Credit: The Jewish Cemetery of Funchal
Last June, Funchal Town Council installed a sign indicating the Jewish Cemetery of Funchal. The Town Hall has also had the exterior walls of this small cemetery painted, for it is the only Jewish presence existing on the Island of Madeira.
The Jewish Cemetery of Funchal has not been active since 1976, the date of the last burial, but it still receives visits from Jewish tourists. The cemetery land was acquired in 1850 by merchants Isaac Esnaty and Judah Aloof, and the cemetery inaugurated in 1851, with the first burial taking place in 1854.
Credit: The Jewish Cemetery of Funchal
It is the burial place of 38, mainly English, German and French, Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews. Four of the bodies were subsequently moved to Gibraltar.
In 1975, the cemetery was hit by an earthquake. Reestablishing the site required multiple efforts by Madeira government bodies and the support of Israelis. Forty years later, in 2015, a retaining wall was built, providing stability and safety to the site, which had suffered from several sackings over the decades.
Credit: The Jewish Cemetery of Funchal
In March 2023, the Jewish Cemetery of Funchal saw the light of day with a swastika painted on the outside wall. A visiting tourist contacted the antisemitism department of the Jewish Community of Oporto which asked Funchal Town Council to remove the graffiti – which was promptly done.
This small cemetery is a historic symbol of Jewish migration to the Island of Madeira and Jewish resilience in maintaining Jewish practices, while contributing to the island’s economic development.
Visits to the cemetery can be booked via the e-mail cjf0001851@outlook.com.
PEOPLE BURIED (BY NATIONALITY)
Germany
Emrna Bach
Ferdinand Schwarzschild
Gilbert Schnitzer
Hermann Horwttz
Jeanette Edith Bouju
Margit Neugarten
Willy Alexander Katz
Willy Schnitzer
Austria
Adolphus Friesner
United States of America
Albert Morse Goldberg
France
Jacob Abudarham
José Abudarham
Pauline (Plinette) Levy Schnftzer
Salomão Abudarham
England
Abraham Benzecry
Baruj Tobelem
Clara Hadida Abudarham
David Cohen
Donna Hassan Bentata
Esther Benaim Hassan
Estrela Labos
Harry Harry hrie
MordeJay tabos
Rosa Benyunes
Samuel M.S. Benady
Morocco
Mary Athias
Portugal
Joana S. Buzaglo Abudarham Câmara
Simy Buzaglo Abudarham
Syria
Abraham Robins
Nationality unknown
Ester Esnaty
Fortunato Abudarham
Haim Esnaty
Menahem Rodrigues Mercado
Messod Alazar
Moisés Ezagui
Mordehay Rodrigues Mercado
Rafael Menahem Abudarham
Reina Pariente Abudarham
