Dr. Ken and Rachel Carlson in front of a 15th Century doorway
Dr. Ken Carlson will give a lecture entitled: “A very short history of Portugal sprinkled with Jewish facts” at the Jewish Museum of Porto on Friday, November 28 at 2 p.m.
Dr. Carlson is a pediatrician who worked in the United States for 40 years before moving to Portugal and becoming a citizen in 2022. He obtained citizenship through his mother’s Portuguese origins, as a descendent of the “Abis” family from Alentejo.
He is an active member of the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue in Porto. As a Cohen, he is responsible for the Priestly Blessing of the congregation on Sabbath and Holidays and is called to the reading of the first section of the weekly Torah portion.
Credit: Dr. Ken Carlson
Ken and his wife Rachel have a deep love for Portugal and the history of the country. They have spent many weeks travelling the length and breadth of the country, learning the fascinating stories of even the most remote places.
They have conducted interviews with village residents and local historians to learn the history of Portugal in general and the history of the Jews of Portugal in particular. They have visited local archives to read original historical sources. They photographed homes and sites of Jewish interest to document the Jewish presence in Portugal over many centuries.
Credit: Dr. Ken Carlson
Their experiences and impressions, illustrated by their own photographs, have been recorded in pamphlets that Ken and Rachel produced themselves for friends and family. Now, Dr. Carlson will share his knowledge with the community in what is hoped to be a series of public lectures.
The lecture will open with a performance by members of the Mekor Haim and Hamakom choirs singing four songs in Ladino and Hebrew, with special connections to the Jewish community of Portugal.
SERVICE
Lecture: “A very short history of Portugal sprinkled with Jewish facts”, by Dr. Ken Carlson
With a performance by: members of the Mekor Haim and Hamakom choirs
Venue: Jewish Museum of Oporto
Date: Friday, November 28
Time: 2 p.m.
