Porto Jewish community builds memorial to victims of October 7

150 renowned rabbis took part in a memorial ceremony on Tuesday 12th March in memory of those murdered on 7th October, in the new cemetery of the Jewish community in Porto in northern Portugal.

The names of those who perished were commemorated by the Porto Jewish community, the European Jewish Association and the Rabbinical Centre of Europe.

The prayer was led by Rabbi Simcha Steinberg of Eindhoven, Holland, and among the speakers were Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, chief rabbi of the inter-provincial Chief Rabbinate of the Netherlands, and Rabbi Netanel Lev, a member of the rabbinical council of Lubavitch, Paris and father of the late Binyamin Lev who fell in battle against the terrorists on 7th October.

He said: “My son Binyamin fell in battle on October 7 when he went out to defend the people of Israel with his body. He was an outstanding soldier in the paratroopers, and was specially selected to arrive in the Gaza Strip that morning. One thing comforts me, and that is knowing that he gave his life to protect and save other Jews. May the memory of my son and the other soldiers who were killed be blessed.”

Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs said: “We are witnessing here today a combination of the normal and the abnormal, the acceptable and the unacceptable. A new and permanent Jewish cemetery and the terrible monument to October 7. And we see with tears in our eyes that the world accepts the unacceptable by condemning Israel and not condemning displays of anti-Semitism.”

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s chief emissary in Portugal, Rabbi Eli Rosenfeld said: “Today’s gesture expresses the resilience of the Jewish people. Despite the pain experienced during Simhat Torah, the people of Israel will continue to live and prosper. Am Y’israel Chai!”

The Porto Jewish community inaugurated its new cemetery in April 2023.

Known as “Isaac Aboab Field of Equality,” the cemetery commemorates the community’s chief rabbi who lived and died in Porto after the expulsion of the Jews of Castile.

The community’s current chief rabbi, Daniel Litvak said: “We don’t even know where he is buried because the Inquisition destroyed every trace of the Jewish community of that time.”

Rabbi Yoel Zekri of Porto said: “Five hundred years ago, the Jews of Porto were robbed of all their possessions, their homes, even their cemetery was destroyed. This new cemetery is a sign of Jewish life. To honor as a nation those killed in the October massacre is to honor the entire Jewish people of the past, present and future.

“I would like to thank the Jewish community of Porto for the good work they have done to perpetuate the memory of all the soldiers and people who were murdered and died on October 7. It is heartwarming. God willing, our abductees will soon be released safe and sound.”