Dr. Ken Carlson at the Jewish Museum of Oporto
Dr. Ken Carlson will present the second lecture in his series of lectures on the history of the Jews of Portugal at the Porto Jewish Museum on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., entitled ‘Our Beginnings and Jewish Memories: Beira interior’. It will focus on Jewish communities in the interior of Portugal and the story of Jews in Iberia up to the Golden Age.
Following the success of his first lecture, an overview of Portuguese history, Dr. Carlson will reflect on the long-standing Jewish presence in Portugal and the contributions of the community to Portuguese society.
The presentation is based on his love of the subject and his many years of study of Portuguese history. It is strengthened by his many visits to historical sites of Jewish interest in Portugal, accompanied by his wife, Rachel. The lecture will be illustrated with many of their photographs from these visits. It is also strengthened by stories they collected from residents of the villages with Jewish memories and from visits to local archives.
The Mekor Haim and Hamakom choirs with Maestro Leonardo Mendonça
The lecture will open with a concert of Jewish music sung by the Mekor Haim and Hamakom choirs, conducted by Maestro Leonardo Mendonça. The program will include a blessing in Hebrew by the 17th Century Italian composer Salomone Rossi in the Baroque style, a setting of Psalm 117 by Emanuel Aguilar, based on an old Portuguese melody, sung today in the Spanish and Portuguese congregation in London, and other songs in Ladino and Hebrew from the Sephardi tradition.
Admission is free, but prior registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact info@comunidade-israelita-porto.org
