SEFARAD: The Untold Story of Jewish Portugal

About this event: On December 18, 2022, the world ushers in Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. This holiday commemorates the stunning military victory of the Maccabees over Syrian Greek rule in 164 ; it also celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and most notably, the restoration of religious freedom. In commemoration of our history, Jewish Heritage Alliance, co-sponsors, and co-hosting partners presented this special webinar on the story of Jewish Portugal. The history of Jews in Portugal extends back thousands of years. Some believe the earliest Jews arrived during biblical times although Jewish communal existence is dated to the Roman era. With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century C.E, Jews were persecuted by the Visigoths. Nonetheless, by the height of Jewish life in Medieval Portugal, there were over 150 Jewish communities throughout the nation. Every major town, village and port had a Judiaria (Jewish quarter) with its own institutions and places of w