^{Credit: Jewish Community of Algarve}

The Algarve Jewish Community has taken another significant step in strengthening Jewish life in southern Portugal with the inauguration of Noah, the region's first Glatt Kosher restaurant. More than simply offering a new dining option for residents and visitors, the opening marks another milestone in a community project that has grown steadily over the past decade.

Founded in 2012, the Algarve Jewish Community has become one of Portugal's leading centers of Jewish life. In 2019, the Ezra & Sasoon Synagogue was inaugurated in Albufeira, and three years later the community became officially recognized as Portugal's fourth Jewish community, reinforcing its role in preserving Jewish traditions and welcoming both local Jews and visitors from around the world.

More than a restaurant, Noah is part of the broader Noah Kosher Village Algarve, a community hub designed to serve as a focal point for Jewish life in the region. According to Ido Itshayek, President of the Algarve Jewish Community, the vision is to create a permanent gathering place for Jewish life in the Algarve. "It's a Jewish village with a Synagogue, Kids Activities, and Minyanim", he said during the inauguration ceremony.

^{Credit: Jewish Community of Algarve}

Operating under strict rabbinical supervision and adhering to the highest Glatt Kosher standards, Noah offers cuisine inspired by Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mediterranean culinary traditions. The restaurant will serve everyday meals, Shabbat dining, and family celebrations, including weddings and other special occasions.

The inauguration ceremony, held on Sunday, July 25, brought together prominent figures from Portugal's and the international Jewish community. Among those in attendance were rabbis Menachem Hadad and Rabbi David ben Nissan; Oren Rozenblat, Israel's Ambassador to Portugal, accompanied by his wife Riki Rozenblat; David Botelho, President of the Jewish Community of Lisbon; and Isaac Assor, a member of both the Jewish Community of Lisbon and B'nai B'rith Portugal.

The community also announced that, in the coming weeks, it will welcome its new resident rabbi, Aharon Ethan, an Israeli scholar, author, and graduate of several rabbinical institutions. A native of Jerusalem from a distinguished rabbinic family, Rabbi Ethan will further strengthen the community's spiritual leadership.

^{Credit: Jewish Community of Algarve}

The Algarve Jewish Community is currently led by Rabbi Shmuel Cohen, a Jerusalem native with extensive international experience. After studying at leading yeshivot and serving for more than a decade in London's Jewish communities, he moved to Portugal to provide spiritual leadership to the Algarve community. His work focuses on Torah education, strengthening Jewish identity, and building a warm and welcoming environment for both residents and visitors.

In addition to the Algarve Jewish Community, the region is also home to the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which provides religious and community services for Jewish residents, tourists, and visitors. Chabad's activities in the Algarve are led by Rabbi Menachem Wagner and Chana Wagner, who organize religious services, holiday celebrations, educational programs, and a wide range of community initiatives.

With the opening of Noah and the continued expansion of its communal infrastructure, the Algarve is increasingly establishing itself as a destination capable of serving its growing Jewish population and the thousands of Jewish tourists who visit southern Portugal each year, offering religious, cultural, and culinary facilities that were virtually nonexistent in the region just a few years ago.