Dr. Michael Rothwell, director of both the Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Museum of Porto, has frequently been quoted in the international press regarding Jewish history, the legacy of the Inquisition, and modern antisemitism. As a prominent board member of the Jewish Community of Porto and the grandson of Holocaust victims, his statements always reflect both deep historical expertise and intense personal connection.
The Jewish Museum of Porto (Museu Judaico do Porto) serves as profound living proof of Jewish history, seamlessly connecting a centuries-old heritage of persecution and secrecy with a thriving, modern community resurgence. Maintained by the Jewish Community of Oporto, the museum is much more than a static archive; it is an active educational and cultural epicenter that chronicles Jewish life from antiquity through to the present day.
Rothwell observed that the Jewish Museum restricts public access to prioritize security against potential threats, notes the Jerusalem Post. He highlighted the long-term, negative impacts of historical persecution in Portugal, and explained that the 1496 decree caused lasting damage. Discussing the film 1618, he emphasized the extreme nature of the Inquisition's campaign against Jews, and highlighted Porto Jewish Community efforts to restore inquisition files, as reported by the Times of Israel.
As director of the Porto Holocaust Museum, Michael Rothwell often discusses the intersection of global history and personal loss. In a statement reported by the Jerusalem Post, he emphasized that the Nazis built upon long-standing historical prejudices, and he noted to the Jewish News, the profound impact of the Holocaust on descendants, many of whom grew up with traumatized parents. He does not accept the trivialization of the Holocaust as a political strategy to defend uncontrolled immigration and sexual and racial minorities. According to B'nai B'rith International, he described the Holocaust as industrial annihilation targeting Jewish people, including his own family.
On Modern Jewish Growth and Security, Michael Rothwell has commented on the duality of a revitalized community within a challenging security environment. He told the Combat Antisemitism Movement that political officials often have limited understanding of Judaism and Jewish life, often confusing this with the rehabilitation of old buildings that are no longer inhabited by living Jews.
