The tragic story of Portuguese Jewry from the earliest times to the forcible conversion of 1497 and beyond is the theme of this study tour on the Jews of Portugal. The itinerary, meticulously designed, includes the main localities and remains of Jewish interest which enable us to reconstruct Jewish life in medieval Portugal and crypto-Jewish life for five centuries. Daily lectures survey various aspects of Jewish history in Portugal including the origins of Portuguese Jewry, communal and social life, the Jews in the service of the crown, cultural and religious life, science and literature, Hebrew books from Portugal, the arrival of Castilian Jews after 1492, Spanish and Portuguese Jewry between expulsion and conversion, exodus and flight, the Portuguese Inquisition and auto-da-fe, crypto-Jews from 1497 until today, and the Portuguese Diaspora in the east and west. Jewish art, Hebrew printing and ketubbot in Portugal, art and culture in the Portuguese Diaspora are studied and viewed. The seminar examines the fascinating chapters in Jewish history, the life of a community that reflects heroism, loyalty, martyrdom and suffering.

 

Mon, Jan 5:        Arrival in Lisbon.   Vegetarian dinner.                                                         LISBON

 

Tue, Jan 6:         Orientation and lecture: The Beginnings of Jewish Life in the Iberian Peninsula: 

                            Between Myth, Theology, & History, S. Sabar

                            Tour the Alfama district, where we visit the old Jewish Quarter.

                            Visit Belem to view the Belem Tower and visit Jerónimos Church.

                            Visit the synagogue.

                            Continue to Sintra to visit the Jewish Quarter and the Town Palace.       LISBON

 

Wed, Jan 7 ;        Lecture on the bus: The Defining Characteristics of Portuguese Jewry, K. Aron-Beller                                   Travel to Tomar to view the old Jewish Quarter and the old synagogue which is

                             now a small museum.

                             Tour the Templar castle Convento de Cristo with special attention paid to the cloisters.                                 Continue to Coimbra.                                                                                    COIMBRA

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Thu, Jan 8;          Lecture: The Judearia: Jewish Life in Medieval Portugal, K. Aron-Beller

                              Lecture: Jewish Art in the Iberian Peninsula: From Roman Times to Islamic and

                              Christian Influences, S. Sabar

                              Visit the old university town on the Mondego River which includes the square of

                              Praco de Comercio, the Convento de Santa Cruz, the University, and the location

                              of the medieval Jewish quarter and the site of the old synagogue.

                              Visit the splendid Biblioteca Ioanina. Travel to Oporto.                             OPORTO

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Fri, Jan 9:             Lecture: Spanish Refugees in Portugal and Portuguese Jews in the Royal Court,

                              K. Aron-Beller

                              Lecture: The “Lisbon School”: Hebrew Manuscript Illumination in 15th Century

                              Portugal, S. Sabar

                              Visit the synagogue of Oporto where Barros Basto founded his Yeshiva for crypto-                                      Jews who wanted to return to Judaism. Continue to visit what was once a medieval                                      synagogue.

                              Shabbat services followed by a kosher Shabbat dinner.                            OPORTO

 

Sat, Jan 10:          Shabbat services

                              Lecture: The Forcible Conversion of Spanish and Portuguese Jews, K.Aron-Beller                                        followed by a kosher Shabbat lunch                                                             OPORTO

 

Sun, Jan 11:          Travel to Gouveia to visit Da Casa Vivencia Judaica de Gouveia.

                              Continue to Trancoso to visit the Yizhak Cardozo Jewish Center and the recently                                          inaugurated synagogue. Packed kosher lunch.

                              Travel to Vilar Formoso to see the museum, Vilar Formoso Frontier of Peace and                                          Memorial of the Refugees and the Consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes.

                               Drive to Belmonte where a crypto-Jewish community that has survived until modern                                   times returned to Judaism.                                                                           BELMONTE

 

Mon, Jan 12:         Lecture: Crypto-Jews on Trial: The Portuguese Inquisition, K. Aron-Beller

                               Lecture: Circa 1492: The Last Phase of Jewish Art and Culture in the Iberian

                               Peninsula and Its Aftermath, S. Sabar

                               Visit the contemporary synagogue and the Museu Judaico de Belmonte with

                               one of the best collections of its kind in Portugal. Packed kosher lunch. BELMONTE 

 

Tue, Jan 13:          Travel to Castelo de Vide where we visit the synagogue located in the old Jewish                                          Quarter. Continue to Marvão, a small medieval village. Packed kosher lunch.

                              Continue to Evora, a beautiful town under the protection of UNESCO.        EVORA

 

Wed, Jan 14:         Visit the Jewish quarter as well as the first century temple, the Manuelistic Loios                                           Monastery now a Pousada, the Jesuit University and the cathedral. Visit the library

                               to hopefully see the Almanac of Zacuto. Continue to Lisbon.

                               Farewell dinner.                                                                                                  LISBON

 

Thu, Jan 15:          Transfer to the airport for departure.

 

                                                      PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

Lecturers:  Prof. Shalom Sabar (Emeritus), Dept. of Art History/Dept of Folklore and Folk Culture,

                  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

                   Dr. Kathy Aron-Beller, Lecturer in Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

                   and Tel Aviv University

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Price for land arrangements only:  Euro 3440 per person in a double room

      ***EARLY REGISTRATION UNTIL May 20, 2025: Euro 3390 per person in a double room***    

                                                                                                

Single supplement (Double room for Single Occupancy): Euro 630

              Price is based on minimum participants

 

Price for airfare from Israel (Tel Aviv-Lisbon-Tel Aviv): USD 524

              (Based on airfares and airport taxes in effect at time of publication and subject to change)

                          People joining us from abroad should meet us in the hotel in Lisbon or at the

                          Lisbon airport at the arrival of the flight of the group coming from Israel.

 

Deposit:  Euro 1,200 with registration, of which Euro 600 is non-refundable.

     Remainder of payment is to be paid by Oct. 1, 2025.   Please register promptly as our trips fill quickly.                                                

       

Hotels:

Hotel Altis Grand, Lisbon

Hotel Vila Galé, Coimbra

Hotel Crowne Plaza, Porto

Hotel Convento de Belmonte, Belmonte

Hotel M’Ar De Ar Aqueduto, Evora        

 

Cancellation fees:                                                                                            

                   Aug 1-Sep 30, 2025…….........................30%                                            

                   Oct 1-Nov 30, 2025 ……………..……...50%                                               

                   Dec 1, 2025 - Departure..…….…….......100%                                          

 

Trip includes:

•   Lectures by Prof. Shalom Sabar and Dr. Kathy Aron-Beller               

•   Local English-speaking tour guide                         

•   10 nights accommodation in 5-star hotels (and 1 night in 4-star) with daily buffet breakfasts,  vegetarian first and last dinners, kosher Shabbat meals and packed lunches according to the itinerary.

•   Local transport by tourist bus

•   Entrance fees according to itinerary      

               

 Not included in the price:                                     

• Obligatory health and cancellation travel insurance

• Visa fees if required

• Tips: Euro 100

                                                                          

Program subject to change:  All rights are reserved by Jewish Historical Seminars to make

staff substitutions if necessary and/or make changes to the program and conditions as

required by force majeure, including cancellation of the trip at any time due to drastic

changes in the situation. Participants are reminded that weather conditions cannot be

predicted and cancellations or changes to visits may be unavoidable.

 

Further information:

Contact Debbie:   Tel: 972.2.534.5191, Cell: +972.54.2212503    Fax: 972.2.5700005

                              Email: JHSeminars@gmail.com.   www.JewishHistoricalSeminars.com

                              The trip is run in conjunction with Ayala Travel and Tours, Jerusalem