Synagogue found behind false wall

Giles Tremlett and Associated Press in Porto
Tuesday January 10, 2006
The Guardian

A 16th-century synagogue has been uncovered in the city of Porto, northern Portugal, after builders tore down walls in a building in the city's historic centre.

The synagogue, built when Jews could be burned at the stake for worshipping, was hidden behind a false wall in a four-storey building on a side street in what was once Porto's Jewish quarter.

The synagogue was discovered by a Catholic priest, Father Jardim Moreira, who was in charge of turning the building into an old people's home. Fr Moreira, a keen local historian who knew the neighbourhood had been the city's Jewish quarter in the 15th century, was told by builders about the false wall. "I knew there had to be some kind of Jewish symbol behind it," he told Associated Press.

Behind the wall was a carved granite repository, about 1.5metres (5ft) tall, arched at the top and facing east towards Jerusalem, in which the Torah scrolls were kept. The find matched written descriptions of a local synagogue by a 16th-century Jewish scholar, Immanuel Aboab.

In 1492 some 60,000 Jews poured into Portugal after being expelled from Spain. They were forced to live in a Jewish quarter and subjected to a curfew until Portugal also demanded that they convert or leave. Those who stayed remained at risk of persecution, and 3,000 were massacred in Lisbon in 1506.

As some of you may know my roots are in Portugal. The Belinfante family originates from Portugal. During that time their name was Cohen-Belinfante. They were Portugese Jews.

I have a family-book where is written (in Dutch) on the first page:

"The first of this family from whom by traditon is mentioned is:
Joseph
He flew in the year 1526 from Lisbon to get away from the inquisition that was introduced during that time in Portugal.
He went to live in European Turkey."

Hello Peter..nice to see you here
Thats interesting about your early ancestry in Portugal..the Jews, like Blacks have a very persecuted past don't they?
Actually. theres a standing joke in the family, regarding my roots, .with a mixed race French great grandmother and Jewish blood on grandfather's side..
when I say I wonder where my roots are, my youngest son says,
'Probably in the Caribbean, American south and the Wailing wall
He's probably right..but I would love to know more about them
I know your family has sad history due to the Holocaust Peter but you do have a family tree in place, which must be gratifying?

Peter - have you read The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler. If not, you'll find it very interesting. It's a great story set among secret Jews living in Lisbon in the sixteenth century - contains excellent historical information apart from being a good story.

Richard Zimler was born in New York but has lived in Portugal since 1990. He's a professor of journalism at the University of Porto.