The Jewish community in Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, has issued a series of unprecedented allegations against the local government, against the background of the Portuguese passport affair and the change in the law that is expected to make it very difficult to obtain.
"We suffer from persecution of Jews and anti-Semitism," the statement said.
It will be recalled that the Portuguese authorities have opened an investigation on suspicion of corruption in the Jewish community around the issuance of documents required for the issuance of a Portuguese passport to Jews who are descendants of deportees from the country.
As part of the investigation, community leader Daniel Litvak was also arrested in March, but was released shortly afterwards.
Following the investigation, the community stopped issuing Portuguese passports to tens of thousands of Israelis who were assisted by it.
Portuguese passport (illustration),
Following the affair, Portugal decided to change the law that would make it difficult for almost every Jew whose last name belongs to a long list of deportees from Spain and Portugal to obtain a Portuguese passport.
Under the new law, which will take effect in September, proof of actual affiliation with the state will be required, such as holding an apartment in it, receiving an inheritance and the like.
The change in the law is expected to dramatically reduce the number of citizenship applications, which have been a major source of income for the community.
"This is the largest attack in the 21st century against a Jewish community in Europe," blamed Porto community president Gabriel Sandrowitz.
"We are disappointed that no Jewish organization has found it appropriate to stand by us."
Last weekend, the community submitted its response to the Lisbon parliament regarding the state's intention to repeal the 2015 law, which allows descendants of deportees from Spain and Portugal to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
In its response, the community raised unprecedented allegations regarding what it calls antisemitic persecution and a style of action reminiscent of the 15th-century Spanish Inquisition.
"The Jewish community in the city is disappointed by the lack of solidarity among the Jewish organizations operating in the world today, especially those that have been our partners for the past decade. The community, in the hundreds of thousands of euros over the past few years, has not uttered a single word or message of support, "Sandrovich added.
It added that "starting in 2020, a serious smear campaign has begun against this legislation and against the Jewish community in Portugal. Various government officials have claimed that 'applicants for citizenship are looking for convenient passports', that 'there are tens of millions of applicants' and that citizenship is relatively easy and paid to editors. Dean, to the gynecologists and the Jewish communities in Portugal. "
Portuguese President Marcelo Ravello de Souza, today,
According to community leaders, "Police raided the Kadouri synagogue in the city as if it were a brothel, and rushed to the homes of the community's vice president in search of bags of cash."
It was also alleged that Rabbi Litvak was detained for questioning due to "false accusations by anonymous sources".
According to them, "he experienced a humiliating detention that lasted 24 hours during which he was forced to give the police forensic evidence illegally, he was denied access to kosher food, he was stripped of his traditional clothing including a tassel, tallit and tefillin, and his prayer book was confiscated." "And with another person arrested on suspicion of committing an armed robbery."
The heads of the community further claimed that the rabbi was asked "ridiculous questions" before the court to which he was brought, and that he was eventually released and continued to issue certificates to those entitled to Portuguese citizenship.
"However, the Board of Directors of the Porto Jewish Community has decided to suspend this activity, as it refuses to cooperate with a state that has launched an antisemitic incitement campaign against an organized Jewish community, based on anonymous messages from haters of Jews."
Representatives of the community claim that in the last decade, in parallel with the flourishing of the Jewish communities in Portugal in general and in Porto in particular, there has been an increase in antisemitic incidents against its members.
During this period, Porto became a city with a few dozen members of the Jewish community, a city with a vibrant community of about 700 members. At the same time, centers for young Jews were opened, kosher restaurants, shops and factories, a Jewish museum was established, a large Chabad center was opened. A Holocaust museum and a Jewish cinema were established, and three full-length feature films were produced, telling the story of Spanish and Portuguese Jewry. "
The Foreign Ministry responded: "The Israeli Embassy in Portugal values the activities of the important Jewish community in Portugal, all its communities and institutions, and will continue to support and work with it shoulder to shoulder, for its growth and prosperity, as the State of Israel works with all Jewish communities around the world. The Jewish community in Porto. "
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