8 hours - Shore private tour - from 299 for 2 people. (Note: Surnames regularly change across generations. 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. The steps take differing amounts of time. You are Eligible for a Portuguese Citizenship Through Marriage! So it is time to get your application in to the Portuguese government now, while the process is understood and well navigated, and your chances of receiving the necessary recommendation can be easily evaluated. The next stage, researching the family tree, will take considerably longer. 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. The best lawyer firm Ive had dealt with. 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. I am a Jewish, 80-year-old American, and my wife is not Jewish. The biggest mystery in this is which lawyer to pick and when do I need a lawyer, says Jonah. . $32.95. I believe my son can get all necessary documents to qualify for. This is the old Calada das Lages Cemetery, presently known as Afonso III . 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. My last name is Salita and Ive known my whole life that my family comes from either Spain or Portugal.. The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. Hi James, Neither CIL (the Lisbon community) nor CIP (the Porto community) make their records public, so in a sense youre doing things blind but, unfortunately, thats just a part of the process. Go to the Junta da Freguesia. The majority of Jews are scattered throughout Portugal and not affiliated with religious communities. These last two Jewish quarters were located in the vicinities of commercial ports and shipyards. 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. Usually, we expect a pre-approval from the Porto Jewish Community roughly around 48 hours after the Lisbon Jewish Community roughly around 45 days after applying. Included are names, ages, birth information, profession, citizenship of refugees, as well as the names and addresses of relatives abroad. The first step to apply for a certificate of residence in Portugal is, as often, to go to the Junta da Freguesia, in other words, the Borough Hall closest to your home. $32.95. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 150 Menachem Begin st., Tel Aviv, 6492105, Israel, Tel: (+972)3-3724722, Fax: (+972)774702790. The capital is home to the country's main Jewish community. Construction of the Shaar Tikv Synagogue. 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. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. I really recommend the law office's services. Can I file a family application? I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! Big news! How To Get Tax Refunds on a Donation to an Association (Israeli Amuta) or Public-Benefit Corporation? We will be applying from the US. Lisbon prosecutors and police searched Oporto's synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the houses of Jewish leaders. Close to 40 years after the Rebbe asked that the Tanya be printed in every city where a Yid lives, the 8,000th edition of Tanya came rolling off the press. It felt a lot more authentic, he says. His husband also speaks Portuguese, having lived in Brazil. Conservatriados Registos CentraisRua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 1981099-003 LisboaE-mail:registos.centrais@irn.mj.pt, Phone: (+351) 213 817 600Fax: (+351) 213 817 698. Be patient, but also start early, says Trevor, whose aunt is also now applying. In addition to the first Jewish quarter, in Pedreira neighbourhood . 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Some people already know that they have Sephardic Jewish heritage, while it can come as a surprise to others. 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. 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. Do I have to come to Portugal in person? Not included. 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; Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. During the inquisition period, Jews were persecuted in Spain and Portugal. A really excellent firm. Thus, despite the difficulties originated by the lack of official recognition, the community is able to acquire land for the construction of a new, proper and decent building. It meant that people from all over the world could easily obtain a second passport, many of whom had never been to Portugal. Site Powered By SiteBuilderAvenue.com For Jonah, the process went a lot faster. 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 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. ( New York Jewish Week) - A missed connection on the Brooklyn-bound 2 subway train sent the Jewish internet into a spiral this week, after stand-up comedian Chani Lisbon and her friend Yael. Besides his knowing the laws, regulations and procedures, Ariel also made us feel that he was truly interested in helping us to successfully work through this process in as smooth, timely, and frustration-free manner as possible. They helped me to obtain my expert working visa in Israel and even after that they responded further questions and gave me advices related to administrative issues in Israel which saved me a lot of time. 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. The choice was either convert, try living as a Jew in secret as many did in places like Belmonte, or leave the Iberian Peninsula altogether. April 30, 2021. Its not longer enough to simply have Sephardic Jewish heritage; you now need to show ties to Portugal such as inherited property or regular trips to Portugal throughout your life. The fact that anyone arrested by the Inquisition was subject to having his property confiscated insured that the campaign was carried out with alacrity. Tilted walls covered in blue ceramic tiles will break up the white geometric exterior of Tikva, a Jewish museum that New York office Studio Libeskind is designing in the district of Belm in Lisbon. 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. Until the 15th century, some Jews occupied very prominent places in Portuguese political and economic life. A Certification Committee to issue the certificates to be mailed to the applicants or to their legal representatives. Full passport copy certified by a Portuguese Consulate or apostilled 3. Decree Law No. We will be forever grateful for all of the help, guidance and support which Ariel Galili of Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. provided through this process. 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? The Jewish Federation of New Mexico will be accepting applications until the Spanish law expires on Oct. 1, 2018. All Jews share the same Synagogue, Shar Tikva, which has kept the original post Inquisition Sephardic Moroccan ritual. He first contacted the Portuguese Law Firm in the Autumn of 2015 and then, once he had carried out sufficient research, was able to submit his application around a year later. 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). But you will not be able to request a passport with a letter from the Jewish Community alone. Hope to work with you in the future, and will send everyone I know in need of legal aid your way. His family members were also regularly married a day before a major Jewish holiday, another trait of Sephardic Jews. The first step towards the official recognition of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon dates back to 1868, when a license is conceded by the Government, through a charter from D.Lus giving the "Jews of Lisbon permission to install a cemetery for the burial of their coreligionists". Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? I will take a look at all of the Facebook groups you mentioned. God bless you dear Maria, you have exceeded your professional duty by containing us and collaborating with us in hard times, very hard, for that we want to thank you publicly, you are unique!!! In just a matter of weeks (as of 01.04.22) these letters may no longer be valid. JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. 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. Only three of them will be mentioned: SOMEJ-NOPHLIM(Amparo dos Pobres): Created in 1865 by Simo Anahory with the purpose of helping the poor. Since 1810 several houses of prayer existed in Lisbon, but these hardly met the necessary conditions for worship, as they were located in modest floors. Thank you for such an excellent article. Donations. We recently received our permanent residency after 23 years in Israel. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Testimonial to be provided either/or by external experts, your Sephardic communitys rabbi, people who know the applicant, etc. The team of lawyers and assistants are incredibly professional. He slowly gained the trust of Belmonte's crypto-Jews when he recited the Shema Yisrael prayer and uttered the . All taxes. But since the turn of the 21st century it has been experiencing a renaissance of its Jewish life. highly recommended. Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. Lisbon Jewish Community web site. 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. The sumptuous Synagogue of Shaar Tikva is a must-see when you want to meet Lisbon's Jewish community. Thanks in advance. I am so impressed and in awe of all the work you have done to become a Portuguese citizen. That is not the case. It was the first synagogue built after the antisemitic laws of 1496. Timeframes for the application vary, but most people should expect the process to take around 2 years. It is the cemetery of the old Calada das Lajes, today Afonso III, still in operation. He had just married his wife, Agatha Barbasch, in April 1914, in Odessa. But from that time, the community will suffer, due to the European events, a profound change both in its action and in its composition. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer. Shaar Tikvah S ynagogue. Reason why it was called Hebrew Colony, as happened to the English or German colonies. I want to know that I hire good attorneys that know what they are doing. Request a Resident Certificate. There are indeed some family names which are commonly accepted to belong to descendants of Portuguese Jewish families but your family name may have changed along the years. Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted! We have Portuguese Friends. Incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, accessible, and evident across the board that they truly care about the people they are helping. 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 first step to the official recognition of Israeli Community of Lisbon dates from 1868, when the Government grants a Permit, through a Charter from King D. Lus that gives "Jews from Lisbon the permission to establish a cemetery to bury their co-religionists". In 1920 Captain Barros Bastos founded the Jewish community of Porto and embarked on a campaign to persuade crypto-Jews to return to the Judaism of their ancestors. and must be sent through the We Transfer system. 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. (list of documentation) Immerse yourself in Jewish history and culture during this 4-hour private tour of Lisbon's Jewish community. Shaar Tikv Synagogue. The service is amazing! We contacted Mr. Pex and he was ready to help us when he heard of our situation. In the northeastern city of Braganca, the municipality last week opened a two-story Sephardi Interpretive Center which focuses on the life of Jews under persecution in 15th and 16th centuries. GUEMILUT HASSADIM: founded in 1892 by Moses Anahory to provide spiritual aid and deal with Jewish burials. The family tree should be as complete as possible, based in the submitted documentation. When you hear Decker,Pex,Ofir &Co, you hear 10+ class services, luxurious professionals, confidentiality and exclusive attention to your needs. 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. These records, along with church books for the rest of the population, made up civil registration; however, when such books have been microfilmed . Once submitted, youll be given an access code so you can check the status of your application and then you wait. Jonah also speaks Portuguese, and has managed to get himself to roughly the C1-level by studying for around 3 hours per day for more than 18 months. We will be applying from the US. Jonah paid around $1350, which also included his flight to Washington, DC, where the Portuguese embassy is located which was essential as he was applying from the US. 2. Joshua Pex was both an amazing human being and an inspiring human rights attorney. The Jewish community is small in Lisbon, and kosher food has been extremely difficult to get in the city, often impossible in the past. It says once youve submitted youll be given an access code. While both Jonah and Trevor recommend sites like Ancestry.com, the main resource they recommend are the Facebook groups dedicated to the subject of Portuguese and Spanish Sephardic ancestry. All files sent digitally must be accompanied by a SINGLE file with the necessary documents, in PDF, A4 format, The few who stayed altered the proportions of the Lisbon community, until then mostly Sephardic. Aiming to give their clients the advice possible regarding the normative and the law of Israel. My Passover seder this year was spent in the company of the small Reform Jewish community in Lisbon, Portugal. They had numerous international contacts due not only to their commercial activities, but also to the family ties worldwide. That evidence, along with your family tree, is submitted to the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. 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. Certificate of Confirmation 10-pack. Tribunals were set up in a number of towns in Portugal, but also in the kingdoms overseas possessions, namely Brazil, Goa and Cape Verde. Officials in Washington and Spain have. We were very pleased and content with the services of this law firm. 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. The charge was that the Community granted certificates that affirmed the Sephardi heritage of anyone who sought Portuguese nationality and was willing to pay for it. After the massacre the crown softened its New Christian stance for a time, allowing migration. 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. The price for the service was great! 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! Explore the historic sites of vora and Belmonte, then make your way to the Douro Valley for a wine tasting and a river cruise. Was 100% satisfied. Applications should be presented at the Central Registry Offices (Conservatria dos Registos Centrais) in Lisbon, in diplomatic services, and the Portuguese Minister of Justice was invested the power of granting nationality. After surnames, the next best place to start is relatives, particularly older ones. My grandmothers family was Jewish and we knew about the Jewish background, but she was not religious. I dont think this law will be around forever, says Jonah. Portuguese ID documents, such as passports, may then be issued by the nearest Portuguese Consulate. administrativo@cilisboa.org info@cilisboa.org. I am satisfied with the services I needed and happy to have known them. He is completely trustworthy and high caliber in his work. 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. We definitely recommend using them. The anti-Semitic persecutions at the East, the fast rising of Nazism on Germany, cause the arrival at Portugal of the first Ashkenazi Jews, who quickly integrate into the Portuguese society and into the Community. A legal team that is friendly and cares for a superb result They supported us 100% and solved our case successfully, we couldn't be happier. As well as lawyers, another professional service that many people work with is a genealogist. Working almost single-handedly, he organised . 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. Get the book Moving to Portugal Made Simple on Amazon now. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; He says finding someone else who has done it is key, and will signiciatnly cut down your own research time significantly. We are now happily living in Israel and are so grateful to have Irena who is a genuinely nice person as our lawyer. The Sephardic Heritage Project. Today the Jewish Community of Lisbon has Sephardi and Ashkenazi members made up of post-war migrants from Germany, Poland, Eastern Europe and South America (mainly Brazil). 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. The Lisbon City Council issues certificates exclusively to Lisbon residents. Issue. Google is your friend, just search for "junta da fregusia + your city" to find the nearest town hall. Jonah personally has helped five people in these groups with their applications. Power of attorney 4. We reiterate the importance of using this model in order to simplify the analysis. . Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? I am honored to know them. He was able to get his application expedited to less than 6 months as he was living in London, citing Brexit as the reason. My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili. This royal diploma has a real historical importance, as it represents an implicit recognition, although not yet formal, of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon. You can either apply yourself or use a specialist service who will help you with the application and make sure that you have all the necessary documents. Contact us. Links. General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor. They also both provide a bullet-point list to guide you through the application. The official recognition of the community and the construction of the synagogue brought a new impulse to the community life in Lisbon. Spanish Jewish Expellees in Jamaica Process for Acquiring a Portuguese Passport, Spanish Anusim in Venezuela Portuguese Jewish Heritage, The Jewish History of Spain Issuance of a Portuguese Passport for Sephardic Jews, Jewish family names of Spanish/Portuguese origin in North and South America, Sephardic Jewish Spanish Citizenship Last Names, Civil Law Business & Administrative Lawyer, the community Rabbi was arrested for charges of corruption, Exploitation as a Reason for Canceling a Contract in Israel. You may be represented by a third party in your application and you neither have to come or reside in Portugal nor to speak Portuguese. The registration certificate is mandatory for European Union and other citizens (*) intending to stay in Portugal for longer than 3 months. We can help you turn that letter into a Portuguese citizenship. Thanks for all you do! The government may accept three types of documents. These institutions played a crucial role in the unity and organization of the Portuguese Judaism. The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. A Jewish community certificate: first step to a Portuguese citizenship Contact Us: 03-3724722 | 055-9781688 | office@lawoffice.org.il Home About About Us Meet the Team Media Coverage Payment Areas of Practice Real Estate Lawyer Family Law Inheritance Lawyer Traffic Lawyer Notary Services in Israel Amutot and non-profit organizations Arnona Thus, many Sephardic Jews were forced into exile and compelled to leave Portugal from the late fifteenth and early sixteenthcentury onwards, including thosewho had converted to Catholicism the conversos, also known as New Christians, Anusim or Marranos. Just found your page and it is fantastic! competent consulting, fast processing, reliable, warm & good team. 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. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. 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 Those who wish to apply for a Sephardic heritage certificate can apply online at . The small print: Portugalist may generate a commission from mentioned products or services. You Could be Eligible for Portuguese Citizenship, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60724509, https://www.larraurimarti.com/en/amendments-portuguese-nationality-process-for-sephardim, People of Sephardic Ancestry Pursuing Portuguese Citizenship, Spanish & Portuguese Citizenship by Sephardic Origin, From Erasmus Student to Lisbon Tour Guide: An Interview with Elena Bicu. I think I paid around 2,000 in the end, says Trevor, which isnt nothing, but I would rather know that this is going to happen rather than being stuck in limbo forever.. International Association of Jewish Genealogy Associations. We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! How long does it take? Highly recommend. One of the country's most interesting remote villages is Belmonte, 3 hours by car from Lisbon, where in 1917, a Polish mining engineer named Samuel Schwarz discovered a community of Jews still living in secret for over 500 years.