the process is submitted by the applicant and the degree of complexity of the respective process. Usually, we expect a pre-approval from the Porto Jewish Community roughly around 48 hours after the Lisbon Jewish Community roughly around 45 days after applying. Contact us. I know that my son can qualify for Portuguese Citizenship because all our ancestors are Sephardic and spoke Ladino. To be on the safe side, Trevor collected more documents from the synagogue and was able to trace his family tree back even further. . Get the book Moving to Portugal Made Simple on Amazon now. The Sephardic Heritage Project. This royal diploma has a real historical importance, as it represents an implicit recognition, although not yet formal, of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon. I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. Thus, many Sephardic Jews were forced into exile and compelled to leave Portugal from the late fifteenth and early sixteenthcentury onwards, including thosewho had converted to Catholicism the conversos, also known as New Christians, Anusim or Marranos. $32.95. Aiming to give their clients the advice possible regarding the normative and the law of Israel. Irena Rosenberg and Michael Decker worked on my case, they are very professional and helpful. Click here to get in contact with us. Any conviction with a crime punishable in Portugal with three years or more years imprisonment will make the applicant non-eligible; Power of attorney, when not presented by the applicant himself. Many have received their letter from the Jewish Community, but have not gone through the legal hurdles of processing their application for citizenship. The first step towards the official recognition of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon dates back to 1868, when a license is conceded by the Government, through a charter from D.Lus giving the Jews of Lisbon permission to install a cemetery for the burial of their coreligionists. They really care about helping their customers without any other interest Financed by Joint and other international Jewish institutions, the community kept the Economic Kitchen/cuisine?? Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. The capital is home to the country's main Jewish community. Schwartz first arrived in Belmonte at the beginning of the breakout of World War I. The project, called Tikvah (Hebrew for "hope"),consists of a 41,645-square-foot structure created in collaboration with local architect Miguel . See below the complete list of documents to be presented (end of page). If you have recommendations on lawyers that would be greatly appreciated. This coming, increasingly growing, may give a new configuration to the Jewish community in Portugal. One day while looking at a photo of his grandfathers family, he was struck by how similar his relatives looked to hers. Nevertheless, while this letter from the Jewish Community does not mean you hold citizenship, it is absolutely crucial to the citizenship application process. Trevors law firm also spoke to the Portuguese government and were able to allow him to submit his application without obtaining a criminal records check from Kenya, which would only have added more complications. The Jewish community in Kobe, Japan compiled this list of European refugees and their relatives overseas, so that JDC can solicit aid from family members. I have found a firm that sounds good, though, charges 5,000 euros for the whole process. Donate. Portuguese citizenship comes with a number of benefits, not least a Portuguese passport which gives you the right to live and work in Portugal and other EU countries.