Several important Portuguese-Jewish families settled in the Azores in the 15th century, shortly after the islands were discovered by the Portuguese.
Moroccan Jews became active in local Azorean business, trade, and commerce.
[2] Many Azorean Catholics believe they have Jewish ancestry due to assimilation, intermarriage, and conversion.
Local residents tell different stories as to the origin of the name: one story claims that in the 16th century a boat containing Jewish refugees was caught in a storm and the refugees were forced to settle in Porto Judeu rather than the capital of the Azores, while a different story claims that the first Portuguese settlers were afraid and told a Jewish passenger to jump first.
[4] After following into disuse for many decades, the Sahar Hassamain Synagogue held its first services in nearly 50 years on Erev Shabbat, April 24, 2015.