Dr. Ken and Rachel Carlson in front of a 15th Century doorway
Dr. Ken Carlson will present the third lecture in his series of lectures on the history of the Jews of Portugal at the Porto Holocaust Museum on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., entitled ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly'. It will focus on Jewish communities in the Iberia during the period of the Inquisition.
Following the success of his first two lectures, an overview of Portuguese history and the story of the Jews of Beira Interior, Dr. Carlson will tell the stories of Jewish suffering, survival, and exile during this turbulent period of Portuguese history.
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 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 songs in Hebrew from the Sabbath morning synagogue service by the 19th Century German Jewish composer Louis Lewandowski, (Ma Tovu, Tzadik K’Tamar Yifrach, and Veshomeru) and Avram Avinu, the story of the birth of Abraham, in Ladino.
Admission is free. For more information, please contact info@comunidade-israelita-porto.org
