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Portuguese-Jewish Museum, Tomar

Location map and aerial view of Portuguese-Jewish Museum. For a larger interactive view, see our Tomar Map.



The Museu Luso-Hebraico Abraham Zacuto (Abraham Zacuto Portuguese-Jewish Museum) in Tomar is housed in the oldest synagogue in Portugal. It displays a variety of interesting artifacts from Tomar and around the world.

History

The Sinagoga de Tomar was built in the mid-15th century. Its short history as a Jewish place of worship came to an end in 1496, when the community was expelled by the Catholic authorities in 1496. The synagogue was subsequently put to such uses as a Christian church, a prison, the city hall, a warehouse, and a hayloft.

Samuel Schwartz, a Jewish mining engineer from Poland, bought the building in 1923. After lovingly restoring it, he donated it to the Portuguese state in 1939. In return, Schwartz and his wife received Portuguese citizenship and protection during World War II. Today the synagogue is a national monument and a museum.

What to See

The Portuguese-Hebrew Museum provides a look inside the oldest synagogue in Portugal as well as a recently-excavated mikvah (ritual bath). Exhibits include a number of 15th-century tombs with Hebrew inscriptions, as well as Judaica donated from around the world. Especially notable among the tombstones are one from the main synagogue in Lisbon dated 1307 and a 13th-century example from Belmonte with the name of God represented by three dots - similar to ancient Hebrew manuscripts from the Dead Sea.

The synagogue has a painted white facade. Inside, the prayer room is 8m square, with four pillars (representing Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah) and twelve pointed arches (symbolizing the 12 Tribes of Israel) in a Moorish style. A smaller room next to the main hall was discovered in 1985 to contain a mikvah, or ritual purification bath. Ceramic bowls excavated from the site are displayed around the pool.

Quick Facts

Site Information
Names: Portuguese-Jewish Museum; Museu Luso-Hebraico; Jewish Museum of Tomar
Location:Tomar, Portugal
Categories: Synagogues; Museums
Faith:Judaism
Status:museum
Date:15th century
Visitor Information
Coordinates: 39.60327° N, 8.414272° W   (view on Google Maps)
Address:R. Dr. Joaquim Jacinto, Tomar, Santarem 2300, Portugal
Phone:24/932-24-27
Hours:Daily 10am-1pm and 2-6pm
Cost:Free; donations gladly accepted.

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources for Tomar

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

  1. Frommer's Portugal, 20th ed.
  2. The Synagogue of Tomar, Portugal - Museum of the Jewish People


Article last updated: 04/06/2009.





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