Shavei Israel visits Portugal - report and pictures
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Lisbon Synagogue
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Shavei Israel Chairman Michael Freund spent several days in Portugal last week.
The trip began in Lisbon on Sunday night where Michael met some of the members of the group of Portuguese Bnei Anousim who are studying with Rabbi Elisha Salas, Shavei Israel's emissary to Portugal. Michael also toured the beautiful synagogue and mikveh (ritual bath) in Lisbon.
Michael then met with Portugal's Secretary of State for Culture, Francisco Jose Viegas, to discuss ways to revitalize Jewish culture in Portugal. The trip also included visits to Belmonte (for a wedding - see below) and Trancoso where a kosher "surprise" was waiting.
To find out more about that surprise and to read about the whole trip, please click here. The report is full of wonderful pictures too.
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Bnei Anousim Wedding in Spain
 | Bnei Anousim wedding video clip
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Last Monday night, Shavei Israel arranged the wedding of Yosef and Sara Vaz of Belmonte. Yosef is one of a number of Bnei Anousim in the village who returned to Judaism more than two decades ago. Yosef's wife passed away last year, and he decided to marry Sara, another member of the community.
Cllick here to watch a clip of the emotional wedding celebration.
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Report from India: Reflections of a Bnei Menashe Rabbi
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Studying in the cold in India
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Rabbi Yehuda Gin, a member of the Bnei Menashe community in Israel, has been in India this month with other Shavei Israel staff members, where he is teaching classes on Judaism to the Bnei Menashe there. He has filed a report on the trip and his experiences.
In the report, Rabbi Gin shares details on his visit to Moreh near the border with Myanmar (Burma) where he taught 75 students including 5-6 brave Bnei Menashe from Myanmar who walked for days to participate. In the town of Impal, 45 Bnei Menashe braved the cold to learn with Rabbi Gin. And in Churachandpur, an impressive 120 Bnei Menashe - including all of the Shavei "Fellows" in India - joined the classes.
Click here to read all the details of Rabbi Gin's visit.
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