(Note: Surnames regularly change across generations. Regardless of the reasons for the scheme, if you think you might have Sephardic Heritage, this is definitely worth looking into. Shaar Tikv Synagogue. This coming, increasingly growing, may give a new configuration to the Jewish community in Portugal. His grandmothers grandmother was British and belonged to the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London. International Association of Jewish Genealogy Associations. This 10-day tour guides you through Portugal's Jewish heritage, starting in quintessential villages like Marvo and Castelo de Vide, as well as the hillside medieval towns of Monsanto, and Sortelha. The Jewish Community of Lisbon. However the law does state that the following documents should be presented, including their translation into Portuguese, duly certified by the Portuguese consulate at the country of origin or residence and bearing the Hague Convention Apostille: The Portuguese Central Registry Office charges a non-refundable and pre-paid 250 fee per applicant. Another important step to the constitution of the present Jewish community of Lisbon is taken in 1894 with the holding of a general meeting of the Jews of Lisbon in order to unify the Shehit services (Ritual slaughter and provisioning of Kosher meat). * 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. Immerse yourself in Jewish history and culture during this 4-hour private tour of Lisbon's Jewish community. Those who wish to apply for a Sephardic heritage certificate can apply online at . The advice Mr. Pex gave us was great, such as what to do, he gave useful links, and advice about which officials to contact. Proof of residence such as electricity bills. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Portuguese: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa - CIL) was officially recognized in 1913. 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 smaller Jewish communities of Lisbon and Porto are the only organizations that can approve applications, which must show ties to one of them. On 1 June 2022 the Jewish Community of Lisbon issued a statement. 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. For Trevor, he doesnt have any immediate plans to live there due to work commitments in London but he still reminisces of a trip he took to Portugal several years ago. Upon the granting of nationality, the Central Registry Office shall issue and mail to the applicants address a Portuguese birth certificate. I have found a firm that sounds good, though, charges 5,000 euros for the whole process. I have been receiving services from this Law Firm for several years now and I want to say THANK YOU to the team, especially Joshua Pex. The team at Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co have been awesome to work with in helping our US company establish banking in Israel and in providing counsel for legal needs in Israel. . Does my family name have to be in the list of Sephardic names? We request that you complete this DIGITAL FORM in order to facilitate and speed up the process of identification and *pre-analysis (non-binding) of the process submitted by the applicant. PUBLIC ATTENDANCE: Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm | 2pm to 5 pm. A really excellent firm. This new criteria is confusing, but it shouldnt take too long too work out whether you meet this criteria. These were mostly marketers, from Gibraltar and Morocco (Tangier, Tetouan and Mogador) and some of their names still expressed the connection with their places of origin in the Iberian Peninsula, before the expulsion period. FR | DE | ES. Certificate to Prove Portuguese Sephardic Ancestry and Tradition. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; Bat Mitzvah Certificate 10-pack. Considering this historical heritage, the Portuguese Citizenship Act (Lei da Nacionalidade) was amended as to permit the acquisition of Portuguese citizenship by the descendants of Portugal's Sephardic Jews. About us. Once submitted, youll be given an access code so you can check the status of your application and then you wait. The Portuguese government place authority upon them to vet applicants and certify them based on historical documentation as descendants of Sephardic Jews. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a FamilySearch Center near you. We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! Visitors. Its headquarters are on Avenida Alexandre Herculano, no.59 in Lisbon, where the synagogue Shaar Tikvah (Gates of Hope) is located. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department. If Im going to have this citizenship, I think its my responsibility to speak the language of that country, he says. The Jewish Community of Porto certifies Jews from traditional families of the Sephardic communities of Portuguese origin, and the Jewish community of Lisbon also accepts applications from people who may not be Jewish or Sephardic today but whose genealogy shows some Sephardic connections to Portugal. Mr. Joshua Pex is knowledgeable and Professional. Later, in 1916, this association will open the Hebrew Hospital that came to play such an important role in supporting the Jewish refugees during the 2nd World War. The support to the refugees of World War II. 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. Despite the expulsion and the persecution of their ancestral territory, they have kept, along with their descendants, not only the Portuguese language, in some cases, but also the traditional rites of the ancient Jewish worship in Portugal, saving their surnames over generations, objects and documents proving their Portuguese origin, along with a strong memorial connection to Portugal. My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili. Because we appreciated their lawyers services, we recommended businesses and individuals again and again to go there as well. c. Click on the town or city you wish to search. Home; About Us; Contact. Schwartz first arrived in Belmonte at the beginning of the breakout of World War I. We will be applying from the US. If you need to, click to watch our support tutorial. News. While Trevors great great grandmother used the surname De Pinna, generations prior to that used De Pina, Pina, or just Sarfati. We can help you turn that letter into a Portuguese citizenship. My grandmothers family was Jewish and we knew about the Jewish background, but she was not religious. In 1143, when King D. Afonso Henriques received recognition of Portugal as an independent kingdom, the Jews had been present on the Iberian Peninsula for over a millennium. [2]https://www.larraurimarti.com/en/amendments-portuguese-nationality-process-for-sephardimwindow.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_15863_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_15863_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });});. In case of the Israelite Community of Porto, the amount of such donations is 250. There is no such requirement concerning the issuing of Jewish Community of Lisbons certification and our community has neither a special partnership with any law office nor shall recommend any specific one. Thanks to Michael Decker and the other good people at the law office, as well as to the virtue of my ancestors, the cruelty of the Inquisition, reparations issued in the Iberian Peninsula, and etc, I am delighted to be on track for Portuguese and European Union Citizenship! Documents from when your ancestors arrived in their current country. After surnames, the next best place to start is relatives, particularly older ones. Lisbon Jewish Community - Official Site . Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. Until the 15th century, some Jews occupied very prominent places in Portuguese political and economic life. Some even erroneously think that having obtain a recommendation letter, they already have citizenship. June 17, 2022 . It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community. Is a recommendation letter from the Jewish community in Porto or Lisbon enough to acquire Portuguese citizenship? These institutions played a crucial role in the unity and organization of the Portuguese Judaism. Please note that our internal Experts Committee verifies the information provided but does not run genealogical studies itself. While some people will have inherited property in Portugal and others may have visited Portugal throughout their lives, the vast majority of those with Sephardic routes living in other countries are unlikely to have these ties to Portugal. According to historian Antnio Jos Saraiva, 40,000 individuals were charged by the Portuguese Inquisition. I am exploring the DIY route first and I'm hoping the Facebook groups you suggested might help me. Reason why it was called Hebrew Colony, as happened to the English or German colonies. This royal diploma has a real historical importance, as it represents an implicit recognition, although not yet formal, of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon. Be patient, but also start early, says Trevor, whose aunt is also now applying. I dont think this law will be around forever, says Jonah. The Jewish Community of Prague (JCP) unites persons of Jewish religion, nationality or lineage who have a permanent residence in the sphere of JCPs territorial authority or are in other kind of relation to Prague and who are not members of any other religious denominations or non-Jewish religious communities. Trevor speaks what he describes as passable Portuguese, having studied through Duolingo and later through a Portuguese class he took in London. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. She didnt talk about her background very much, so we didnt know many details about her background. You will be asked to donate (Porto: 250 - Lisbon: 500) to the Jewish Community that will issue the Sephardi Ancestry Certificate. The secret community was discovered in 1917 by a Polish Jewish mining engineer named Samuel Schwartz. For Trevor, the process was a long one. Although you can make a correction to your application once it has been submitted, its highly recommended that you try and get everything right the first time round. 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. 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 Not being able to obtain the legalization of the community, the Jews from Lisbon created, especially during the second half of the 19th century, charities in the form of autonomous organizations, whose statutes were subject to approval by the civil government, or in the form of private foundations, usually managed by ladies. Hi James, Working in European market and international now, I couldnt dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. Could you please also send me a list of the lawyers you recommend. Josh has been helping me on and off for a few years now. He helped us several times to understand what was likely and unlikely to occur as the next step. Helping us manage our expectations was extremely useful to us. The Jewish community is small in Lisbon, and kosher food has been extremely difficult to get in the city, often impossible in the past. We were in a devastating situation when my wife received an order from the immigration office to leave Israel within 30 days, without any explanation, after we have been married and in the process for six and a half years. Launched the first stone in 1902, the Shaar-Tikv Synagogue is finally inaugurated in 1904, culminating a more than 50 years old effort of the Jews of Lisbon. Definitely theyll be the lawyers representing me, my business at every international aspect and on personal development. JDC Lisbon List of Polish Jewish Passengers to . It is the main synagogue of the . The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. Thank you. He is trustworthy, fair, and goes above and beyond to advocate for the vulnerable. Not included. These include the community of Porto or Lisbon. A while ago, visitors who eat only kosher food were required to bring back from home their own products to eat. During the inquisition period, Jews were persecuted in Spain and Portugal. Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. 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. The current Hebrew community of Lisbon originates from the groups of Sephardic Jews who settled in Portugal in the beginning of the 19th century. No. Issue. Spouses may apply later for citizenship through the Portuguese Central Registry Office, not under this law amendment or its provisions but as any foreign spouse of a Portuguese citizen. I reported directly to him for various activities I performed as in intern. 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. Unfortunately, a right to live in Portugal doesnt necessarily mean that people are able to move to Portugal as wages and opportunities are often lower here than in other Western countries. They were people with an above average cultural level, knowing how to read and write and speaking, besides the liturgical Hebrew, Arabic or English and the Haketia, jewish-hispanic-moroccan dialect. The project, called Tikvah (Hebrew for "hope"),consists of a 41,645-square-foot structure created in collaboration with local architect Miguel . You will need a lot more than that. Genealogical According to the Conservatria dos Registos Centrais the certificates issued by the Jewish communities must be followed by the applicants genealogical tree. I appreciate your candor and evident integrity. For example, duringpassover, his family would always eat rice, something that is very specific to Sephardic Jews. We receive daily applications both from individuals and law firms. A recommendation is currently a mandatory first step on the path to acquiring citizenship for descendants of Sephardic Jews, but the bureaucratic process still take several years after this point. Hotel pickup offered Mobile ticket In fact, since a very large number of Spanish Jews migrated to Portugal when they were expelled from Spain, proving Spanish ancestry from families known to have lived in Portugal is also acceptable. Of them, in the mainland venues alone, 1,175 were burned at the stake, and an additional 633 burned in effigy. The rabbi was able to look at his parents ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) and was able to confirm that it was Sephardic. if possible, could you by chance share the names of one or two reliable laywers in Portugal? All content, including comments, should be treated as informational and not advice of any kind, including legal or financial advice. Can my spouse be granted nationality as well? Do I have to come to Portugal in person? We recently received our permanent residency after 23 years in Israel. Their patience, clear explanation and experience are very valuable. They will not let you down, feel free to contact them. The steps take differing amounts of time. I highly recommend! Trevor Lewis, whos from the US and lives in London with his husband, was unaware of his Portuguese background until he started looking into his grandmothers family tree. Hope to work with you in the future, and will send everyone I know in need of legal aid your way. Receipt of citizenship a birth registration form in Portuguese currently takes anywhere from 24 to 29 months. If you have one of these letters, but have not gone further than that, reach out to us now. 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. The price for the service was great! Nationality due to Sephardic progeny. I am interested in finding some good lawyers who speak English. Hi James, Make no mistake, there are a lot of documents and many of these need to be notarised and later apostilled. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. As well as lawyers, another professional service that many people work with is a genealogist. Therefore, the certificate must be provided with the genealogical tree indicating dates and places of ancestors birth, death and marriage. 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. They deserve more then 5 stars!! When we started looking into her family, we saw her grandmother [Trevors great great grandmother] had the surname De Pinna and we thought maybe she wasnt entirely Jewish or maybe she was Italian? But, despite that stumbling block, both Trevor and Jonah have developed strong ties to Portugal. That evidence, along with your family tree, is submitted to the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. Accomodations Meals Other entrance fees. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer. All the applications and attached documents/means of proof are kept in our records for future reference and a list of all issued certificates is sent monthly to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice. Explore the historic sites of vora and Belmonte, then make your way to the Douro Valley for a wine tasting and a river cruise. Youll find all the contacts below. JDC events and trips offer a rare window into corners of the global Jewish community that often go unseen, and an opportunity to witness firsthand the life-changing impact JDC makes every day . April 30, 2021. 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. 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. Actually, it will only be officially recognized by the Republican Government in 1912, precisely 416 years after the Edict of Expulsion and almost one century after the extinction of the Inquisition. And while the Jewish Communities were delegated governmental authority for the purpose of recognizing applicants as descended from Jews, they are otherwise unconnected to the government. This is at no additional cost to you and it does not affect our editorial standards in any way. The entire team is very friendly and responsive. I am a Jewish, 80-year-old American, and my wife is not Jewish. I just found this website! highly recommended. Included are names, ages, birth information, profession, citizenship of refugees, as well as the names and addresses of relatives abroad. 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 The process itself is not complicated but it does take time for the documentation to be gathered, duly translated and certified, and obviously thoroughly verified by all the parties involved. Things started moving once Mr. Pex came into the picture. We found Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. On the internet and began working with Ariel in late November 2021. The best lawyer firm Ive had dealt with. Have you received a letter of recommendation from one of the Jewish Communities in Portugal, whether Porto or Lisbon? The political opening of the post-April revolution and of the borders, with the entry of Portugal in the European Union, has provided the arrival to our country of Jewish Citizens from different countries, from Europe and Brazil. We will be applying from the US. The small print: Portugalist may generate a commission from mentioned products or services. The first company Jonah worked with were incredibly impersonal and ended up firing him as a client, but at least it gave him lots of information and pointed him in the right direction. I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! Portguese citizenship is big business, and there are a huge number of lawyers and experts who can help you through the process. In June 1941 Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the future Lubavitcher Rebbe, arrived in Lisbon together with his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (Moussia). All the legal requirements regarding the application of descendants of Sephardic Jews of Portuguese origin for Portuguese nationality (through naturalization) are clearly defined and stated in thePortuguese Decree-Law 30-A/2015and 26/2022 , which amended DL 237-A/2006 in which the Regulation on Portuguese Nationality is approved. Bar Mitzvah Certificate 10-pack. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. They conclude that the Government shares their understanding that any application received by the Jewish Community of Lisbon by 31 August . There is also many believe an economic incentive to the scheme as well: attracting Jews, particularly from countries like the US and Canada, many of whom are extremely well-educated and successful in their fields, would have a very positive effect on the Portuguese economy. Applying for membership in Lisbon and Porto's official Jewish community costs $300-$560 and is a required step for a Jew to become a Portuguese citizen under the 2013 law. Nevertheless, while this letter from the Jewish Community does not mean you hold citizenship, it is absolutely crucial to the citizenship application process. With a magnificent view over the city, it was the site chosen . You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. LISBON. Consequently, it is hardly news that Jewish quarters existed in Lisbon. Learn more 4 hours (approx.) Personalized transport in a luxury Mercedes vehicle which is disinfected several times a day. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. The family tree should fit on two pages at most, visible and understandable. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa) has appointed Rabbi Natan Peres, who formerly served in Manchester, London ( Lauderdale Road and Bevis Marks) and at the Esnoga in Amsterdam, to lead the congregation. A part of the application involves submitting a letter in which you describe your motivations for obtaining Portuguese citizenship and your connections to Portugal.