Unfortunately, however, this route isnt as easy as it once was. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. The family tree should be as complete as possible, based in the submitted documentation. We are now happily living in Israel and are so grateful to have Irena who is a genuinely nice person as our lawyer. At that point, he decided to investigate further. 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. We have been working with Decker, Pex Ofir & Co - Law Firm in Tel Aviv for many years very well. Working in European market and international now, I couldnt dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Hi James, As well as lawyers, another professional service that many people work with is a genealogist. The first company Jonah worked with were incredibly impersonal and ended up firing him as a client, but at least it gave him lots of information and pointed him in the right direction. Oh dear, like so many people in this post, I too would really appreciate a list of solicitors as well. Portuguese ID documents, such as passports, may then be issued by the nearest Portuguese Consulate. Hi James, The Lisbon City Council issues certificates exclusively to Lisbon residents. Donate. Go to the Junta da Freguesia. I will take a look at all of the Facebook groups you mentioned. There is also many believe an economic incentive to the scheme as well: attracting Jews, particularly from countries like the US and Canada, many of whom are extremely well-educated and successful in their fields, would have a very positive effect on the Portuguese economy. 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. Just found your page and it is fantastic! Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. I can highly recommend these services! Portuguese citizenship comes with a number of benefits, not least a Portuguese passport which gives you the right to live and work in Portugal and other EU countries. Visit to Shaar Tikva, the synagogue of Lisbon. Just found your page and it is fantastic! Best lawyer house from Israel! Conservatriados Registos CentraisRua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 1981099-003 LisboaE-mail:registos.centrais@irn.mj.pt, Phone: (+351) 213 817 600Fax: (+351) 213 817 698. It meant that people from all over the world could easily obtain a second passport, many of whom had never been to Portugal. If you need to, click to watch our support tutorial. LISBON: Portuguese prosecutors have detained a rabbi and carried out raids over the naturalisation process of a number of Jewish people, including Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea football club.. Portugal's Public Prosecution Service said late Friday that it has detained the leader of Porto's Jewish community, Daniel Litvak, as part of their investigation into . They are very friendly and professional. Power of attorney 4. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Important Jewish communities settled in this region and contributed to the flourishing of Its trade and culture. Once you have citizenship you can request your passport. Thank you for your guidance and support. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. In case of the Israelite Community of Porto, the amount of such donations is 250. The most popular Jewish Quarter of Lisbon is located in Alfama. Applying for membership in Lisbon and Porto's official Jewish community costs $300-$560 and is a required step for a Jew to become a Portuguese citizen under the 2013 law. 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. Petition to one of the Jewish Communities (Lisbon or Porto) is just the first stage of the process. The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). Jonah applied to Porto while Trevor applied to Lisbon. It's also very nice to know that you will receive response promptly; it made us feel we can really trust their services. Kaplan became inspired about the topic while researching her 2008 book, Dominican Haven: The Jewish Refugee Settlement in Sosua, 1940-1945, which chronicles the eventual path taken by German Jews who had been able to cross the Atlantic by way of Lisbon.Expanding upon that focus, she sought out diaries, letters, and other archives housed at the USC Shoah Foundation, the Fortunoff Archive at . The Portuguese Jews played an important role in this period in the support of refugees, first through the creation of the Portuguese Commission for the Assistance of the Jewish Refugees in Portugal directed by Augusto Esaguy, and later directly through the Communitys own refugee support section, chaired by Moiss Amzalak and whose great promoter was Elias Baruel. Jewish community certificate with religious-related status in Portugal, under the law in force at the date of entry of the Regulation, proving Sephardic Jewish lineage of Portuguese origin, through surname, family language, genealogy, and family memory. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. You may obtain further and accurate information at the nearest Portuguese Consulate. Irena is knowledgeable, reliable and competent lawyer who always had answers to all our questions which made us feel confident that everything would be fine with her assistance. 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. His family members were also regularly married a day before a major Jewish holiday, another trait of Sephardic Jews. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; As well as documents relating to his family tree, Jonah also submitted photos of his Bar Mitzvah, recipes that had been passed down through his family, and any other customs he could think of. 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. $16.95. Do I have to hire the services of a lawyer? Opened in 1904, the synagogue was named Shaare Tikva, which means Gates of Hope . Big news! April 30, 2021. 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. Learn more 4 hours (approx.) Nationality due to Sephardic progeny. and must be sent through the We Transfer system. Application Form Model B - example List of documents. The services I have received for both our Israeli non profit association but also our social business have helped us solve many issues at hand and provided solutions in complicated situations. Proof of residence such as electricity bills. Private Historical Jewish Tour of Lisbon 74 Reviews Lisbon, Portugal Share Save to Wishlist From $136.15 Price varies by group size Lowest Price Guarantee Select Date and Travelers Check Availability Reserve Now & Pay Later Free cancellation Up to 24 hours in advance. Inaugurated in 1904 and designed by Miguel Ventura Terra, the synagogue was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the 15th century. ( 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. Today, although smaller in number and with a tendency for gradual assimilation, the community keeps its essential services running: Synagogue, Cemetery, Social Center, Somej Nophlim Charitable Association. 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. All the above may be presented in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English. Timeframes for the application vary, but most people should expect the process to take around 2 years. Make your donation here. My wife and I strongly recommend anyone planning to go through this process seriously consider hiring Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. and, specifically, Ariel Galili. Any documents used to create that family tree. I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. This new criteria is confusing, but it shouldnt take too long too work out whether you meet this criteria. The Sephardic synagogue offers traditional services, study groups, children's activities, and cultural events and houses documents and religious objects dating back to the 1300s. Thank you. In addition to the first Jewish quarter, in Pedreira neighbourhood . Some even erroneously think that having obtain a recommendation letter, they already have citizenship. This group of Jews, mostly Poles, would play a remarkable role in the dynamization of this religious space, a singular synagogue, characterized by its openness to the outside, tolerance and understanding for Jews . 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. Located at the number 59 of Alexandre Herculano Street, it had to be built inside a walled yard, since it was not allowed the construction with frontage to the public road of temples not of Catholic religion, then the official religion of the State. Exclusive and specialized guide/driver. You will be asked to donate (Porto: 250 - Lisbon: 500) to the Jewish Community that will issue the Sephardi Ancestry Certificate. 8 hours - Shore private tour - from 299 for 2 people. The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. In June 1941 Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the future Lubavitcher Rebbe, arrived in Lisbon together with his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (Moussia). The Jewish Community of Prague (JCP) unites persons of Jewish religion, nationality or lineage who have a permanent residence in the sphere of JCPs territorial authority or are in other kind of relation to Prague and who are not members of any other religious denominations or non-Jewish religious communities. You'll also stop by historic . Both have slightly different requirements, and theres a lot of debate on the Facebook groups as to which one is better. Each member of the family, including the children, should file the application separately although, for the purpose of the certification issued by our community (step 1 above), having already checked the documentation of a member of the same family does make it easier to check the documentation. [More Info]. Certificate to Prove Portuguese Sephardic Ancestry and Tradition. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa) has appointed Rabbi Natan Peres, who formerly served in Manchester, London ( Lauderdale Road and Bevis Marks) and at the Esnoga in Amsterdam, to lead the congregation. c. Click on the town or city you wish to search. I am satisfied with the services I needed and happy to have known them. With a magnificent view over the city, it was the site chosen . which must respect the order of the documents as they appear in the table indicated in the procedures It brings together the Jews of Lisbon. The secret community was discovered in 1917 by a Polish Jewish mining engineer named Samuel Schwartz. Then, the Jews were still considered a foreign colony, and the community had not yet been given legal existence. 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. Do you have any reputable ones that are successfully doing it for less? 1 - applying for certification at the jewish community of lisbon (cil) 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). We will be applying from the US. The creation of a bulletin, directed by Joseph Benoliel, link between the community members, the organization of a library in 1915 and the foundation of the Hehaver Israeli Youth Association, in 1925, represent other stones of the consolidation of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon. If Im going to have this citizenship, I think its my responsibility to speak the language of that country, he says. Links. We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! I am honored to know them. The Shaar-Tikv synagogue celebrates 100 years, see here. PUBLIC ATTENDANCE: Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm | 2pm to 5 pm. Is a recommendation letter from the Jewish community in Porto or Lisbon enough to acquire Portuguese citizenship? The service is amazing! Our Customer Service Staff does a pre-analysis withoutcommitment of any advance donation or final approval obligation. The new process will be announced by September 2022, and the Jewish community will not issue new recommendations after 30.04.22. Jonah personally has helped five people in these groups with their applications. The current Hebrew community of Lisbon originates from the groups of Sephardic Jews who settled in Portugal in the beginning of the 19th century. 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. A recommendation is currently a mandatory first step on the path to acquiring citizenship for descendants of Sephardic Jews, but the bureaucratic process still take several years after this point. However the law does state that the following documents should be presented, including their translation into Portuguese, duly certified by the Portuguese consulate at the country of origin or residence and bearing the Hague Convention Apostille: The Portuguese Central Registry Office charges a non-refundable and pre-paid 250 fee per applicant. Sometimes documents are hard to find as many have been destroyed, often on purpose. Lisbon Jewish Community - Official Site . A Committee of Experts in Jewish Sephardic genealogy and the historical routes of the Jewish Iberian Diaspora to evaluate the provided means of proof. The Inquisition focused its attention on New Christians and crypto-Jews. Personally, I am grateful for support in visa issues as a foreigner living now in Israel for many years. Trevor Lewis, whos from the US and lives in London with his husband, was unaware of his Portuguese background until he started looking into his grandmothers family tree. I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! Once submitted, youll be given an access code so you can check the status of your application and then you wait. Past events; Future event; January 01,01 09:00:00 If/when possible, evidence of some level of ladino speaking proficiency/culture will be highly appreciated although its not a must. b. Click on "Places within Portugal, Lisboa" and a list of towns and cities will open. When we started looking into her family, we saw her grandmother [Trevors great great grandmother] had the surname De Pinna and we thought maybe she wasnt entirely Jewish or maybe she was Italian? I reported directly to him for various activities I performed as in intern. Do I have to come to Portugal in person? 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. Spouses may apply later for citizenship through the Portuguese Central Registry Office, not under this law amendment or its provisions but as any foreign spouse of a Portuguese citizen. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! The 1826 Constitutional Charter recognized only Catholicism as the religion allowed to Portuguese citizens, being the other cults only permitted to foreigners. Does my family name have to be in the list of Sephardic names? To be on the safe side, Trevor collected more documents from the synagogue and was able to trace his family tree back even further. Considering this historical heritage, the Portuguese Citizenship Act (Lei da Nacionalidade) was amended as to permit the acquisition of Portuguese citizenship by the descendants of Portugal's Sephardic Jews. I have been receiving services from this Law Firm for several years now and I want to say THANK YOU to the team, especially Joshua Pex. How do you get the access code if you are posting off documents? 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. Many have received their letter from the Jewish Community, but have not gone through the legal hurdles of processing their application for citizenship. - March 1, 2023. Actually, it will only be officially recognized by the Republican Government in 1912, precisely 416 years after the Edict of Expulsion and almost one century after the extinction of the Inquisition. 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!!! Emotional memory we expect the applicant to explain in short his motivation to apply for Portuguese nationality based on his Sephardic family and tradition roots. Aiming to give their clients the advice possible regarding the normative and the law of Israel. 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". The application should be presented to the Portuguese Central Registry Office (Conservatria dos Registos Centrais) in Lisbon and the Jewish Community of Lisbon has no involvement in the decision or even in the process. If you have one of these letters, but have not gone further than that, reach out to us now. But let's just quick gather the facts in few words: Portugal became an independent country back in 1143, almost one thousand years old, but the Jewish population already existed in Portugal for a long time. But are they worth it? Those who wish to apply for a Sephardic heritage certificate can apply online at . Therefore, the certificate must be provided with the genealogical tree indicating dates and places of ancestors birth, death and marriage. Since March 2015, several thousands of foreign citizens were granted Portuguese nationality under this law amendment and only a very small number were refused, mostly due to legal and technical reasons or lack of documentation. The next stage, researching the family tree, will take considerably longer. 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. Hes so confident in his language abilities that whenever he spoke to his lawyer in Lisbon, he did so in Portuguese. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He says finding someone else who has done it is key, and will signiciatnly cut down your own research time significantly. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community. We hereby, clarify that, a first opinion by e-mail is not binding. I am interested in finding some good lawyers who speak English. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach. They knew exactly how to handle my situation effectively and efficiently, and we got the result I needed without much fuss. Things started moving once Mr. Pex came into the picture. Do I have to reside in Portugal? Certificate from Jewish Community in Portugal or evidence as requested in next column: A) or B) 2. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Portuguese: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa - CIL) was officially recognized in 1913. Testimonial to be provided either/or by external experts, your Sephardic communitys rabbi, people who know the applicant, etc. He eventually needed a lawyer to submit the application to the Portuguese government, but was able to do a lot of the other work himself. Today, Portugal is home to between 5,000 and 6,000 Jews with the majority in Lisbon and Porto, whose communities have around 500 formal members each. I couldnt dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. When we have the money, well get a vacation home there, he promises himself. 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. I imagine this must be tiring re-sharing with everyone who asks, but would it be possible to share with me your list of suggested lawyers. Once confirmed, theyll provide a certificate which you can submit with your application to the Portuguese government. All files sent digitally must be accompanied by a SINGLE file with the necessary documents, in PDF, A4 format, Absolutely certainty means knowing all the facts about them, including their birth date, death date, marriage date, country of origin, and original full name. I couldnt dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. Construction of the Shaar Tikv Synagogue. if possible, could you by chance share the names of one or two reliable laywers in Portugal? Youll find all the contacts below. Very much recommended! Did anyone get the Portuguese nationality yet? Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! About us. That evidence, along with your family tree, is submitted to the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. The project, called Tikvah (Hebrew for "hope"),consists of a 41,645-square-foot structure created in collaboration with local architect Miguel . 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). 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. We recommend all those looking for immigration lawyers to get in touch. The answer to all the above questions is no. 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. Consequently, they are often referred to as Portuguese Jews or Jews of the Portuguese Nation. The project of the synagogue was designed by one the greatest architects of that time, Miguel Ventura Terra. Click here to get in contact with us. 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. Less practical but more sentimental is the birth certificate that the Portuguese government issues you. All taxes. Wander through Shaare Tikva, Lisbon's synagogue, and learn about the history of various religions in the city. Married to a Portuguese Citizen? 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. That is not the case. Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. I believe my son can get all necessary documents to qualify for. Hope to work with you in the future, and will send everyone I know in need of legal aid your way. James Cave / Last Updated: June 10, 2020 / Posted in: Sephardic Jewish Heritage? Have you received a letter of recommendation from one of the Jewish Communities in Portugal, whether Porto or Lisbon? Closed on Shabbat, Jewish Holidays and Portuguese Bank Holidays. 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. Joshua Pex was both an amazing human being and an inspiring human rights attorney. 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. 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.