Belmonte’s Municipal Company President, Joaquim Costa, emphasized the importance of the local Jewish Museum as a symbol of the town’s identity and the history of its crypto-Jewish community—residents who practiced Judaism in secrecy after Jews were expelled from the country.
Costa noted, “It is part of our identity as people from Belmonte to tell our story. It’s a living community that still retains Jewish culture and is among the oldest Sephardic communities in the world,” in a statement to the Lusa agency.
The Museum was established to portray the narrative of the new Christians and crypto-Judaism, detailing how they managed to maintain their religious practices within the confines of their homes for almost six centuries, explained Costa.
Costa highlighted the museum’s role in providing a voice to the historical silence surrounding Belmonte’s Jewish community, underscoring the harmonious coexistence of Christians and Jews.
The museum’s content spans beyond the local Sephardic community to include crypto-Jews globally. “Every piece here narrates the history of these people, reflecting the broader struggles over the centuries and the specific story of Belmonte’s crypto-Judaism,” Costa stated.
Among the exhibits, Costa pointed out the oldest complete Torah in the country, over 400 years old. He also mentioned a 17th-century pocket-sized mezuzah designed to be easily concealed.
The Jewish Museum of Belmonte also houses the “first stone of the synagogue,” dated 1339, indicating historical Jewish presence. “At this time, we already had a synagogue in Belmonte,” Costa added.
The collection continues to grow, recently receiving a Torah cover from 1810 and donations of significant artifacts from local families, said Costa.
The museum opened on April 17, 2005, attracting 11,000 visitors in its first year, with attendance increasing to a record 29,000 in 2019 and 27,000 in 2023, despite disruptions due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ongoing conflict and reduced flights led to a decline in Israeli visitors, historically the museum’s largest group. Currently, tourists from the United States and Brazil are the most frequent visitors.
“The museum draws visitors worldwide, particularly those from the diaspora in search of their Sephardic roots,” Costa remarked, emphasizing the significance of the local museum network and cultural and tourism investments in addressing industrial decline and factory closures.
This year, marking the museum’s 20th anniversary, plans are in place to publish the first Portuguese language Torah, adding to its cultural contributions.
The Jewish community in Belmonte, in the district of Castelo Branco, once numbered over 300 but has now dwindled to around 60, with many having emigrated to Israel in recent years.
