Bnei Anousim mark Global Judaism Day in Portugal
Rabbi Salas at Global Day of Jewish Learning in Portugal
In 2010, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who is best known for the English and Hebrew translations of the Talmud that bear his name, established a now annual event: The Global Day of Jewish Learning. The day is intended to “imbue an appreciation for the texts that define us, and to inspire hope in the commonalities that unite us,” and every year, thousands of Jews come together in their communities, homes and online to deepen a shared passion for Jewish knowledge.
This year, for the fifth Global Day of Jewish Learning, Shavei Israel’s emissary to Portugal, Rabbi Elisha Salas, joined the study celebration. He led the small Bnei Anousim community in Belmonte, Portugal in a series of classes according to the 2014 Global Day theme: “Heroes and Villains, Saints and Fools: The People in the Book,” whereby every session focused on a different Biblical character.
This was Rabbi Salas’ second year participating in the Global Day of Jewish Learning. In 2013, he led classes in the Isaac Cardoso Center for Jewish Interpretation in Trancoso, Portugal. The Center, which was opened in 2013, is backed by the Trancoso municipality and was designed to commemorate the countless Portuguese Jews who were persecuted, displaced or forcibly converted. The $1.5 million Cardoso Center includes a synagogue containing the first Sefer Torah to make its home in Trancoso in 500 years. (You can read our complete coverage here).
Both Global Days of Jewish Learning – in Trancoso and Belmonte – were sponsored by Shavei Israel. We have a few pictures below.
Rabbi Salas (center) with Argentinian ambassador to Portugal (right)
Also in December: Rabbi Salas hosted the Argentinean ambassador to Portugal, who visited Belmonte to get to know the community there, before continuing on with Rabbi Salas to Lisbon.
We have a picture of Rabbi Salas and Ambassador Jorge Martin Arturo Arguello here.