On 15 May, the historic Alfândega do Porto hosted a debate on interfaith understanding and cultural cooperation. The event was organised by the Museu das Convergências in partnership with the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue. Under the theme “The Role of Museums and Religious Communities in Interreligious Dialogue,” representatives from different faith traditions gathered to discuss how cultural institutions and religious communities can work together to foster mutual respect, historical awareness, and peaceful coexistence.
The panel brought together Vítor Teixeira, representing the Catholic Diocese of Porto; Jaime Soares from the Islamic Cultural Centre of Porto; Nuno Ferreira from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Rui Silva from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness; and Michael Rothwell from the Jewish Community of Porto. The discussion was moderated by Rui Oliveira Lopes, Director of the Museu das Convergências.

A particularly significant contribution came from Michael Rothwell, also Director of the Porto Jewish Museum and the Porto Holocaust Museum. During his intervention, he emphasised the vital work carried out by the Jewish Museum in preserving Jewish heritage, combating ignorance and prejudice, and creating opportunities for visitors of all backgrounds to engage with Jewish history and identity.

Without forgetting the important role that the Porto Holocaust Museum and the Kadoorie synagogue have played year after year in the education of Portuguese youth across the country, Rothwell underlined how these spaces can serve not only as guardians of memory, but also as active platforms for intercultural understanding and human connection.

The muslim world

It's not just the monthly meetings and joint cultural and inter-faith projects that have united the leadership of the Jewish and Muslim communities of Porto for years, with the support of the city's bishop himself and the municipality. There is an initiative unknown to many, which gives a special luster to the growing need to unite, under the banner of friendship and cooperation, two very ancient ethical cultures.

The Porto Jewish community is a founder member of one of Combat Antisemitism Movement’s interfaith work – The Mukhayriq Initiative –, which centres around the example of Rabbi Mukhayriq ben al-Nadir, who fought and gave his life in defense of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad in the year 625 CE. A global coalition engaging more than 700 Jewish and Islamic partner organisations, CAM focuses on fostering ties between Jews and Muslims and promoting interfaith works in the global fight against antisemitism.

"Bridges of Faith" in Porto

By bringing together voices from different traditions in one shared space, the gathering at Alfandega do Porto demonstrated the continuing relevance of museums and faith communities in building bridges in contemporary society.

In Porto the religious communities feel the growing importance of museums as educational spaces capable of promoting dialogue across religious and cultural boundaries. The event reinforced the idea that dialogue between religions is strengthened when communities are willing to listen, share experiences, and preserve collective memory through culture and education.