The President of the Jewish Community of Oporto shared his concerns in a letter to the Ambassador of Kingdom of Belgium to Portugal:
To His Excellency Bart Lammens, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Portugal
Excellency,
For centuries, the Jewish communities of both Portugal and Belgium have played an important role in the economic, cultural, and civic development of their respective countries, despite representing only a small percentage of the population.
In Portugal, in 1937, during the so-called “Portuguese Dreyfus Affair,” the corrupt regime of the time exploited denunciations from marginal elements of society, opened criminal proceedings against our leader, Captain Barros Basto, and ultimately condemned him for his involvement in circumcision procedures. “Immorality” was alleged because he was not a physician. The consequences were devastating, leading to the collapse of a once-thriving Jewish community.
Today, under the pretext of “medical concerns,” similar arguments are being raised against Belgian mohalim, while public discourse increasingly questions the legitimacy of fundamental Jewish religious practices such as brit milah and shechita — practices without which Jewish religious life
cannot be sustained.
This development raises profound concerns regarding the future being shaped for Jewish life in Belgium. Good intentions may exist, but the current direction appears deeply troubling to many within the Jewish world.
In addition, members of our community currently living in Brussels report a growing atmosphere of insecurity and radicalization. One individual described the city as increasingly affected by criminality and extremist elements, stating that he was mugged twice during his first week there.
As President of the Jewish Community of Oporto, one of the leading institutions promoting Jewish culture and heritage in Europe, I respectfully ask that Your Excellency convey this expression of concern and protest to the Belgian authorities.
Respectfully,
Gabriel Senderowicz,
President, Jewish Community of Oporto
