The history of Jews in Portugal dates back to the Roman era when Jewish communities began to establish themselves on the Iberian Peninsula. By the time of the Visigothic rule in the 5th century, Jewish communities had become well integrated into the region, contributing significantly to commerce, culture, and intellectual life. However, the Visigoths, after converting to Christianity, introduced restrictive laws that forced Jews to convert or face exile. Despite these early challenges, Jewish life in Portugal continued to persist under different rulers.
When the Moors conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, including what is now Portugal, Jewish communities flourished. The Islamic rulers were relatively tolerant of religious minorities, allowing Jews to practice their faith and contribute to intellectual and economic life. Many Jews became prominent in fields like medicine, philosophy, and astronomy. This period of relative peace and prosperity lasted until the 12th century, when Christian forces began the "Reconquista", the gradual retaking of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors.
In 1143, Portugal became an independent Christian kingdom under "Afonso I", and Jewish communities initially thrived under Portuguese rule. Jewish people were often protected by royal decrees, and they played a crucial role in the kingdom's administration, serving as tax collectors, diplomats, and advisors to the crown. Notably, King "Duarte I" appointed "Isaac Abrabanel", a renowned Jewish philosopher, as his royal treasurer. Jews in Portugal also made significant contributions to the country's burgeoning maritime exploration efforts during the 15th century.
However, the golden age for Jews in Portugal began to unravel toward the end of the 15th century. In 1492, Spain's "Catholic Monarchs", Ferdinand and Isabella, issued the "Alhambra Decree", expelling all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity. Thousands of Spanish Jews fled to Portugal seeking refuge. Initially, King "João II" of Portugal accepted these Jewish refugees, but only temporarily. They were charged exorbitant fees and faced harsh living conditions. When the term of their stay expired, many Jews were forced into slavery or sold to other countries.
The situation worsened under King "Manuel I". In 1496, in order to marry the daughter of the Spanish monarchs, he agreed to issue an edict expelling all Jews from Portugal, mirroring Spain's expulsion. However, rather than enforcing a mass exodus, Manuel chose to forcibly convert many Jews to Christianity, creating a large population of "New Christians" or "Conversos". These individuals were still secretly practicing Judaism, which later led to suspicion and persecution. In 1506, the Lisbon Massacre occurred, where an enraged mob, fueled by anti-Jewish sentiment and rumors of heresy, murdered hundreds of Jews and Conversos in the capital city.
In 1536, the "Portuguese Inquisition" was formally established, modeled after the Spanish Inquisition. Its main target was the Conversos, whom the Church accused of secretly practicing Judaism, also known as "Crypto-Judaism". Thousands of people were arrested, tortured, and executed on charges of heresy. Many of these "New Christians" fled Portugal, seeking refuge in places like the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, Amsterdam, and Brazil. Those who stayed lived in constant fear of denunciation and persecution. The Inquisition lasted for over 200 years, leaving a deep scar on Portugal's Jewish population.
Despite the oppression, some Jewish families managed to maintain their identity in secret, passing down rituals and beliefs through the generations. A small number of Jewish communities survived in remote areas, particularly in "Belmonte", where descendants of Conversos preserved their traditions in secret for centuries. This group, known as the "Belmonte Jews", practiced their faith covertly until the 20th century, when they openly returned to Judaism.
Portugal's relationship with its Jewish population began to change in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1821, the Portuguese Inquisition was officially abolished, and Jews were once again allowed to practice their faith openly. A small but significant Jewish community began to re-establish itself, particularly in Lisbon and Porto. Many of these Jews were Sephardic families who had fled centuries earlier and were now returning to Portugal. The Portuguese government also began to acknowledge the contributions and sufferings of Jews throughout the country's history.
During World War II, Portugal, under the authoritarian regime of "António de Oliveira Salazar", remained neutral. Salazar’s government allowed the Portuguese diplomat "Aristides de Sousa Mendes" to issue thousands of visas to Jewish refugees escaping Nazi persecution, despite official orders to limit such aid. Mendes' actions saved thousands of lives, and he is remembered as one of the "Righteous Among the Nations" by Israel’s "Yad Vashem". This period marked an important chapter in Portugal's Jewish history, reflecting the complex and often contradictory nature of the country’s relationship with its Jewish population.
Today, Portugal's Jewish community is small but growing, with synagogues, cultural centers, and heritage sites across the country. In recent years, the Portuguese government has sought to reconcile with its past. In 2015, Portugal passed a law granting citizenship to the descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled during the 15th century, as part of an effort to acknowledge and rectify historical wrongs. This gesture, combined with efforts to preserve Jewish heritage sites, reflects a renewed interest in Portugal's Jewish past and a desire to honor the resilience and contributions of its Jewish population.
The story of Jews in Portugal is one of resilience and endurance. From early settlement and golden periods of prosperity to the brutalities of forced conversion, persecution, and eventual revival, the Jewish community has left an indelible mark on Portuguese history. Today, the preservation of Jewish heritage in Portugal stands as a testament to both the trials faced and the cultural richness contributed by Jews throughout the centuries.