Today the Board of Directors of the Oporto Jewish Community sent a message and a book to the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in honour of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities.
The National Day of Portugal (celebrated annually on 10 June) is one of the public holidays in Portugal and is commemorated by Portuguese people throughout the world, including in Israel, Turkey, France, and Brazil.
"We take pride in remembering the Jewish communities’ participation in Portugal’s development since its foundation, as well as in the friendship between King D. Afonso Henriques and D. Yahia Ben Yaish", says the letter from the Jewish Community of Oporto.
The Community offered the President the book "Dom Yahia Ben-Yahia - 1.º Rabi-Mor de Portugal", written in 1944 by its worthy founder, Captain Barros Basto.
"The first Chief Rabbi of Portugal occupied high positions in the administration of the Realm and fought alongside and at the service of the King, indeed he died at the service of the King", adds the letter.
This year 2023, Portugal Day will be celebrated in Peso da Regua (North of Portugal) and in South Africa.
