We achieved our goal and the fear of deportation has been lifted! 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. Trevors law firm also spoke to the Portuguese government and were able to allow him to submit his application without obtaining a criminal records check from Kenya, which would only have added more complications. 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. Photos: Oded Kaizerman/Anash.org. 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 Thank you for such an excellent article. Accomodations Meals Other entrance fees. Since submitting his application, he has been able to trace the family tree back to Amsterdam and even back to Portugal. Big news! Just found your page and it is fantastic! Working in European market and international now, I couldnt dare to let myself wide my wings on countries unknown to me. Joshua Pex was both an amazing human being and an inspiring human rights attorney. I need to see if you can recommend a reliable attorney. I really appreciate his courteous and direct approach. Rua Alexandre Herculano, 59 Lisbon 1250-010. The service is very professional and efficient, the price is right. We are very happy with the services. Right now a lot of people are rethinking whether its worth having a second passport.. Portugal Jewish community to end work with state in certifying citizenship The announcement comes in light of the investigation into Roman Abramovich's Portugese citizenship By ZVIKA KLEIN. We request that you complete this DIGITAL FORM in order to facilitate and speed up the process of identification and *pre-analysis (non-binding) of the process submitted by the applicant. The rabbi was able to look at his parents ketubah (Jewish marriage contract) and was able to confirm that it was Sephardic. After the massacre the crown softened its New Christian stance for a time, allowing migration. Party time in the heart, my beloved husband received his residence after so much time of battles and faith. Birth certificate issued in the previous six months. For Jonah, the process went a lot faster. Somehow they managed to translate the law lingo into language we actually understand and their outstanding YouTube videos helped us to have a better grasp of what process we had to go through. Proof of residence such as electricity bills. I know that my son can qualify for Portuguese Citizenship because all our ancestors are Sephardic and spoke Ladino. I am honored to know them. These returning Jews originally worshipped in their homes. $32.95. While Trevors great great grandmother used the surname De Pinna, generations prior to that used De Pina, Pina, or just Sarfati. The first step to apply for a certificate of residence in Portugal is, as often, to go to the Junta da Freguesia, in other words, the Borough Hall closest to your home. Thanks so much for the useful information. As well as lawyers, another professional service that many people work with is a genealogist. With this letter, we can apply and get the clock started on the 24-29 month wait for citizenship. She was very professional in all her dealings and kept us informed all the way. You will need a lot more than that. Regardless of the reasons for the scheme, if you think you might have Sephardic Heritage, this is definitely worth looking into. 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. Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? The Jewish community in Lisbon released an official document earlier this month announcing a return to full activity after ceasing to issue new permits for Portuguese citizenship processes. Links. Lisbon's Jewish community is centered around the Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa, or the Jewish Community of Lisbon, a community center that houses Shaare Tikva. 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. These include the community of Porto or Lisbon. Unfortunately, however, this route isnt as easy as it once was. Youll find all the contacts below. I reported directly to him for various activities I performed as in intern. I appreciate your candor and evident integrity. 8 hours - Shore private tour - from 299 for 2 people. All taxes. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 150 Menachem Begin st., Tel Aviv, 6492105, Israel, Tel: (+972)3-3724722, Fax: (+972)774702790. Thank you. I believe my son can get all necessary documents to qualify for. Our emigration law office specializes in helping the descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jews prove their ancestry so as to obtain a Portuguese passport. Please check with our Customer Service information about donations to do this process. 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. These last two Jewish quarters were located in the vicinities of commercial ports and shipyards. During the inquisition period, Jews were persecuted in Spain and Portugal. Birth certificate issued within the previous six month* 5. If you have one of these letters, but have not gone further than that, reach out to us now. A birth certificate (including name and parents name, proof of name changes when applicable, place and date of birth). A valid and specific power of attorney (when not presented by the applicant himself). How do you get the access code if you are posting off documents? Lisbon prosecutors and police searched Oporto's synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the houses of Jewish leaders. 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. The few who stayed altered the proportions of the Lisbon community, until then mostly Sephardic. The fact that anyone arrested by the Inquisition was subject to having his property confiscated insured that the campaign was carried out with alacrity. Some even erroneously think that having obtain a recommendation letter, they already have citizenship. Any documents used to create that family tree. Do I have to speak Portuguese? The smaller Jewish communities of Lisbon and Porto are the only organizations that can approve applications, which must show ties to one of them. 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. And. Closed on Shabbat, Jewish Holidays and Portuguese Bank Holidays. The family tree should fit on two pages at most, visible and understandable. Using them guaranteed honesty above all. 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. Can you suggest any genealogist and lawyers we can use? Some people already know that they have Sephardic Jewish heritage, while it can come as a surprise to others. With well trained and professional secretary at the front desk to the lawyers team, I could say that I had one of the most professional services possible. Sephardic Community Allliance. The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. EU PASSPORT ! This certificate must contain the following data : Full name; Date of birth; Birth; Membership; General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor. I feel most at home when Im in Lisbon, says Jonah, who has already spent time living in Portugal. The capital is home to the country's main Jewish community. We had a pleasure of working with Irena Rosenberg who assisted in getting our two U.S. born children registered in Israel and supported visa process for my wife in 2021. I think I paid around 2,000 in the end, says Trevor, which isnt nothing, but I would rather know that this is going to happen rather than being stuck in limbo forever.. All files sent digitally must be accompanied by a SINGLE file with the necessary documents, in PDF, A4 format, I highly recommend! We have Portuguese Friends. 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. 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. We found Decker, Pex, Ofir & Co. On the internet and began working with Ariel in late November 2021. side in this intense legal transit whom we bless on every occasion. Nadia gave us service behind what we expected; she was professional which lead to fast and easy process with great result 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. My last name is Salita and Ive known my whole life that my family comes from either Spain or Portugal.. It meant that people from all over the world could easily obtain a second passport, many of whom had never been to Portugal. How To Get Tax Refunds on a Donation to an Association (Israeli Amuta) or Public-Benefit Corporation? 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. Once recognition is obtained, the task of granting the status of a Portuguese citizen falls to the government of Portugal. Notorious anti-New Christian riots broke out in 1506, killing up to four thousand in a massacre in Lisbon. Hi James, I would like to thank Anat Levi and Ariel Galili from the Jerusalem branch for all of their efforts and patience, we could not have been Able to reach to where we are now without them. They are quick to respond, engaged, and obviously top-notch lawyers. 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). The Jewish Community of Lisbon has made available: The burden of proof rests on the applicant, who must provide as much evidence as possible, of all kinds, showing direct or collateral progenyand the tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin. They knew exactly how to handle my situation effectively and efficiently, and we got the result I needed without much fuss. Certificate of Confirmation 10-pack. I am delighted to report that my wife and I have just obtained our Israeli citizenship. How long does it take? I am a Jewish, 80-year-old American, and my wife is not Jewish. We can help you turn that letter into a Portuguese citizenship. 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. They are doing outstanding work. JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. [More Info]. But, despite that stumbling block, both Trevor and Jonah have developed strong ties to Portugal. Thanks in advance. That is not the case. 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. For example, duringpassover, his family would always eat rice, something that is very specific to Sephardic Jews. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. We bless and thank the entire team at Decker Pex Tal Ofir Law Firm. James, thank you for sending lawyer recommendations to others. Our Customer Service Staff does a pre-analysis withoutcommitment of any advance donation or final approval obligation. Nationality due to Sephardic progeny. 2,000 is still a lot of money, but its much cheaper than many other routes to citizenship such as Portugals Golden Visa Scheme. 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 Jewish Community of Lisbon Tel: +351 213 931 130; [email protected]; www.cilisboa.org. While he was approved in November of 2018, around 3 years after he began the process, it wasnt until August of 2019 when he received his birth certificate and was able to apply for his passport. Wander through Shaare Tikva, Lisbon's synagogue, and learn about the history of various religions in the city. You will be asked to donate (Porto: 250 - Lisbon: 500) to the Jewish Community that will issue the Sephardi Ancestry Certificate. I really recommend the law office's services. The new process will be announced by September 2022, and the Jewish community will not issue new recommendations after 30.04.22. Lisbon Synagogue was built in the early 1900s appropriately enough by Jews who had returned from a long exile in Morocco and Gibraltar. A simple letter will do. The anti-Semitic persecutions at the East, the fast rising of Nazism on Germany, cause the arrival at Portugal of the first Ashkenazi Jews, who quickly integrate into the Portuguese society and into the Community. Consequently, they are often referred to as Portuguese Jews or Jews of the Portuguese Nation. According to larraurimarti.com, applicants will now also need to show A) The acquisition mortis causa of real estate located in Portugal, (or of rights of use and enjoyment of the same) B) the holding of shares or social participations in Portuguese trading companies or cooperatives, or C) Regular trips to Portugal throughout the applicants life. Thank you, Joshua and Itamar for your help with our Joint Life Application. Both communities have records from the time and will be able to verify whether you are, in fact, of Sephardic heritage. Gratitude, God has blessed us with wonderful beings who have accompanied us, including a "precious angel" who touched our hearts, our excellent and fantastic lawyer: Maria Chernin Dekel, sweet and wonderful human being, who has guided us and stayed On our side. This needs to be from a community of Portuguese origin approved under Portuguese law. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! Working almost single-handedly, he organised . End your trip with walking tours in the cities of Porto and Lisbon . 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. They also both provide a bullet-point list to guide you through the application. Both used as many resources as they could find, citing Ancestry.com as one of the most helpful along with other sites like JewishGen. This single document is seen as the most important document in the process. He was also able to find letters between old family members, one of which contained a hand-drawn family tree. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. The Jewish Community of Lisbon (Portuguese: Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa - CIL) was officially recognized in 1913. 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. As well as legal fees, the application fee for citizenship costs around 200, which doesnt include the cost of applying for a passport. He is completely trustworthy and high caliber in his work. Sometimes documents are hard to find as many have been destroyed, often on purpose. The project of the synagogue was designed by one the greatest architects of that time, Miguel Ventura Terra. 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. So it is time to get your application in to the Portuguese government now, while the process is understood and well navigated, and your chances of receiving the necessary recommendation can be easily evaluated. A Committee of Experts in Jewish Sephardic genealogy and the historical routes of the Jewish Iberian Diaspora to evaluate the provided means of proof. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Poised to leave Nazi-occupied Europe for the free world, an entry in the Rebbe's private journal reveals how he drew on his past to chart a dual vision for the future. I will choose them again next time if needed. This is the old Calada das Lages Cemetery, presently known as Afonso III . Furthermore, following the recent scandal, the government of Portugal may choose a different authority to veto the descent of prospective applicants. . 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". Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. In 1515 the king requested to establish an inquisition to systematically persecute New Christians, but it was initially denied by the Pope. Extrmely friendly, professional and helpful. 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. In 1904 the Shaare Tikvah (Gates of Hope) Synagogue, still in use today, opened in Lisbon. 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. Conservatriados Registos CentraisRua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 1981099-003 LisboaE-mail:[email protected], Phone: (+351) 213 817 600Fax: (+351) 213 817 698. You showed me from your experience how it can be done differently. We hereby, clarify that, a first opinion by e-mail is not binding. 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. Their dedication to every legal aspect and their drive its how a true lawyer house can be! I highly recommend this firm, especially Oded Ger. The Jewish Canadian Community Portuguese Citizenship Eligibility, The Portuguese Jewish community in Germany Entitlement to Portugal Citizenship, The Moroccan Expellee Community and Portuguese Citizenship, The Jewish community in Portugal Recommendation letter, Jewish Portuguese Citizenship for Spouses and Children, Multiple Names When Applying for Jewish Portuguese Citizenship, Applying for Jewish Portuguese Citizenship with a Criminal Record, Cost for Jewish Descendants to Obtain Portuguese Citizenship, How Long It Takes to Get Jewish Portuguese Citizenship, Documents for Jewish Portuguese Citizenship, Algerian Jewish expellees communities and eligibility for Portuguese citizenship, Greek Jews Spanish Jewish Expellees Eligible for Portuguese Citizenship, Famous Jews of Sephardic or Portuguese descent obtaining Portuguese citizenship. To find a microfilm: a. Click on this link to see a list of records for Portugal, Lisboa. Get the book Moving to Portugal Made Simple on Amazon now. Request a Resident Certificate. Best lawyer house from Israel! They really care about helping their customers without any other interest Just found your page and it is fantastic! Documents that show the Ladino language being used by your ancestors. and must be sent through the We Transfer system. 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. Alex. Is a Jewish community certificate enough for Portuguese citizenship? 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. It will be sufficient to submit one of the following: Certificate from a Sephardic Community. 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!!! Do I have to come to Portugal in person? They may have birth certs or documents that can help, as well as stories that may be able to point you in the right direction. Go to the Junta da Freguesia. Launched the first stone in 1902, the Shaar-Tikv Synagogue is finally inaugurated in 1904, culminating a more than 50 years old effort of the Jews of Lisbon. It should mention the respective ancestry and descendancy (if necessary), places and dates of birth, marriage and death. This coming, increasingly growing, may give a new configuration to the Jewish community in Portugal. Since 1810 several houses of prayer existed in Lisbon, but these hardly met the necessary conditions for worship, as they were located in modest floors. Inaugurated in 1904 and designed by Miguel Ventura Terra, the synagogue was the first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the 15th century. The Shaar-Tikv synagogue celebrates 100 years, see here. We so much appreciate Mikes representation of us. Make no mistake, there are a lot of documents and many of these need to be notarised and later apostilled. 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. All the above may be presented in Portuguese, Spanish, French or English. The process until we received the extension for another year for my wife was not long (3 months). Birth certificates of ancestors that indicate they were a Sephardic Jew. We heard of Advocate Pex through a friend of a friend. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Excellent service, very friendly and helpful, fast responding and very patient. As of September 2022, you will need to ask whether youre eligible based on the new criteria. Immerse yourself in Jewish history and culture during this 4-hour private tour of Lisbon's Jewish community. There are 7 steps involved, and you will be able to see what stage your application is at. I am so impressed and in awe of all the work you have done to become a Portuguese citizen. Have you received a letter of recommendation from one of the Jewish Communities in Portugal, whether Porto or Lisbon? Lisbon's modern Jewish community: Lisbon's main synagogue called Shaare Tikva, or Gates of Hope, is a historic synagogue in Lisbon. My Passover seder this year was spent in the company of the small Reform Jewish community in Lisbon, Portugal. Thanks for your cooperation. 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. They are always answering questions and support during the process. And while the Jewish Communities were delegated governmental authority for the purpose of recognizing applicants as descended from Jews, they are otherwise unconnected to the government. It's also very nice to know that you will receive response promptly; it made us feel we can really trust their services. We recommend all those looking for immigration lawyers to get in touch. It brings together the Jews of Lisbon. Both Trevor and Jonah initially turned to the internet for help. These factors explain the fast economic and cultural growth both of the Jews from Lisbon and of the groups that were installing in Faro and Azores in that first half of the 19th century. Portuguese ID documents, such as passports, may then be issued by the nearest Portuguese Consulate. When we have the money, well get a vacation home there, he promises himself. Tilted walls covered in blue ceramic tiles will break up the white geometric exterior of Tikva, a Jewish museum that New York office Studio Libeskind is designing in the district of Belm in Lisbon. Those who wish to apply for a Sephardic heritage certificate can apply online at . 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.