Monday to Thursday:	from	09h00 to 12h00
and	from	14h00 to 17h00
Friday:	from	09h00 to 12h00

(The Synagogue is closed to the public on:

Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday and on all national public holidays and Jewish religious holidays)

The Shaaré-Tikvá synagogue was opened on the 18th of May 1904 and was the culmination of over 50 years of hard work by the Jews of Lisbon.
With the decline of the Inquisition and its abolition, in 1821, families of Sephardic Jews decided to return to Portugal.
Most of these Jews were merchants from Morocco (Tangiers, Tetuan and Mogador) and Gibraltar. Some of the names of these families still reflected their Iberian origins, from before the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal.
The family names Conqui (from the word Cuenca, the Portuguese province of Cuenca) and Cardoso (from the name Cardoso, a town in the Portuguese district of Viseu) are examples of this.
These were people with a cultural level greatly superior to the average. They could read, speak and write in liturgical Hebrew, Arabic, English and Hakitia, the Moroccan judeo-hispanic dialect.
They all had numerous international contacts, not only because of their business activities but also because of their family ties all over the world.
These factors explain the rapid economic and cultural development, not only of the Lisbon Jews, but also of the many families, which arrived in the Azores and the south of Portugal (in Faro) during the first half of the 19th century.
Alongside their successful integration into Portuguese everyday life, the first Jewish families immediately sought to create a community life, and established houses of prayer and purchased land where they could bury their dead according to the Jewish rite.
The first tomb was of José Amzalak, who died on the 26th of February 1804, and is buried, in a small plot, which was part of the "Estrela British Cemetery" in Lisbon, - undoubtedly because of the British nationality of the first Lisbon Jews, who were from Gibraltar.
By 1810, there were already three small places of worship, which operated within private apartments.
The first official synagogue dated from 1813 and was founded by Rabbi Abraham Dabella, in the "Beco da Linheira". When Rabbi Dabella died, in 1853, this synagogue had become a congregation, which was the embryo of the current Jewish Community, and was led by Leão Amzalak, Levy Bensabat and Abraham Cohen.
The first steps towards the creation and simultaneous recognition of the Lisbon Jewish Community were taken in 1868, when the Portuguese government, in a decree by the King D. Luis, granted "the Jews of Lisbon, permission to establish a cemetery to bury their coreligionists".
This cemetery is located at the Calçada das Lajes and is still in use. This royal grant is of historic importance as it involved the implicit, albeit unofficial, recognition of the Lisbon Jewish Community. It should be noted that, at that time, the Jews were considered to be a "foreign colony".
The 1868 Constitutional Charter recognised Catholicism as the only religion practised by the Portuguese people, other religions being practiced by foreigners. It was in this sense that the "Israelite colony" was spoken of, in the same way as the "English colony" or the "German colony".
Unable to obtain the legalisation of their community, the Jews of Lisbon established numerous charitable institutions, particularly during the second part of the 19th century.
These independent associations or private foundations, the by-laws of which had to be submitted to the Civil Governor, were normally run by women.
These institutions played a decisive role in the unification and organisation of Portuguese Judaism.
The following are merely three of them:
Somej-Nophlim (support of the poor)
Founded in 1865 by Simão Anahory, in order to aid the poor.
In 1916, Simão Anahory also founded the Israelite Hospital, which provided invaluable assistance to refugees during the 2nd World War.
Guemilut Hassadim
Founded by Moses Anahory in 1892, to provide spiritual aid and Jewish burials.
Cozinha Economica: (low price canteen)
Founded in 1899, this institution, like the Israelite Hospital, was to play a decisive role in the provision of aid to refugees during the 2nd World War.
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Another decisive step towards the creation of the current Lisbon Jewish Community was taken in 1892, with the holding of a General Meeting of the Jews of Lisbon, in order to unify Shechita (ritual slaughter and the provision of meat).
Throughout the 19th century, various attempts were made to construct a building worthy of Jewish worship.
Great difficulties were encountered, particularly because the Jewish religion was not officially recognised by the Portuguese royalist regime.
This recognition was only gained subsequently, with the separation of Church and State implemented by the republican regime, in 1912.
This process, which was to culminate in 1897, with the creation of a committee for the construction of a single synagogue and the election of the 1st Committee of the Lisbon Jewish Community (Hon. President, Abraham Bensaúde, Serving President, Simão Anahory), commenced at the end of the 19th century, under the leadership of Isaac Levy and Simão Anahory.
Despite the difficulties caused by the lack of official recognition, the Jewish Community managed to purchase land for the construction of the synagogue.
The ceremonial inauguration of the Shaaré Tikvá (Gates of Hope) Synagogue, designed by the famous architect of that time, Ventura Terra, took place on the 19th of May 1904.
Located at number 59 Rua Alexandre Herculano, the synagogue was constructed inside a garden, because the legislation of that time did not permit non-Catholic places of worship to abut directly onto the public highway.
It was only after the establishment of the Portuguese Republic that the by-laws of the Jewish Community were finally approved by the government.
The Lisbon Jewish Community was officially recognised in 1912, exactly 416 years after the Edict to Expel the Jews from Portugal, (in 1497), and almost a century after the abolition of the Portuguese Inquisition (in 1821).
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The construction of the synagogue and the recognition of the Community gave a new impulse to Jewish community life in Lisbon.
The Hebraic Studies Association "Uba le Zion", led by Adolfo Benarus, a lecturer at the Lisbon Faculty of Letters, writer and teacher, was founded in 1912.
In 1929, Adolfo Benarus also founded the Lisbon Jewish School, which had almost one hundred pupils.
The school had three Hebraic studies teachers, in addition to teaching the official syllabus to children up to the age of 10.
The creation of an information bulletin, edited by Joseph Benoliel, which provided a real link between the members of the Jewish community, the organisation of a library in 1915, the creation of the Jewish Youth Organisation Hahaver in 1925, also helped to consolidate the Lisbon Jewish Community.
From this time onwards, the course of events, which was placing all Europe in turmoil, was to give rise to a profound change in the activity and composition of the Lisbon Community.
The anti-Semitic persecutions in Eastern Europe, particularly in Poland, and the rapid rise to power of Nazism in Germany led to the gradual arrival in Portugal of the first Ashkenazi Jews, who rapidly became integrated within Portuguese society and the Lisbon Jewish Community.
During the war, Portugal's neutrality and the grant of transit visas to almost one hundred thousand refugees, led to a continuous flow of tens of thousands of Jews, who arrived in Lisbon.
We recall here the name of Aristide de Sousa Mendes, the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux, who granted more than 30,000 Portuguese visas without the permission of his superiors and thus saved thousands of Jewish families from Nazism.
Lisbon was at that time the only European port from which it was possible to flee to the United States or Latin America.
The few Ashkenazi Jews who chose to remain in Lisbon changed the composition of the hitherto Sephardi majority of the Lisbon Community.
Portuguese Jews played a key role during this period in the provision of assistance to the refugees, with the creation of the "Portuguese Committee for the Assistance of Jewish Refugees in Portugal" (COMASSIS).
COMASSIS, which was funded by the JOINT and led by Augusto Esaguy and Elias Baruel, and had Moses Amzalak and Adolfo Benarus as its Honorary Chairmen, operated the "Cozinha Económica" and the Jewish Hospital and provided food, clothing and medical care to the refugees on a daily basis.
Unfortunately the government did not allow the refugees to settle in Portugal, and, unlike other countries of exile, the refugees did not establish cultural associations, businesses, etc. Portugal failed to benefit from the refugees' experience and initiative, because of the strict nationalism of Salazar and his fear that the Portuguese people might be "contaminated" by the foreigners.
The Lisbon Jewish Community remained demographically stable until 1961, when the outbreak of the Colonial War in Angola caused many young people and later whole families to emigrate to other countries, and particularly Israel, in order to avoid the war.
The Lisbon Jewish Community is now very reduced in size, (less than three hundred members) but strives hard to keep the following essential services in operation: the Synagogue, the Cemetery, the Community Centre and the Charitable Association "Somej Nophelim".

The centenar of the Lisbon Synagogue, the Shaaré Tikvá (Gates of Hope) Synagogue will be celebrated in 2002.
The Foundation Stone of the synagogue was laid on the 18th of Iyar 5662, (25th of May 1902) by Abraham H. Levy, in the presence of Leão Amzalak, the President of the Lisbon Jewish Community and of the entire Jewish "colony".
The synagogue was inaugurated two years later, thus crowning more than 50 years of work by the Jews of Lisbon.
Now, one hundred years later, we want to commemorate this solemn occasion, by recalling the synagogue's founders and by celebrating the fact that the Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue was the first purpose-built synagogue in Portugal, since the forced conversions and the official destruction of Portuguese Judaism in 1497, which decimated a flourishing and numerous community, which had contributed so much to the scientific, cultural and economic development of Portugal.
The commemorations of the centenary of the synagogue will have the following main aspects:
The Restoration and Renewal of the Synagogue
The synagogue, which was inaugurated in 1904, was designed by the architect, Miguel Ventura Terra, who was the winner of the Valmor Prize.
Ventura Terra was aided by Joaquim Bensaúde, a historian and the Honorary President of the Lisbon Jewish Community.
Only 40 years later, in 1949, Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue benefited from important renovation works, directed by the architect Carlos Ramos, once again supported by Joaquim Bensaúde, who although by then of advanced years and poor health, was nevertheless still one of the first subscribers and always very interested and enthusiastic about the works undertaken.
Today, our synagogue is once more in need of urgent and important works: which will involve the renewal and recuperation of its outdated facilities, the restoration of paintwork and decorative features, the reorganisation of some areas, in order to adapt them to current requirements.
We have a duty and responsibility to maintain, care for and improve this inheritance from our forefathers. Indeed, this is the best way to honour their memory.
The creation of a Jewish Museum
There is a generally acknowledged need for a Jewish Museum in Lisbon: because of the benefits this would bring, in terms of education and tourism: two million tourists visit Lisbon each summer, and many thousands of Portuguese students visit the Lisbon synagogue every year.
The creation of the Lisbon Jewish Museum will make it possible to exhibit and publicise a rich heritage, which includes antique religious objects, thousands of documents and photographic archives of Jewish life in Portugal over the centuries.
The creation of a museum in some parts of the Synagogue, which although somewhat limited in terms of space, will make it possible to give public exposure to important aspects of our religion, history and culture.
Exhibition and Catalogue:
"200 Years of A Community: The Modern Jewish Community of Lisbon"
In 1902, the royalist regime still prohibited the construction of non-Catholic places of worship, which abutted directly onto the public highway.
It was therefore necessary for our synagogue to be constructed within a garden, and to be comparatively hidden from view from the pavement. Most of Lisbon's population are therefore still unaware of the existence of the synagogue.
In 2002, we shall symbolically open up the synagogue onto the street and finally give everyone, both the Portuguese people and tourists the opportunity to learn about the history and life of our community.
We see this, as a general reminder that dialogue with the rest of society, in the knowledge of the cultural and religious differences, which exist, rather turning our backs on it, is the way to build amicable relations.
It is therefore our intention to mark the opening of the museum in the Synagogue with an exhibition on the theme of 200 years of the Life and History of the Lisbon Jewish Community: its origins, the long struggle during the 19th century to unify and legalise the community, the extraordinary work with thousands of refugees during the Second World War, the religious life of the community, its rabbis and the men and women, who gave it life and soul.
The Synagogue was classified as a Building of Public Interest in 1997 and the recuperation and restoration works will be carried out with the technical and financial support of the Portuguese State, represented by the Department of National Buildings and Monuments.
The Community will nevertheless still have to contribute almost half of the cost of the works. This will involve a financial effort, which is beyond the means of our small community (the community currently has three hundred registered members, the majority of whom are senior citizens or young students).
This is the reason why the Management Committee of the Lisbon Jewish Community appeals to the generosity of everyone, its members and friends and all those, who are simply interested in keeping alive a historic, cultural and religious heritage, which is unique in Portugal, by asking for contributions, to enable us to complete the necessary works.
Donations can be given in memory of loved ones, whose names can be commemorated on a plaque affixed within the Synagogue. Further details can be found at the end of this document.
Throughout the turbulent history of the 20th century and until the present day, the Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue has been the meeting place for Lisbon's Jews and the symbol of their presence and continued existence.

Help us to restore the Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue!
I wish to make a gift to assist the Lisbon Jewish Community, of:
________________			(Escudos / Euros / Dollars)
0	In cash
0	Crossed cheque in favour of the C.I.L.
0	By bank transfer to the C.I.L.'s account C.I.L. / Banco Espírito Santo, account no. 006/00557/000.9

Name: _____________________________________________

First name: __________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________

Town / Country: ______________________________________

Tel./ E-mail: _________________________________________

In the case of donations of 1.500.000 escudos and 2.500.000 escudos, a plaque will be placed in the synagogue bearing the names of loved one whose memory donors with to honour. (Print this page and send to: CIL rua Alexandre Herculano, 59 1250-010 - Lisboa Portugal)

Author: Esther Mucznik
Translation: Mark Robertson
Photos: Patricia Nanteuil
WebMaster: Patricia Nanteuil
More informations about the Shaaré Tikvá Synagogue: shaaretikva@multimania.com Very Soon:
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