I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. But since the turn of the 21st century it has been experiencing a renaissance of its Jewish life. Hes so confident in his language abilities that whenever he spoke to his lawyer in Lisbon, he did so in Portuguese. We found Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. On the internet and began working with Ariel in late November 2021. We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted! 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. If you need to, click to watch our support tutorial. 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. Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? Consequently, it is hardly news that Jewish quarters existed in Lisbon. International Association of Jewish Genealogy Associations. 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. Very much recommended! We heard of Advocate Pex through a friend of a friend. Once you have citizenship you can request your passport. Irena is knowledgeable, reliable and competent lawyer who always had answers to all our questions which made us feel confident that everything would be fine with her assistance. Hi James, Highly recommend. 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. 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. He slowly gained the trust of Belmonte's crypto-Jews when he recited the Shema Yisrael prayer and uttered the . They will not let you down, feel free to contact them. The Sephardic Heritage Project. We are very happy with the services. Lisbon prosecutors and police searched Oporto's synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the houses of Jewish leaders. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. 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. A Jewish community certificate: first step to a Portuguese citizenship Mr. Joshua Pex is knowledgeable and Professional. Lisbon, Portugal Jewish History Tour - Jewish Virtual Library document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 150 Menachem Begin st., Tel Aviv, 6492105, Israel, Tel: (+972)3-3724722, Fax: (+972)774702790. 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. Hi James, Lisbon Jewish Community - cilisboa.org This single document is seen as the most important document in the process. Oh dear, like so many people in this post, I too would really appreciate a list of solicitors as well. Married to a Portuguese Citizen? Jonah coincidentally already had a strong connection to Portugal, as he was previously dating a Portuguese girl. She was very professional in all her dealings and kept us informed all the way. These institutions played a crucial role in the unity and organization of the Portuguese Judaism. We will be applying from the US. 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. We are Jews. About us. In this article, we will explain how a Jewish community certification can help you in obtaining status as a Portuguese citizenship, and what other steps are required to complete the process. End your trip with walking tours in the cities of Porto and Lisbon . The family tree should be as complete as possible, based in the submitted documentation. Thank you. New citizenship law has Jews flocking to tiny Portugal city These records, along with church books for the rest of the population, made up civil registration; however, when such books have been microfilmed . I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. Registering a Public-Benefit Company in Israel, UAE NGO Permits to the Palestinian Territories, Registration for Foreign NGOs Operating in Israel. Thankfully for Trevors aunt, family members who have the same family tree typically have a faster application process once one family member has already been accepted. Thanks for all you do! It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community. They said that the Portuguese Government had not responded to their request for clarification on citizenship for people of Sephardic ancestry. 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. Birth certificates of ancestors that indicate they were a Sephardic Jew. Construction of the Shaar Tikv Synagogue. These include the community of Porto or 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. It is so difficult to get straight answers from the Misrad Hapnim, but you guys are straight shooters. Portuguese citizenship for Sephardic Jews - Sephardic Citizenship JDC Lisbon List of Polish Jewish Passengers to . June 17, 2022 . 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. Private Historical Jewish Tour of Lisbon 2023 - Viator If Im going to have this citizenship, I think its my responsibility to speak the language of that country, he says. During the inquisition period, Jews were persecuted in Spain and Portugal. Click here to get in contact with us. 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. My step-mother (who adopted me at age 4 -- I'm 55 yrs old) has been eligible for citizenship (her brother already got citizenship in spain); i'm wondering if, as an adoptee, I am eligible for citizenship? 1 - applying for certification at the jewish community of lisbon (cil) By Decree-Law, it is mandatory to hold a certificate issued by the Portuguese Jewish Communities - duly registered locally under the status of religious legal entities, that is, the Jewish Communities of Lisbon (CIL) and of Porto (CIP). 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. My grandmothers family was Jewish and we knew about the Jewish background, but she was not religious. 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. competent consulting, fast processing, reliable, warm & good team. For Sephardic Jews Descendants - Relocate to Portugal Less practical but more sentimental is the birth certificate that the Portuguese government issues you. Therefore, the certificate must be provided with the genealogical tree indicating dates and places of ancestors birth, death and marriage. Jonah personally has helped five people in these groups with their applications. Obviously, this is a blight on Portugals past and one that, since 2015, Portugal is trying to atone for by providing those with Sephardic Jewish backgrounds the right to citizenship through a law of return. I can highly recommend these services! If/when possible, evidence of some level of ladino speaking proficiency/culture will be highly appreciated although its not a must. Portuguese citizenship for descendants of Sephardi Jews Private Jewish Heritage Tour of Lisbon. He eventually needed a lawyer to submit the application to the Portuguese government, but was able to do a lot of the other work himself. Nevertheless, while this letter from the Jewish Community does not mean you hold citizenship, it is absolutely crucial to the citizenship application process. This coming, increasingly growing, may give a new configuration to the Jewish community in Portugal. Do I have to speak Portuguese? Both have slightly different requirements, and theres a lot of debate on the Facebook groups as to which one is better. The next stage, researching the family tree, will take considerably longer. Photos: Oded Kaizerman/Anash.org. FR | DE | ES. Documents that show the Ladino language being used by your ancestors. These factors explain the fast economic and cultural growth both of the Jews from Lisbon and of the groups that were installing in Faro and Azores in that first half of the 19th century. The new process will be announced by September 2022, and the Jewish community will not issue new recommendations after 30.04.22. Using them guaranteed honesty above all. 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Kaplan became inspired about the topic while researching her 2008 book, Dominican Haven: The Jewish Refugee Settlement in Sosua, 1940-1945, which chronicles the eventual path taken by German Jews who had been able to cross the Atlantic by way of Lisbon.Expanding upon that focus, she sought out diaries, letters, and other archives housed at the USC Shoah Foundation, the Fortunoff Archive at . Guide of frequently asked questions on the acquisition of Portuguese Can my spouse be granted nationality as well? 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. They supported us 100% and solved our case successfully, we couldn't be happier. He was able to get his application expedited to less than 6 months as he was living in London, citing Brexit as the reason. 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. I am so impressed and in awe of all the work you have done to become a Portuguese citizen. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. 30-A/2015 and 26/2022, which amended DL 237-A/2006. Portugal's Jewish Heritage - 10 Days | kimkim The Lisbon City Council issues certificates exclusively to Lisbon residents. Josh has been helping me on and off for a few years now. Born in Brazil, Rabbi Peres grew up in New York and received ordination there as well as from Chacham Pinchas . It was the first synagogue built after the antisemitic laws of 1496. We were very satisfied with the service of Nehama. Depends on and is the responsibility of the Analysis Committee due final opinion, based on due historical analysis, and its process is subject to possible requests for additional documentation from this Committee. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; The Ohel Jacob Synagogue ("Tent of Jacob") was founded in 1934 by a small Jewish group of Ashkenazic origin from Central Europe. 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. But from that time, the community will suffer, due to the European events, a profound change both in its action and in its composition. 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. 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. Youll also need to submit documents proving your identity such as: Although Jonah thinks he can trace his family tree quite far back, he could only say with absolute certainty that his great grandparents were Sephardic Jews and youre only able to submit relatives that youre absolutely sure of. The service is amazing! Portugal was one of the first world powers to recognize the Jewish people and has served as an important home for the community ever since. By Decree-Law, it is mandatory to hold a certificate issued by the Portuguese Jewish Communities - duly registered locally under the status of religious legal entities, that is, the Jewish Communities of Lisbon (CIL) and of Porto (CIP). Right now a lot of people are rethinking whether its worth having a second passport.. 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. On 1 June 2022 the Jewish Community of Lisbon issued a statement. 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. 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. Have you received a letter of recommendation from one of the Jewish Communities in Portugal, whether Porto or 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. Did anyone get the Portuguese nationality yet? Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. I couldnt dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. The best lawyer firm Ive had dealt with. Lisboa (Lisbon), Portugal Genealogy FamilySearch Both used as many resources as they could find, citing Ancestry.com as one of the most helpful along with other sites like JewishGen. We have Portuguese Friends. [More Info]. Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. He was also able to find letters between old family members, one of which contained a hand-drawn family tree. The small print: Portugalist may generate a commission from mentioned products or services. The Sephardic synagogue offers traditional services, study groups, children's activities, and cultural events and houses documents and religious objects dating back to the 1300s. All Jews share the same Synagogue, Shar Tikva, which has kept the original post Inquisition Sephardic Moroccan ritual. which must respect the order of the documents as they appear in the table indicated in the procedures
Any documents used to create that family tree. Always ready to assist without regard to the time it takes. I really recommend the law office's services. In such case, please provide proof of your genealogical relation despite the name change. . By chance when his parents visited Lisbon for their 25th wedding anniversary, a tour guide mentioned this new law that Portugal had passed to allow Sephardic Jews to regain their citizenship. Married partners unfortunately dont get an automatic right to Portuguese citizenship as part of the Sephardic Citizenship scheme but may be able to apply for citizenship via the normal marriage or partner route once their partner obtains theirs. We had started the process on our own back in November 2020 via the Jewish Agency and Nefesh BNefesh, but soon became entangled in the delays and often-changing regulations due to Covid-19. This is the old Calada das Lages Cemetery, presently known as Afonso III . Google is your friend, just search for "junta da fregusia + your city" to find the nearest town hall. The Portuguese government place authority upon them to vet applicants and certify them based on historical documentation as descendants of Sephardic Jews. 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. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. Closed on Shabbat, Jewish Holidays and Portuguese Bank Holidays. I'm British, English Speaking with a full family tree demonstrating Sephardic connection. Once confirmed, theyll provide a certificate which you can submit with your application to the Portuguese government. Officials in Washington and Spain have. Personally, I am grateful for support in visa issues as a foreigner living now in Israel for many years. Find Portugalist on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Owner: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa (CIL), Agency: Marqus de Pombal (Lisboa - Portugal), New applicants and general information - click here, Phones:+351 213 931 130 (Portuguese/English). Lisbon - jewish heritage, history, synagogues, museums, areas and sites Sometimes documents are hard to find as many have been destroyed, often on purpose. Each member of the family, including the children, should file the application separately although, for the purpose of the certification issued by our community (step 1 above), having already checked the documentation of a member of the same family does make it easier to check the documentation. Jewish Community of Lisbon (Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa) 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. 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. In just a matter of weeks (as of 01.04.22) these letters may no longer be valid. 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. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. With this letter, we can apply and get the clock started on the 24-29 month wait for citizenship. The presence of these communities in the Iberian Peninsula goes a long way back, and in fact precedes the formation of the Iberian Christian kingdoms, namely Portugal. I am exploring the DIY route first and I'm hoping the Facebook groups you suggested might help me. Thank you for such an excellent article. When you hear Decker,Pex,Ofir &Co, you hear 10+ class services, luxurious professionals, confidentiality and exclusive attention to your needs. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. This is at no additional cost to you and it does not affect our editorial standards in any way. Until the 15th century, some Jews occupied very prominent places in Portuguese political and economic life. We can handle the bureaucratic side of the process and get your application submitted to the government before its too late. It brings together the Jews of Lisbon. Fee: For the application with the "Conservatria dos Registos Centrais": 250 EUROS - Methods accepted: Cashier's check, in EUROS, of bank in Portugal, payable to IRN, IP; You will need a lot more than that. Not included. Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. Sephardic Community Allliance. 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. Best lawyer house from Israel! 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. During the pandemic, my wife and I decided to move to Israel where I am originally from after living in the U.S. for over 20 years, but we had no idea how to go about securing visas before and after arriving in Israel. It felt a lot more authentic, he says. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer. As of September 2022, you will need to ask whether youre eligible based on the new criteria. Lisbon Jewish Quarter - The Lisbon Travel Guide - Updated 2023 Thanks in advance. Jewish Lisbon tour : explore the jewish districts and Sephardic history 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. Today, although smaller in number and with a tendency for gradual assimilation, the community keeps its essential services running: Synagogue, Cemetery, Social Center, Somej Nophlim Charitable Association. Lisbon If Jews had to flee the city in the 16th century, Lisbon was also the city that welcomed Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition or the transit of Jews fleeing Nazism to the American continent. One day while looking at a photo of his grandfathers family, he was struck by how similar his relatives looked to hers. 8 hours - Shore private tour - from 299 for 2 people. The Inquisition focused its attention on New Christians and crypto-Jews. While Trevors great great grandmother used the surname De Pinna, generations prior to that used De Pina, Pina, or just Sarfati. That evidence, along with your family tree, is submitted to the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. Some even erroneously think that having obtain a recommendation letter, they already have citizenship. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. ? and the Hebrew Hospital, providing at a daily basis food, clothing and health care to the refugees. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department. Trevor speaks what he describes as passable Portuguese, having studied through Duolingo and later through a Portuguese class he took in London. Birth certificate issued within the previous six month* 5. The current Hebrew community of Lisbon originates from the groups of Sephardic Jews who settled in Portugal in the beginning of the 19th century. After a little bit more research, we realised that it was a Portuguese-Jewish surname., For Jonah Salita, also from the US and living in London, it was less of a surprise. jewish community lisbon certificate. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. The Jewish quarters were located inside castle walls and were named Big Jewish quarter, Small Jewish quarter and Jewish quarter of Alfama.