From June 4 to 6, 2025, the Convento de São Francisco in Coimbra will host the VII International Congress on Luso-Sephardic Dialogues – World Cities of Jewish Memory. Organized by the Coimbra City Council (CM), through the Division of Museology, along with a group of other institutions, this event will bring together some of the most prestigious national and international researchers to discuss Jewish influence across different eras and regions, reinforcing the importance of Sephardic history in the Luso-Iberian cultural identity.
Coimbra, a city with a millennia-old history and a meeting point of peoples and cultures, will serve as the focal point for discussions on Sephardic heritage at this international congress.
The event is a collaboration between various university research units, cultural institutions, and the Municipality of Coimbra, continuing the academic gatherings initiated in Coimbra (2017) and later held in Aveiro (2019), Leiria (2021), Tomar (2022), Castelo de Vide (2023), and Guarda (2024). The congress aims to foster debate and knowledge exchange on the experiences and cultural legacies of Sephardic communities across Luso-Iberian, Atlantic, and Mediterranean territories, as well as other regions impacted by the Jewish diaspora.
The event is organized by the Coimbra City Council, the Center for the History of Society and Culture of the University of Coimbra, the Center for Languages, Literatures, and Cultures of the University of Aveiro, the Interdisciplinary Center for History, Cultures, and Societies of the University of Évora, the Institute of Contemporary History of Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the Chair of Sephardic Studies of the University of Lisbon, the Network of Jewish Quarters of Portugal, and the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology. The full program is available on the official webpage: VII International Congress on Luso-Sephardic Dialogues | World Cities of Jewish Memory – Coimbra City Council.
With an extensive range of conferences and distinguished speakers, the VII International Congress on Luso-Sephardic Dialogues is an unmissable event for historians, academics, and anyone interested in Jewish history and culture. More than just an academic gathering, this congress represents a deep reflection on the past, present, and future of Sephardic identity in the Lusophone world and beyond. The event is open to all those who wish to attend or participate. Registrations must be completed through the following link.
The congress also welcomes submissions for presentations and cultural projects related to Sephardic topics. Interested participants must submit their presentation title, a summary (up to 300 words), and essential academic or professional identification details by April 30, 2025, using the following link. All presentations will be held in person and must not exceed 15 minutes in duration.
