The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/portuguese-synagogue/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 23:35:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Portuguese Synagogue | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/portuguese-synagogue/ 32 32 In face of rising antisemitism, Amsterdam’s Portugese synagogue celebrates 350 years https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-face-of-rising-antisemitism-amsterdams-portugese-synagogue-celebrates-350-years/ Sat, 13 Sep 2025 09:56:34 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3638611 King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands attends anniversary event for what was once the largest synagogue in the world

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]]> Built by conversos fleeing Spain, Amsterdam’s ancient Ets Haim library gets an update https://www.timesofisrael.com/built-by-conversos-fleeing-spain-amsterdams-ancient-ets-haim-library-gets-an-update/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:12:12 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3036990 Massive Encyclopedia of Jewish Book Cultures also underway by Dutch publisher Brill, who says 31 institutions already purchased access to the compilation to be complete in 3 years

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]]> Portugal’s government steps back from plan to change ‘law of return’ for Jews https://www.timesofisrael.com/no-drastic-change-to-portugals-law-of-return-for-jews-government-says/ Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:06:27 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2348337 After months of threatening to derail the 2015 nationality law with draconian requirements, Socialist Party says it will instead insist on applicants showing a 'genuine connection'

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]]> How a volunteer Jewish fire brigade saved the Dutch Portuguese Synagogue in WWII https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-volunteer-jewish-fire-brigade-saved-the-dutch-portuguese-synagogue-in-wwii/ Sun, 19 Jan 2020 02:43:50 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2209758 16-year-old with chutzpah convinced Nazis not to use Amsterdam's Esnoga as a collection point for deportation as his comrades helped rescue building from plunder -- and a bomb plot

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]]> Historical drama depicts untold story of the 1930s ‘Portuguese Dreyfus Affair’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/historical-drama-depicts-untold-story-of-the-1930s-portuguese-dreyfus-affair/ Tue, 15 Jan 2019 11:04:58 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1997845 Premiering January 15 in Miami, 'Sefarad' is the tale of a real-life Marrano WWI war hero who converts to Judaism, revives Oporto Jewry, and is expelled from the military for it

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]]> By Amsterdam’s Portuguese Synagogue, Spanish olive trees endure northern winters https://www.timesofisrael.com/by-amsterdams-portuguese-synagogue-spanish-olive-trees-endure-northern-winters/ Sun, 30 Dec 2018 21:22:17 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1988270 The grove is an homage to the Jewish community's Sephardic roots, but increasingly presents a challenge for ethical landscaping and sustainability

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]]> Food makers in Portugal are going kosher — and not why you think https://www.timesofisrael.com/food-makers-in-portugal-are-going-kosher-and-not-why-you-think/ Thu, 28 Dec 2017 04:26:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1754849 With about 20% of Iberians thought to possess Jewish ancestry, factory owners seek to get closer to Judaism through the products they make

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]]> A Yom Kippur tradition in Amsterdam dates back to the discovery of electricity https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-yom-kippur-tradition-in-amsterdam-dates-back-to-the-invention-of-electricity/ Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:57:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1699469 The famed Portuguese Synagogue sees some 200,000 tourists annually, but one day a year worshipers are privy to a stunningly beautiful sight

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]]> Centuries after excommunication, time to void ban on Spinoza? https://www.timesofisrael.com/centuries-after-excommunication-time-to-void-ban-on-spinoza/ Sat, 12 Dec 2015 11:21:15 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1300922 History's first secular Jew was banished by Amsterdam's Portuguese Jews for heresy in 1656. Now the community's shop flogs his books

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]]> Portugal’s oldest standing shul reopened https://www.timesofisrael.com/portugals-oldest-standing-shul-reopened/ Fri, 24 Apr 2015 07:38:59 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1172098 On remote island of Sao Miguel, the Sahar Hassamain synagogue has been restored with help of US donors

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]]> Dutch royals nix plans for party on Yom Kippur https://www.timesofisrael.com/dutch-royals-nix-plans-for-party-on-yom-kippur/ Thu, 22 Aug 2013 23:08:25 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=645924 Queen Beatrix reschedules event after death of her son; chief rabbi had called choice of previous date 'painful'

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]]> New cultural quarter resurrects Amsterdam’s Jewish past https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-cultural-quarter-resurrects-amsterdams-jewish-past/ Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:51:56 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=354950 Dutch capital earns international notice for efforts to rebuild a presence almost entirely wiped out during the Holocaust

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]]> EU boss: Jews exemplify cultural integration https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-boss-jews-exemplify-cultural-integration/ Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:09:14 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=338558 Preserving Jewish tradition is 'part of our European Union,' Barroso says

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]]> Amsterdam to name bridge for WWII savior of 350 Jewish children https://www.timesofisrael.com/amsterdam-to-name-bridge-for-wwii-savior-of-350-jewish-children/ Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:04:15 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=196114 As a student in Amsterdam in 1942, Pieter Meerburg was in charge of a network that smuggled Jewish children to safe houses across the Netherlands

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]]> Dutch synagogue wins EU restoration prize https://www.timesofisrael.com/dutch-synagogue-wins-eu-restoration-prize/ Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:50:42 +0000 http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=50192 Amsterdam's Portuguese Synagogue lauded for facelift that preserves its history and character

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