How long does it take? However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. The fact that anyone arrested by the Inquisition was subject to having his property confiscated insured that the campaign was carried out with alacrity. We have been Jews forever. I recommend to everyone. Rua Alexandre Herculano, 59 Lisbon 1250-010. Our Customer Service Staff does a pre-analysis withoutcommitment of any advance donation or final approval obligation. 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. Can my spouse be granted nationality as well? 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. Jewish Community of Lisbon Tel: +351 213 931 130; [email protected]; www.cilisboa.org. Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? As a result of the war, locating work in Western Europe was nearly impossible. B-Mitzvah Gender Neutral Certificate 5-pack. Your place of birth and all of your other details wont change, but the fact that this is issued by the Portuguese government is a symbol of your heritage once again returning to you. Power of attorney 4. I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! . It is the cemetery of the old Calada das Lajes, today Afonso III, still in operation. The Sephardic Heritage Project. 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. It should mention the respective ancestry and descendancy (if necessary), places and dates of birth, marriage and death. Thus, in 1912 is created the Ub le Zion Hebrew studies association, whose great promoter is Adolfo Benarus, professor at the Faculty of Letters of Lisbon, writer and pedagogue, also founder of the Hebrew School in 1929, which once had close to a hundred students. This new criteria is confusing, but it shouldnt take too long too work out whether you meet this criteria. 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. Donate. Inaugurated in 1904 and designed by Miguel Ventura Terra, the synagogue was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the 15th century. I can highly recommend these services! 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. There are 7 steps involved, and you will be able to see what stage your application is at. Currently, applicants are not expected to be able to speak Portuguese and this is one of the few routes to Portuguese citizenship where this is the case. Included are names, ages, birth information, profession, citizenship of refugees, as well as the names and addresses of relatives abroad. Nationality due to Sephardic progeny. They deserve more then 5 stars!! We hereby, clarify that, a first opinion by e-mail is not binding. 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 support to the refugees of World War II. Did anyone get the Portuguese nationality yet? 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. In such case, please provide proof of your genealogical relation despite the name change. Just found your page and it is fantastic! The project, called Tikvah (Hebrew for "hope"),consists of a 41,645-square-foot structure created in collaboration with local architect Miguel . That is not the case. Birth certificates of ancestors that indicate they were a Sephardic Jew. GUEMILUT HASSADIM: founded in 1892 by Moses Anahory to provide spiritual aid and deal with Jewish burials. All of this adds up to a lot of documents, and its recommended that you keep them all in a tidy, organised folder on your computer. The documents must be translated, notarized, and sealed with an apostille (validation. Personal family name, records and documents (including image, video and audio) of family ceremonies,weddings, burials, registration at Jewish communities, birth certificates, property deeds, bibliography and book quotes, copies of inquisition archives and alike. Do I have to hire the services of a lawyer? They were people with an above average cultural level, knowing how to read and write and speaking, besides the liturgical Hebrew, Arabic or English and the Haketia, jewish-hispanic-moroccan dialect. Immerse yourself in Jewish history and culture during this 4-hour private tour of Lisbon's Jewish community. To be on the safe side, Trevor collected more documents from the synagogue and was able to trace his family tree back even further. Important Jewish communities settled in this region and contributed to the flourishing of Its trade and culture. Tribunals were set up in a number of towns in Portugal, but also in the kingdoms overseas possessions, namely Brazil, Goa and Cape Verde. All content, including comments, should be treated as informational and not advice of any kind, including legal or financial advice. Certificate to Prove Portuguese Sephardic Ancestry and Tradition. This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; Despite the expedited application, however, with research included the entire process still took around 17 months. Is a Jewish community certificate enough for Portuguese citizenship? The Jewish quarters were located inside castle walls and were named Big Jewish quarter, Small Jewish quarter and Jewish quarter of Alfama. In the meantime, some of them might be available at a FamilySearch Center near you. 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. Links to external websites do not constitute an endorsement. The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. I'm British, English Speaking with a full family tree demonstrating Sephardic connection. Applicants are expected to provide different means of proof and it is understood that they will not be the same in each particular case and some people wont be able to provide all of them: We propose this model bellow - A genealogical description with the direct ancestors in text . I am so impressed and in awe of all the work you have done to become a Portuguese citizen. Issue. It was the first synagogue built after the antisemitic laws of 1496. Thanks so much for the useful information. Administration staff to answer all questions, receive and perform a pre-check of the documentation. Critics of schemes like this suggest that, while it may help Portugal right a historical wrong (somewhat), it doesnt necessarily help Portugal advance. 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. General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor. Click here to get in contact with us. 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. Working in European market and international now, I couldnt dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Youll find all the contacts below. 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. A while ago, visitors who eat only kosher food were required to bring back from home their own products to eat. Altogether, there are thousands of pending applications and the applicant must be patient and wait for a nationality assignment process to take place beyond 18 months. The presence of these communities in the Iberian Peninsula goes a long way back, and in fact precedes the formation of the Iberian Christian kingdoms, namely Portugal. Sephardic Community Allliance. * We remind that this pre-analysis is not binding and definitive and does not mean the final approval of your process, checking in advance whether the process is eligible for due study and historical analysis in order to apply for Portuguese Nationality based on Decree-Law no. Very much recommended! 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 . 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 In just a matter of weeks (as of 01.04.22) these letters may no longer be valid. Documents from when your ancestors arrived in their current country. He was also able to find letters between old family members, one of which contained a hand-drawn family tree. 2. Nadia gave us service behind what we expected; she was professional which lead to fast and easy process with great result These include the community of Porto or Lisbon. 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). Petition to one of the Jewish Communities (Lisbon or Porto) is just the first stage of the process. His grandmothers grandmother was British and belonged to the Bevis Marks Synagogue in London. In Jonahs letter, he mentioned all the Sephardic rituals his family practiced. Party time in the heart, my beloved husband received his residence after so much time of battles and faith. He helped us several times to understand what was likely and unlikely to occur as the next step. Helping us manage our expectations was extremely useful to us. The project of the synagogue was designed by one the greatest architects of that time, Miguel Ventura Terra. Finally, Jonah got in touch with the Rabbi from his childhood synagogue who connected him with a Sephardic rabbi. Certified Document Proving Sephardic Jewish Heritage Portuguese authorities will accept proof of Sephardic Jewish heritage if one obtains a certificate from the Portuguese Jewish community in either Porto or Lisbon. News. Following a Russian oligarch scandal in 2022[1]https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60724509window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_15863_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_15863_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });});, the rules were tightened and this will ultimately make it more difficult for many people to claim their heritage this way. Thanks for your cooperation. Mike Decker and have know him for many years. Do I have to reside in Portugal? A Committee of Experts in Jewish Sephardic genealogy and the historical routes of the Jewish Iberian Diaspora to evaluate the provided means of proof. In 1904 the Shaare Tikvah (Gates of Hope) Synagogue, still in use today, opened in Lisbon. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. I highly recommend! Proof of residence such as electricity bills. c. Click on the town or city you wish to search. 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 majority of Jews are scattered throughout Portugal and not affiliated with religious communities. It will be a dream come true getting to live my life in Portuguese as my ancestors did.. This needs to be from a community of Portuguese origin approved under Portuguese law. As well as lawyers, another professional service that many people work with is a genealogist. The Jewish Federation of New Mexico will be accepting applications until the Spanish law expires on Oct. 1, 2018. I need to see if you can recommend a reliable attorney. We have been working with Decker, Pex Ofir & Co - Law Firm in Tel Aviv for many years very well. The few who stayed altered the proportions of the Lisbon community, until then mostly Sephardic. We highly recommend Advocate Joshua Pex! They really care about helping their customers without any other interest The official recognition of the community and the construction of the synagogue brought a new impulse to the community life in Lisbon. Since submitting his application, he has been able to trace the family tree back to Amsterdam and even back to Portugal. if possible, could you by chance share the names of one or two reliable laywers in Portugal? Although you can make a correction to your application once it has been submitted, its highly recommended that you try and get everything right the first time round. Once you have that, you can then apply for a Portuguese passport via your nearest Portuguese consulate or embassy. Neither the passport nor the birth certificate mention your Jewish identity nor the avenue by which you were able to get it: its exactly the same as any non-Jewish Portuguese persons passport. 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. LISBON. Some people already know that they have Sephardic Jewish heritage, while it can come as a surprise to others. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer. They said that the Portuguese Government had not responded to their request for clarification on citizenship for people of Sephardic ancestry. Construction of the Shaar Tikv Synagogue. Conservatriados Registos CentraisRua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 1981099-003 LisboaE-mail:[email protected], Phone: (+351) 213 817 600Fax: (+351) 213 817 698. 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. Because we appreciated their lawyers services, we recommended businesses and individuals again and again to go there as well. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors or omissions or damages arising from its display or use. However, King Manuel I of Portugal, who had initially issued a royal-decree law guaranteeing their protection, ordered in 1496 the expulsion of all Jews thatdid not convert to Catholicism. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. These returning Jews originally worshipped in their homes. 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. Both Trevor and Jonah initially turned to the internet for help. Do you have any reputable ones that are successfully doing it for less? Links. Lisbon's modern Jewish community: Lisbon's main synagogue called Shaare Tikva, or Gates of Hope, is a historic synagogue in Lisbon. Parallel to their rapid and successful integration in the Portuguese living, the first groups of Jews immediately sought to organize as such, creating prayer rooms and acquiring land to bury the dead according to the Jewish ritual. The service is amazing! 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. Naturally, there are costs to all of this, especially when you start getting lawyers involved, but there are other benefits to using a law firm as well. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. 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. Of them, in the mainland venues alone, 1,175 were burned at the stake, and an additional 633 burned in effigy. This is the old Calada das Lages Cemetery, presently known as Afonso III . The new process will be announced by September 2022, and the Jewish community will not issue new recommendations after 30.04.22. Site Powered By SiteBuilderAvenue.com 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. 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. Regardless of the reasons for the scheme, if you think you might have Sephardic Heritage, this is definitely worth looking into. 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. Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. $32.95. We reiterate the importance of using this model in order to simplify the analysis. 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. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. EU PASSPORT ! side in this intense legal transit whom we bless on every occasion. A legal team that is friendly and cares for a superb result 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. Thank you for your guidance and support. Contact us. ( 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. [2]https://www.larraurimarti.com/en/amendments-portuguese-nationality-process-for-sephardimwindow.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_15863_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_15863_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });});. Using them guaranteed honesty above all. These records, along with church books for the rest of the population, made up civil registration; however, when such books have been microfilmed . 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. But are they worth it? 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. 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. I just found this website! After a little bit more research, we realised that it was a Portuguese-Jewish surname., For Jonah Salita, also from the US and living in London, it was less of a surprise. Nevertheless, while this letter from the Jewish Community does not mean you hold citizenship, it is absolutely crucial to the citizenship application process. Owner: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa (CIL), Agency: Marqus de Pombal (Lisboa - Portugal), New applicants and general information - click here, Phones:+351 213 931 130 (Portuguese/English). Jonah applied to Porto while Trevor applied to Lisbon. The family tree should fit on two pages at most, visible and understandable. End your trip with walking tours in the cities of Porto and Lisbon . She was very professional in all her dealings and kept us informed all the way. 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. Schwartz first arrived in Belmonte at the beginning of the breakout of World War I. Until the 60s the community remained demographically stable, but the creation of the State of Israel and the outbreak of the Colonial War lead to the departure of some families. June 17, 2022 . Make your donation here. 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. Donations. Shaar Tikv Synagogue. Do I have to speak Portuguese? We are very happy with the services. All files sent digitally must be accompanied by a SINGLE file with the necessary documents, in PDF, A4 format, Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. It will be sufficient to submit one of the following: Certificate from a Sephardic Community. He has helped our family with many battles over the years. Working almost single-handedly, he organised . We will be applying from the US. It is so difficult to get straight answers from the Misrad Hapnim, but you guys are straight shooters. The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). About us. 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. A Jewish community certificate: first step to a Portuguese citizenship Contact Us: 03-3724722 | 055-9781688 | [email protected] 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 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. Those who wish to apply for a Sephardic heritage certificate can apply online at . 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 For Jonah, the process went a lot faster. I am honored to know them. To find a microfilm: a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Portugal, Lisboa. The secret community was discovered in 1917 by a Polish Jewish mining engineer named Samuel Schwartz. Does my family name have to be in the list of Sephardic names? A Certification Committee to issue the certificates to be mailed to the applicants or to their legal representatives. 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. Our emigration law office specializes in helping the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews prove their ancestry so as to obtain a Portuguese passport. Oh dear, like so many people in this post, I too would really appreciate a list of solicitors as well. Also, we inform you that, in case of no approval, the donations given are not refundable, without prejudice of the process come to be analyzed again through presentation of additional documents. I am exploring the DIY route first and I'm hoping the Facebook groups you suggested might help me. The pandemic also caused delays in obtaining the required apostilles for various documents from various state agencies and the US State Department. This royal diploma has a real historical importance, as it represents an implicit recognition, although not yet formal, of the Hebrew Community of Lisbon. With this letter, we can apply and get the clock started on the 24-29 month wait for citizenship. 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. JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. He says finding someone else who has done it is key, and will signiciatnly cut down your own research time significantly. It meant that people from all over the world could easily obtain a second passport, many of whom had never been to Portugal. 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! I couldnt dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. For a correct and safe reception of your process, we recommend that you do not send the same submission repeatedly. After the massacre the crown softened its New Christian stance for a time, allowing migration. Irena Rosenberg and Michael Decker worked on my case, they are very professional and helpful. We can handle the bureaucratic side of the process and get your application submitted to the government before its too late. Upon the granting of nationality, the Central Registry Office shall issue and mail to the applicants address a Portuguese birth certificate. You were a calming energy during a storm - always breathed a sigh of relief after speaking with you. Obviously, this is a blight on Portugals past and one that, since 2015, Portugal is trying to atone for by providing those with Sephardic Jewish backgrounds the right to citizenship through a law of return. 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. 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. When finished, be sure to indicate the link for your transfer in the field below. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. A really excellent firm. We receive daily applications both from individuals and law firms. 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?

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