Lisbon Synagogue

'Gates of Hope') is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 59 Rua Alexandre Herculano, in the civil parish of Santo António, in the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal.

For the Jews that converted to Catholicism, called New Christians (cristãos novos), the establishment of the Portuguese Inquisition in 1536 meant a permanent danger of being persecuted.

Throughout the 19th century, the small Lisbon Jewish community had no formal synagogue and had to celebrate their religious rites in private houses.

[3] A commission was established to study its construction, nominated by the Jewish community in Lisbon, represented by Leão Amezalak, Abrahão Anahory, Mark Seruya, Jacob Levy Azancot, Saul Cagi and Jaime Pinto.

In 1902, though, the lands were donated to the Israeli Committee in Lisbon, and a plan was elaborated by Miguel Ventura Terra (1866–1919), recommended by a commission headed by Joaquim Bensaúde.

[2][3] The principal facade of the synagogue has its foundations, corners and decorative capstones in stone, with rectangular windows framed in geometric lattices.

[3] To the front wall, is the bima and elevated almemor in the centre, where the place of the officiants where above five steps is the sanctuary where the rolls of the torah are located.

The procession for Teofilo Braga passing the site of the synagogue on Rua Alexandre Herculano
Interior of the synagogue, from the ground floor, where men pray. Women pray in the upper galleries
The entrance to the synagogue along Rua Alexandre Herculano