JGuideEurope, also known as the Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe, is an interactive travel and cultural platform. It documents Jewish heritage, history, and points of interest across different European regions. It is supported by the Jacques and Jacqueline Lévy-Willard Foundation.
In June 2026, JGuide traveled to Porto to interview Gabriel Senderowicz, the president of the local Jewish community. The interview was published a few days ago.
JG - Which event will you organize for this year’s European Days of Jewish Culture? Are there exhibitions and other cultural events scheduled for 2026-7?
GS - The usual program will take place: museums open, central synagogue open, art gallery and cinemas also open. The musical choir will perform again.
JG - Do you feel there’s a tikkun olam willingness in the sharing of Jewish heritage after those 3 terrible years?
GS - Our work aims precisely to improve the world as best we can. The legacy of each of us is to be Jewish, in work and in life, today and always. To be Jewish is to honor the present, the past and the future. That is why we work so hard thinking about those who have passed and also those who are to come.
The European Day of Jewish Culture celebration in Porto is highly complete and extensive. Each year on this day, thousands of visitors flock to the city to take part in a massive array of open-door activities that highlight Portugal's Sephardic history.
Access to Major Landmarks: The city is home to the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue—the largest synagogue in the Iberian Peninsula. During this celebration, visitors are granted free access to the synagogue's grounds, prayer rooms, and library, which are typically restricted or only accessible for pre-booked groups.
World-Class Museums: Porto boasts both the Jewish Museum of Porto and the Holocaust Museum of Porto, both of which fully open their doors to the general public for this event.
The day is filled with rich artistic and cultural events, including exhibitions of historic paintings, performances by the renowned Mekor Haim male liturgical choir, and screenings of internationally award-winning films produced by the local community.
The vibrancy of the city's Jewish culture is a point of national pride. The Portuguese government has formally recognized the educational work of the Jewish Community of Oporto (Comunidade Israelita do Porto), making Porto a focal point for the country's celebration of its diverse heritage.
