A Program for the Museum of Jewish Heritage

We are dedicated to making your experience rich in content and superior in comfort. The Jews of Iberia: This unique travel program combines the expertise and resources of two organizations that cherish the traditions, achievements, and faith of Jewish communities – past and present – around the world. Jewish Heritage Travel SEPHARDIC JEWRY and the Museum of Jewish Heritage are delighted to have the opportunity to share this rich, varied, and poignant history and culture with you on these select trips. We look forward to traveling with you. IN OCTOBER 23 — NOVEMBER 3, 2019 Program Overview

From the Golden Age of Spanish and Portuguese Jewry to the present, the Sephardic community has played a vital role in contributing to Jewish and Western culture. Forming an integral part of medieval Iberia, the Jews of Portugal experienced periods of great creativity, as well as tragedy, until their fateful forced conversion and expulsion in 1497.

This 2019 trip to Portugal will bring to life the culture, heritage, and tradition of the Jews of the as we immerse ourselves in the rich culture, vibrancy, and creativity of Sephardic Jewry. Highlights of our tour will include presentations by our accompanying scholar, Professor Ray Scheindlin, songs in Ladino and Hebrew illustrating the material presented, and learning about Judah Abravanel’s “Dialoghi di Amore” (a Jewish, Neoplatonic philosophy of love).

Beginning in cosmopolitan, thriving , with its newly established Jewish community, our travels will include the bustling city of Oporto, with its medieval Jewish quarter, and Belmonte—a Marrano town, hidden from world Jewry for centuries until rediscovered in the twentieth century.

We invite you to join us on this exciting, extraordinary journey and learn about the Jewish heritage, culture, and tradition of this pivotal and important country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 2 Wednesday, October 23 Friday, October 25 Sunday, October 27 Tentative Lisbon Lisbon | | Cascais | Guincho | Lisbon Arrival in Lisbon. Check in to our hotel, We will begin this morning by touring the Daily the five-star, deluxe Olissippo Lapa Palace National Archives of Lisbon, where we Drive to the magnificent village of Sintra, with Hotel, and rest and relax from our journey. will view original Inquisition documents, time to visit the Town Palace and explore followed by a visit to the National Library its historical village center. From Sintra, we Itinerary* Evening: Opening presentation by Dr. Ray (Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal) to see its will drive to Estoril and Cascais, picturesque Scheindlin, Portugal in World and Jewish department of rare books and manuscripts, fishing villages and seaside resorts, where History; orientation and introductions, which include documents dating back to lunch (included) will be served in one of the followed by a welcome dinner (included) the eleventh century. famous fish restaurants at the beach of Guincho. After lunch on our own, we’ll have a guided Thursday, October 24 tour of the Tile Museum. This delightful Evening: Free; dinner on our own Lisbon museum is well worth a visit, presenting Our day will start with a panoramic city five centuries of decorative ceramic tiles, or Monday, October 28 tour including the area of Belem and azulejos, tracing the history and production Obidos | Alcobaça | Lisbon the The Jerónimos Monastery. One of of the art form. The highlight of the We will begin our day by traveling to the most prominent examples of the museum is a blue-and-white composition Obidos, with its whitewashed houses Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of of 1,300 tiles, 75 feet long, of Lisbon’s and cobblestone streets, whose Jewish architecture in Lisbon,the Monastery and cityscape made in 1738, prior to the Great quarter was in the center of this perfectly nearby tower of Belém are both classified Earthquake, and reputedly the country’s preserved, thirteenth-century walled as UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the longest tile piece. town. Lunch (included) by the sea in the Belem area, a visit with Jewish community Evening: Shabbat dinner (included) picturesque fishing village of Nazaré before members in Lisbon at the main synagogue, continuing on to Alcobaça, known for its followed by lunch on our own and a tour beautiful tiles and ceramics. Here, we will of the Gulbenkian Museum (a fascinating, Saturday, October 26 view the magnificent monastery church eclectic, and unique collection assembled Lisbon and learn about the romantic legend of by Calouste Gulbenkian; the wide-ranging Free to attend services on our own, enjoy the King Pedro I and Inês de Castro, a love contents include Egyptian, Greco-Roman, hotel amenities, and/or visit sites of personal story that has left its mark on the history of Islamic, and Oriental art, as well as interest in Lisbon Portugal. European paintings). Afternoon: (optional) tour of the National Evening: Presentation by Dr. Ray Scheindlin, Evening: Presentation by Dr. Ray Museum of Art Portuguese Jews in Exile, followed by dinner Scheindlin, The Judeo-Arabic Golden Age in on our own the Iberian Peninsula, followed by dinner on Evening: Presentation by Dr. Ray our own. Scheindlin, Don Isaac Abravanel, His Son, and Grandson followed by dinner on our own *Please Note: Daily schedule may be modi- fied subject to weather or unanticipated changes.

Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 3 Tuesday, October 29 its ancient Jewish presence. Upon arrival, Saturday, November 2 Tentative Tomar | Belmonte we will tour the town and visit the Isaac Oporto Depart Lisbon for Tomar, where we will visit Cardoso Jewish Interpretation Centre, a Morning: Free to enjoy hotel amenities and Daily the Museu Luso-Hebraico Abraão Zacuto and place for culture and debate that teaches Oporto, or attend services on our own Portuguese-Hebrew Museum, housed in a the ancient legacy that Beira Jewish Afternoon: (optional) tour of the Museu synagogue originally built in 1430, followed by communities have left behind. Itinerary* Nacional Soares dos Reis, with its a walking tour of the former Jewish quarter. Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant outstanding collection of Portuguese Tour the Convent of Christ, a masterpiece (included) art spanning from the sixteenth to the (cont’d) of Manueline Gothic architecture and once twentieth centuries and including sculpture headquarters of the Knights Templar. Free by António Soares dos Reis, the country’s time for lunch before departing for Belmonte. Thursday, October 31 Oporto celebrated nineteenth-century sculptor Evening: Dinner (included) and overnight at after whom the museum is named. Departing Belmonte, we will travel north to the Pousada Convento Belmonte, housed Oporto via the Douro Valley, which contains Evening: Performance by Janice Meyerson, in an old Franciscan convent from the the country’s most impressive scenery, famous followed by a closing, festive dinner at our thirteenth century worldwide for its vineyards, where Port wine hotel (included) is produced. Lunch (included) in a local hotel Wednesday, October 30 or Quinta before checking in to the five-star, Sunday, November 3 Belmonte Pestana Vintage Hotel, our base in Oporto. Departures from Oporto for return flights Today we will visit Belmonte, where Evening: Free; dinner on our own the community of “Belmonte Jews,” home or “Marranos,” survived in secrecy for hundreds of years by hiding all external Friday, November 1 signs of their faith. We will visit the Oporto Belmonte synagogue and tour the new Full-day tour of Oporto, including a visit Jewish Museum with local historian and to the magnificent, restored Kadoorie researcher José Levy Domingos. Founded Synagogue, the old Jewish quarter, and the in 2015, it is the first Jewish museum that original twelfth-century city of Oporto, with portrays the history of Jewish people of its winding narrow streets. Lunch on our Portugal and the decisive role that Jews own on the waterfront. played in Portuguese culture, art, literature, Evening: Festive Shabbat dinner (included) and trade.

Lunch along the way (included) before visiting the medieval town of Trancoso, one of the most important towns in Portugal *Please Note: Daily during the because of its schedule may be modi- strategic location, which was essential to fied subject to weather or keep Portugal’s independence as well as unanticipated changes. its borders; it was strongly influenced by

Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 4 Accommodations

Olissippo Lapa Palace Lisbon Pestana Vintage Porto Pousada Convento Belmonte The Olissippo Lapa Palace is a resort In one of the most prestigious areas The former convent of Nossa Senhora within a city, an urban oasis tucked of Porto, the Ribeira historic district, da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope) away on a hilltop in one of Lisbon’s the Vintage Porto Hotel is constructed is now the deluxe Hotel Convento most exclusive neighborhoods. from a group of eighteen buildings de Belmonte. The ecclesiastical The hotel was built as the private that have been named a UNESCO origins of the convent have been residence of the count of Valenças World Heritage Site. With rooms maintained in this new, elegantly and is just moments from the city’s overlooking the Douro River, the designed Hotel Belmonte. This hotel most famous sites and shopping Pestana Vintage Porto occupies a has panoramic views over the plains streets. The luxurious furnishings restored warehouse abutted by a across to the peaks of the Serra da come from the north of Portugal, medieval wall that links to several mountain range. The town is with art deco, colonial, Algarvian, and former houses. dominated by a thirteenth-century neoclassic flourishes—and arguably castle and an old Jewish quarter, once the best view in Lisbon. home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Portugal.

Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 5 ACCOMPANYING SCHOLAR ACCOMPANYING ARTIST TRIP GUIDE Traveling Raymond P. Janice Meyer- Lucy Rapoport Scheindlin, son (MM, New has guided and with You... PhD, recently England Conser- accompanied retired profes- vatory; BA, many previous sor of Hebrew Washington Jewish heritage literature at the University), tours, all to great Jewish Theological Seminary, is mezzo-soprano, has sung as acclaim. Born and schooled in a former Guggenheim Fellow. soloist with the New York City England before moving to Italy Dr. Scheindlin’s main field of Opera, New York Philharmonic, as a young adult, Lucy is fluent research has been the encoun- Boston Symphony, Deutsche in Italian, German, French, and ter of Hebrew and Arabic Oper Berlin, Teatro São Carlo in Spanish and has been a tour cultures in Spain. His books on Lisbon, and the Spoleto Festival, manager for over twenty years. medieval Hebrew poetry—Wine, among numerous other venues. Specializing in Europe, she has Women, and Death: Medieval During the course of our accompanied previous Jewish Hebrew Poems on the Good Life; program, we will hear a live groups to such places as and The Gazelle: Medieval recital by Ms. Meyerson, who Lithuania, Krakow, Prague, Hebrew Poems on God, Israel, will perform Ladino and Hebrew Berlin, Croatia, Spain, , and the Soul—reflect both the examples of Sephardic music. Serbia, France, northern and academic and the literary southern Italy, and Sicily. With aspects of his career. He is the Lucy’s attention to detail, author of a widely used text- knowledge of history, and book, A Short History of the considerable expertise in Jewish People and coeditor of guiding groups, participants will The Literature of Al-Andalus. His be well served on this trip most recent books are The Song of the Distant Dove: Judah Halevi’s Pilgrimage; and Vulture in a Cage: Poems by Solomon Ibn Gabirol.

Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 6 The Jews of Iberia: Program Details Registration Information SEPHARDIC Program cost: $6,950* (plus $54 Museum of Jewish Heritage How to register membership fee for nonmembers) JEWRY IN Online jhtravel.org Program fee includes: Mail Fill out this registration form and mail with your check or PORTUGAL • Eleven nights’ accommodations at deluxe hotels credit card information to: • Full breakfast daily; four lunches; six dinners Jewish Heritage Travel Program OCTOBER 23 — 27 North Chestnut Street • Entrance fees to all museums and sites on the itinerary NOVEMBER 3, 2019 New Paltz, NY 12561 • All group transportation via deluxe, air-conditioned coach Fax Fill out this registration form and mail with your check or credit *Per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement card information and fax to: 845.256.0196 available at $1,550. Gratuities ($165) additional. Limited room upgrades available at the Lapa Palace. Telephone To reserve your place, please complete the reservation form Call our office:845.256.0197, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm and return with a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 per per- son. Second nonrefundable deposit due May 1, 2019. Balance Participation Limited to 30 participants, the program will entail is due 120 days prior to departure. considerable walking, including uneven terrain. Participants need to be in active, good health, able to keep up with the group, ready to travel and experience group and cultural differences with grace. Feel free to contact us at (845-256-0197) with any questions. Disclaimer of Responsibility By registering for this program, participant specifically waives any and all claims of action against the Insurance Participants are urged to purchase travel insurance Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the Jewish Heritage Travel office and for losses necessitated by having to cancel participation due to their respective staffs for damages, loss, injury, accident or death health issues. For your convenience, insurance forms will be sent incurred by any person in connection with this tour. The Museum of upon registration, or consult your own insurance agent. Please Jewish Heritage, and the Jewish HeritageTravel office and their -re contact The Jewish Heritage Travel office at 845.256.0197 for spective staffs assume no responsibility or liability in connection with more information. the service of any train, vessel, carriage, aircraft or other conveyance Changes All rights are reserved by the Program Directors to which may be used wholly or in part in the performance of their duty to the passengers. Neither will the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and make faculty substitutions and/or to modify the itinerary (includ- the Jewish Heritage Travel office or their staffs be responsible for any ing hotels) as needed. injury, death, loss, accident, delay or irregularity through neglect or Cancellations All cancellations must be received by The Jewish default of any company or person engaged in carrying out the pur- Heritage Travel Program in writing. Cancellations received up poses for which tickets, vouchers, or coupons are issued. No respon- to 120 days prior to departure: full refund less non-refundable sibility is accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, weather, deposits, per person; 119-90 days prior to departure: 50% refund strikes, wars and other causes. In the event it becomes necessary or per person after non-refundable deposits. No refunds after this advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrange- ments, such alterations may be made without penalty. All rights date. reserved to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at his/ her own expense when such an action is determined by the tour staff to be in the best interest of the participant’s health and safety, and that of the group in general.

A Program for the Museum of Jewish Heritage Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 7 Registration The Jews of Iberia: Form SEPHARDIC JEWRY IN PORTUGAL

Please send your OCTOBER 23 — NOVEMBER 3, 2019 nonrefundable deposit for $1000 per participant by mail or fax. Contact information Participant names:

Mail Fill out this registration Name form and mail with your check or credit card information to: Museum Member Yes No Jewish Heritage Travel Address Program 27 North Chestnut Street Museum Member Yes No New Paltz, NY 12561

City State Zip Fax Accommodations Fill out this registration form Email address and mail with your check or I would like a single room ( for single room supplement credit card information and fax please see trip details) to: 845.256.0196 Phone number Cell phone number I’ll share a room with: Telephone Call our office:845.256.0197, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm Deposit Please share any special information we should know to Make your deposit by check or credit card. enhance your experience. Enclosed is a check made payable to Jewish Heritage Travel Program in the amount of $ ______.

Please charge $______to my: Master Card Visa American Express

How did you hear about us? ______card holder’s name FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS

card number exp. date: mo/yr validation code I will make my own flight arrangements .

I need assistance and will call (845.256.0197). Signature

A Program for the Museum of Jewish Heritage Jewish Heritage Travel | jhtravel.org | 8