The outbreak of 2nd World War, the neutrality policy that Portugal followed under the alliance with England and the granting of transit visas to close to one hundred thousand refugees, lead to an influx of tens of thousands of Jews to Portugal. You may obtain further and accurate information at the nearest Portuguese Consulate. The Jewish community is small in Lisbon, and kosher food has been extremely difficult to get in the city, often impossible in the past. 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. Incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, accessible, and evident across the board that they truly care about the people they are helping. 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? Full passport copy certified by a Portuguese Consulate or apostilled 3. LISBON. Lisbon Jewish Community - Official Site . I couldn't recommend them highly enough. We so much appreciate Mikes representation of us. However, regarding the stage of preparation and submission of the applications to the Portuguese authorities, you may find that the services of an experienced and qualified lawyer will proof to be quite useful. A valid and specific power of attorney (when not presented by the applicant himself). The answer to all the above questions is no. Mr. Joshua Pex is knowledgeable and Professional. Learn more 4 hours (approx.) Google is your friend, just search for "junta da fregusia + your city" to find the nearest town hall. competent consulting, fast processing, reliable, warm & good team. 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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. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. I have needed legal advice and assistance with immigration due to a complex situation of mine, and he has been extremely available and responsive, honest and clear about my route and how to proceed. After surnames, the next best place to start is relatives, particularly older ones. They will not let you down, feel free to contact them. Documents that show the Ladino language being used by your ancestors. Included are names, ages, birth information, profession, citizenship of refugees, as well as the names and addresses of relatives abroad. There is no such requirement concerning the issuing of Jewish Community of Lisbons certification and our community has neither a special partnership with any law office nor shall recommend any specific one. In 1920 Captain Barros Bastos founded the Jewish community of Porto and embarked on a campaign to persuade crypto-Jews to return to the Judaism of their ancestors. To be on the safe side, Trevor collected more documents from the synagogue and was able to trace his family tree back even further. Regardless of the reasons for the scheme, if you think you might have Sephardic Heritage, this is definitely worth looking into. Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. Jonah paid around $1350, which also included his flight to Washington, DC, where the Portuguese embassy is located which was essential as he was applying from the US. Portuguese ID documents, such as passports, may then be issued by the nearest Portuguese Consulate. Closed on Shabbat, Jewish Holidays and Portuguese Bank Holidays. Finally, Jonah got in touch with the Rabbi from his childhood synagogue who connected him with a Sephardic rabbi. You were a calming energy during a storm - always breathed a sigh of relief after speaking with you. In fact, since a very large number of Spanish Jews migrated to Portugal when they were expelled from Spain, proving Spanish ancestry from families known to have lived in Portugal is also acceptable. The advice Mr. Pex gave us was great, such as what to do, he gave useful links, and advice about which officials to contact. - March 1, 2023. 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. These documents include a birth certificate, a copy of a valid passport, and a criminal background check. We have been working with Decker, Pex Ofir & Co - Law Firm in Tel Aviv for many years very well. I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. 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. According to historian Antnio Jos Saraiva, 40,000 individuals were charged by the Portuguese Inquisition. Once you have citizenship you can request your passport. Born in Brazil, Rabbi Peres grew up in New York and received ordination there as well as from Chacham Pinchas . All content, including comments, should be treated as informational and not advice of any kind, including legal or financial advice. Does my family name have to be in the list of Sephardic names? 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. In 1860, a synagogue was built in Faro. Public liability and personal accidents insurance. And. Working in European market and international now, I couldnt dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. 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. The sumptuous Synagogue of Shaar Tikva is a must-see when you want to meet Lisbon's Jewish community. They deserve more then 5 stars!! It will be sufficient to submit one of the following: Certificate from a Sephardic Community. 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. I was impressed with his incredibly solid character. I will choose them again next time if needed. Was 100% satisfied. The Lisbon Jewish Community (CIL) has confirmed that it will continue the process of certifying descendants of Sephardic Jews for the purposes of a law under which they can secure Portuguese nationality, despite the criminal investigation into alleged irregularities on the part of the Jewish Community of Porto (CIP) in the naturalisation of Roman I couldnt dealt with my situation without their professionalism and effectiveness. To find a microfilm: a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Portugal, Lisboa. Home; About Us; Contact. 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. 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. The best lawyer firm Ive had dealt with. Go to the Junta da Freguesia. Ultimately, your goal is to put together clear evidence that you have Sephardic Jewish heritage. Wander through Shaare Tikva, Lisbon's synagogue, and learn about the history of various religions in the city. We recommend all those looking for immigration lawyers to get in touch. They had numerous international contacts due not only to their commercial activities, but also to the family ties worldwide. Jewish Community of Lisbon Tel: +351 213 931 130; sephardi.naturalization@comunidadeisraelitalisboa.org; www.cilisboa.org. 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. The steps take differing amounts of time. 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. If Im going to have this citizenship, I think its my responsibility to speak the language of that country, he says. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. All the applications and attached documents/means of proof are kept in our records for future reference and a list of all issued certificates is sent monthly to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice. A simple letter will do. Visit to Shaar Tikva, the synagogue of Lisbon. 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. Petition to one of the Jewish Communities (Lisbon or Porto) is just the first stage of the process. 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. It was the best decision choosing you as my lawyer. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. While both Jonah and Trevor recommend sites like Ancestry.com, the main resource they recommend are the Facebook groups dedicated to the subject of Portuguese and Spanish Sephardic ancestry. As well as legal fees, the application fee for citizenship costs around 200, which doesnt include the cost of applying for a passport. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 150 Menachem Begin st., Tel Aviv, 6492105, Israel, Tel: (+972)3-3724722, Fax: (+972)774702790. They also both provide a bullet-point list to guide you through the application. I am excited to move to Lisbon next year. Be patient, but also start early, says Trevor, whose aunt is also now applying. Did anyone get the Portuguese nationality yet? Less practical but more sentimental is the birth certificate that the Portuguese government issues you. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach. Since submitting his application, he has been able to trace the family tree back to Amsterdam and even back to Portugal. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Portuguese: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa - CIL) was officially recognized in 1913. Following the Alhambra Edict of 1492 and their persecution by theSpanish Inquisition, a very large number of Spanish Jews sought refuge in Portugal and joined the Portuguese Jewish communities. A Jewish community certificate: first step to a Portuguese citizenship Contact Us: 03-3724722 | 055-9781688 | office@lawoffice.org.il 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 These returning Jews originally worshipped in their homes. Exclusive and specialized guide/driver. The next stage, researching the family tree, will take considerably longer. 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". Rua Alexandre Herculano, 59 Lisbon 1250-010. I admire the Austrian citizenship team in Tel-Aviv branch! (Note: Surnames regularly change across generations. Thank you for your amazing job, your professionalism, your consultation and honesty. Please note that our internal Experts Committee verifies the information provided but does not run genealogical studies itself. When we have the money, well get a vacation home there, he promises himself. Any conviction with a crime punishable in Portugal with three years or more years imprisonment will make the applicant non-eligible; Power of attorney, when not presented by the applicant himself. Best lawyer house from Israel! if possible, could you by chance share the names of one or two reliable laywers in Portugal? We heard of Advocate Pex through a friend of a friend. Upon the granting of nationality, the Central Registry Office shall issue and mail to the applicants address a Portuguese birth certificate. Birth certificate issued within the previous six month* 5. Absolutely certainty means knowing all the facts about them, including their birth date, death date, marriage date, country of origin, and original full name. Thank you for such an excellent article. 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. I am so impressed and in awe of all the work you have done to become a Portuguese citizen. I believe my son can get all necessary documents to qualify for. 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. 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. Its not longer enough to simply have Sephardic Jewish heritage; you now need to show ties to Portugal such as inherited property or regular trips to Portugal throughout your life. $32.95. Every time we turned to Joshua we always got a professional quick and helpful respond. You can either apply yourself or use a specialist service who will help you with the application and make sure that you have all the necessary documents. FR | DE | ES. I recommend to everyone. Certificate from Jewish Community in Portugal or evidence as requested in next column: A) or B) 2. Fee: For the application with the "Conservatria dos Registos Centrais": 250 EUROS - Methods accepted: Cashier's check, in EUROS, of bank in Portugal, payable to IRN, IP; Thanks so much for the useful information. The following documents are required for the preparation of applications in our offices: 1. The price for the service was great! Another important step to the constitution of the present Jewish community of Lisbon is taken in 1894 with the holding of a general meeting of the Jews of Lisbon in order to unify the Shehit services (Ritual slaughter and provisioning of Kosher meat). 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. Reason why it was called Hebrew Colony, as happened to the English or German colonies. 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. and must be sent through the We Transfer system. Make your donation here. After Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich had obtained a recommendation for Portuguese citizenship, the community Rabbi was arrested for charges of corruption, and the process of ascertaining who has Sephardic roots will be removed from the purview of the Jewish communities in Portugal in the near future. In 1515 the king requested to establish an inquisition to systematically persecute New Christians, but it was initially denied by the Pope. News. The most popular Jewish Quarter of Lisbon is located in Alfama. We will be applying from the US. He has helped our family with many battles over the years. Cristina. With a magnificent view over the city, it was the site chosen . General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor. I am honored to know them. 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.