In Honor of Ms. Manuel Bairos, a great friend of The American Sephardi Federation and passionate admirer of Sephardic history and culture, on her successful tenure as Portugal’s Consul General at New York.
Sephardi Ideas Monthly is a continuing series of essays from the rich, multi-dimensional world of Sephardi thought that is traditionally delivered to your inbox on the second Monday of every month.
In recent months, Sephardi Ideas Monthly has been tracing the trajectory of crypto-Jewish history in the American southwest, from analyses and debates regarding the origins and character of various crypto-Jewish communities to first-person accounts of crypto-Jewish life. For the month of May, Sephardi Ideas Monthly continues to follow the crypto-Jewish story, this time with a bittersweet 20th-century tale from across the Atlantic: Joshua de sola Mendes’ original contribution to Sephardi Ideas Monthly, “Jewish Resilience and Renaissance in Northern Portugal.”
Featuring the fruits of research in the American Sephardi Federation’s National Sephardic Library & Archive, Mendes’ article includes an American angle—a New York angle, to be precise—as Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool and Congregation Shearith Israel: The Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue played a supporting role in the story. Mendes, a lifelong member of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue, is the founder of S&P Central, a website devoted to sharing the traditions and melodies of Western Sephardi communities around the world.
Captain Artur Carlos de Barros Basto
Jewish Resilience and Renaissance in Northern Portugal
Mendes begins his story on the Iberian Peninsula by introducing us to Capt. Artur Carlos de Barros Basto, “a decorated officer in the Portuguese Army of Jewish descent.” Basto’s Jewish identity, however, was far from typical: “Like so many other Jews during the Inquisition who chose to remain in Portugal and hide their identities, Capt. Basto's family had for many generations held onto their Jewish identity in secret as crypto-Jews.” Basto (1887-1961) openly returned to Judaism after having undergone formal conversion in Morocco.
Realizing that Jewish life requires a traditional center in order to be sustainable, Basto decided to build a synagogue in the early 1920’s. Appealing to wealthy Jews around the world for financial support, he found a receptive ear in Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool of New York’s Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue. R’ Dr. de Sola Pool sent an appeal to congregations across America, and, “In the American Sephardi Federation's archival papers can be found lists of dozens of communities that sent contributions to Rabbi Dr. de Sola Pool – $5 from Chicago, $10 from Indianapolis, $3 from Brooklyn, $3 from Scranton, $5 from Providence, and on and on.” That said, the main financial backer was the Hong Kong branch of the Iraqi-Sephardi Kadoorie family, and in short order the Kadoorie Mekor Hayim Synagogue of Porto, Portugal, was born.
Mendes picks-up the narrative thread of the story in the late 1930’s, after the opening of the synagogue and shortly before the Nazis began their murderous conquest of Europe. Soon enough, the synagogue was populated by Jewish refugees sleeping on the floor. Unsurprisingly, Basto’s courageous actions didn’t win him friends in the Catholic Church and with the Portuguese regime, both of whom hassled him throughout the 1930’s: “[Basto] was stripped of his military commission, subjected to various unfounded allegations, and died a broken man.”
While Basto passed away in 1961, his story, and the story of the community he helped to rejuvenate, didn’t end there. The Portuguese Parliament tried to make amends in 2012 by declaring Basto’s innocence and, “reinstating his commission.” And then, “In early March [2018], the synagogue marked its 80th anniversary with a special Shabbaton… The building has been revived, a kosher market in town has launched, and the community is thriving.”
Sephardi Ideas Monthly is happy to feature Joshua de Sola Mendes’ fascinating article, “Jewish Resilience and Renaissance in Northern Portugal,” and to introduce our readers to one of the most remarkable figures of 20th century Jewish history, in general, and 20th century crypto-Jewish history, in particular, Capt. Artur Carlos de Barros Basto.
The “Monthly Sage” for the month of May is Hacham Avraham David Shalem (1928-2014).
A student of the first Sephardi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, R’ Ben Zion Meir Hai Ouziel, R’ Shalem was a many-sided man: communal leader, scholar, religious judge, ritual slaughterer, mohel, and soldier in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. At R’ Ouzeil’s urging, R’ Shalem assumed leadership of the Jewish community of Lima, Peru, in 1950, and he remained in the Western Hemisphere through 1977, leading Jewish communities in Seattle and Mexico City. After returning to Israel, R’ Shalem assumed leadership of various institutions, including the Or HaMizrach Institute for the publication of ancient manuscripts, while he remained active in the Committee for the Publication of Rabbi Ouziel's Writings.
R’ Shalem’s works include three-volumes of halakhic writings, a commentary on Kohelet/ Book of Ecclesiastes, a prayer book for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur according to Sephardi custom, and a Spanish translation and commentary of Tehelim/ Psalms. He also translated various halakhic works into Spanish.
R’ Shalem on the non-discriminatory character of doing God’s will, above and beyond any legal obligation:
The way of God and his faith is a doctrine of doing righteousness and justice. Mere laws and constitutions do not suffice. The human world and its society will bring waste and destruction upon the entire universe unless their wisdom and research are not integrated with justice and charity, truth and equality, and with the right to exist for all those created in the Divine image, with no discrimination of race, color or religion.
Eshed Hanechlim, Part 3, (Raphael Ben Haim Hacohen Press, Jerusalem, 2009), pp. 112 – 113.
Joint appeal letter by Captain Artur Carlos de Barros Basto and Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool on behalf of the Yeshibah Rosh-Pinah: Instituto Teológico Israelita at Porto, Portugal. Rabbi Dr. de Sola Pool invokes the themes of Passover to inspire Sephardim in America to take responsibility for "bring[ing] back to freedom and light.... the tens of thousands of the historic secret Jews of Portugal...." (Appeal Letter from 3 Tebet 5691 [23 December 1930] in the records of The American Sephardi Federation’s National Sephardic Library & Archives. See: Finding Aid to the Records of the Union of Sephardic Congregations: 1929-1988)
An interactive, multi-sensory exploration of the history and culture of Yemenite Jews
Exhibit Opening
Wednesday, 16 May 6:00PM-7:00PM
RSVP here
Yeshiva University Museum’s Rosenberg Gallery
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York City
The Teimani Experience immerses visitors in the sights, sounds, and even smells of the Yemenite Jewish culture, including the actual room (complete with ostrich eggs and rose water) recreated in Israel by Yemenite women from Sana’a who continued the tradition of making the birth mother the center of attention after both she and her newborn survived for thirty days. Aspects of Yemenite daily life are represented through an original painting of a representative Jewish home, artifacts pertaining to different Jewish occupations (including jewelry from remote areas of Yemen as well as worm-worn handwritten Biblical texts in Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic and a rare printed Maimonides text dating back approximately 100 years), correspondence between Yemen and the Land of Israel, pictures taken in the last 30 years of Jews and Jewish sites (synagogues, shrines, and other structures) in Yemen, and recordings of Torah reading and women’s songs. We look forward to having you join us!
The Teimani Experience is presented by E’eleh BeTamar and the American Sephardi Federation, in conjunction with Yeshiva University Museum.
Tuesday, 29 May 7:00 PM Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
Join Irene Shaland, an internationally-published art and travel writer, educator, and lecturer, for a fascinating talk about her travels through Jewish history in Burma, India, China, Cuba, and Cambodia. Seeking Jewish narrative all over the world, Irene with her husband-photographer Alex, has visited close to 70 countries and shared her experiences with audiences and readers in US, Canada, and Europe.
We look forward to having you join us!
Wednesday, 6 June at 6:00 PM Opening Night
(Followed by After Party)
Friday, 8 June at 3:00 PM
Monday, 11 June at 8:00 PM
Thursday, 14 June at 8:00 PM
(Followed by After Party)
Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York City
The cast includes: Charles Gray (Leporello), Anna Cley (Donna Elvira), Pablo Veguilla (Don Ottavio), Donna Anna (Jennifer Allenby), Masetto/Commendatore (Javier Ortiz), Zerlina (Yi Wang) We look forward to having you join us!
(Including VIP seating and access to an After Party)
The Algemeiner Editor’s Club Presents:
The New York Times and the Jews
Tuesday, 5 June at 7:15 PM Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th Street
New York City
The American Sephardi Federation is hosting The Algemeiner Editor’s Club for an important conversation—featuring a line-up of acclaimed experts in journalism—delving into The New York Times' history of covering Israel, Jewish figures, and other matters of Jewish concern, from the turn of the century to the current day.
Panelists will include Ira Stoll (Algemeiner columnist), Laurel Leff (author of Buried by the Times and an Associate Professor of Journalism at Northeastern University), and Ari Goldman (former New York Times Reporter and a Professor at Columbia University’s School of Journalism).
The discussion will be followed by a Q & A session. We look forward to having you join us!
Ticket options include VIP entry, which provides access to an exclusive reception preceding the talk and reserved seats. Please note that this event is complimentary for Algemeiner members.
Only a limited number of tickets available.
For further information, please email events@algemeiner.com or call 212-376-4988.
The American Sephardi Federation, עמותת אעלה בתמר, and Institute of Semitic Studies Present:
A three day academic and cultural conference exploring the cultural heritage of Jews of Yemenite heritage and their joint cultural commonalities with the Muslims of Yemenite heritage. Learn more at: www.ASFYemenConference.org
International Academic Conference Monday, 4 June, 9:00am-5:30pm
Tuesday, 5 June, 9:00am-3:30pm @The Center for Jewish History
Celebrating the culture and history of Yemenite Jews and the rich interactions between Yemenite Jews and Muslims. Topics include Jews and Muslims, spirituality, antiquity, modern culture, and Yemenite women.
Cultural Evening Tuesday, 5 June, 6:00-8:00pm @The United Nations Featuring Yemenite Song and Dance
Through May, 2018
in ASF’s Leon Levy Gallery Center for Jewish History
15 W 16th Street
New York City
The Philos Project and American Sephardi Federation cordially invite you to “Nosotros," an art exhibit featuring the work of two renowned Latino artists, Angel Urrely (Cuba) and Carlos Ayala (Puerto Rico)--as a symbolic recognition and “step forward” to improving Jewish-Latino relations. We thank the Dominican artist, Juan Bravo, for exhibiting his pieces for the exhibit’s Opening Night. Each piece reflects the shared roots of Jewish and Latino communities and expresses hope for a more positive future from the perspective of each respective artist.
Each artist has displayed their works in hundreds of exhibits in both the US and Latin America, having many of them included in some of the most coveted collections in the world. We are very excited to bring them and their works to celebrate the importance of uniting us (or Nosotros), the Jewish and Latino communities, and having this art displayed in a very powerful way at the American Sephardi Federation at the Center for Jewish History. Artists:
Angel Urrely is to the point. This son of Cuba does not beat around the bush. At least not for what the brush comes to reveal—his theory is clear and sharp. Each frame creates a specific, assertive and brutal connection. The reading of his work is—from the perspective of the viewer—very simple, to the point that if you assume an interpretation of what you are reading, believe me: Urrely is addressing exactly what you are thinking. Urrely has something to tell you and will let you know one way or another.
Carlos Ayala presents himself as the “Benjamin” of the tribes, the youngest of them all. This son of Puerto Rico presupposes that his youth may seem an obstacle to you, so he shows you his clutched fists from the introduction. This young man is fierce. Carlos shows us the deepest pains experienced by man, and brings them to an entertained, distracted and ill-bred public. He does not sit down to dream on the Caribbean coast and wait for boats loaded with promises. He does not have the time for it, but rather wants to remind you that even at the best moments pain is present. And at any moment it can befall us.
We look forward to having you join us!
Please click here for additional information and viewing hours
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