The Jewish Community first appeared and became organised in Cascais when Pedro I declared the town independent in 1364. Many residents were accused of Judaism, heresy and apostasy throughout the years. Cascais played host to important Jewish personalities not only within the backdrop of Inquisition or of groups of Sephardi Jews who had settled in Portugal, but more particularly during the 1930s and 1940s.

Within this setting, Estoril was the meeting place of well-known personalities such as J. Benoliel, S. Zweig, Moisés Amzalak, M. Ettner, A. d’Esaguy, F. Werfel and his wife, I. Berlin, P. Guggenheim, M. Ophüls, B. Jacob, F. Teppich, F. Chorin Jr. and L. Hurwicz. Many Jewish families like the Cassutos, the Halperns and the Ruahs are connected to Cascais, a place that also included the history of the Levi, the Bensaúde and the Feist families. In being aware of the importance of its Jewish heritage and what had happened during the II World War, the Cascais Municipal Council inaugurated the Espaço Memória dos Exílios in 1999. It preserves a part of the memory of famous and anonymous Jewish exiles who had been brought to the region owing to the turmoil in Europe.

In 2015, Cascais received the Tora in recognition of the importance of its solid Jewish community. Hanukkah Menorah has been celebrated for the last three years, and in its commitment to defending principles based on good relations among the different faiths, the Cascais Council hosted the first edition of Judaica – Film and Culture Festival in 2016.

The Jewish Community first appeared and became organised in Cascais when Pedro I declared the town independent in 1364. Many residents were accused of Judaism, heresy and apostasy throughout the years. Cascais played host to important Jewish personalities not only within the backdrop of Inquisition or of groups of Sephardi Jews who had settled in Portugal, but more particularly during the 1930s and 1940s. Within this setting, Estoril was the meeting place of well-known personalities such as J. Benoliel, S. Zweig, Moisés Amzalak, M. Ettner, A. d’Esaguy, F. Werfel and his wife, I. Berlin, P. Guggenheim, M. Ophüls, B. Jacob, F. Teppich, F. Chorin Jr. and L. Hurwicz. Many Jewish families like the Cassutos, the Halperns and the Ruahs are connected to Cascais, a place that also included the history of the Levi, the Bensaúde and the Feist families. In being aware of the importance of its Jewish heritage and what had happened during the II World War, the Cascais Municipal Council inaugurated the Espaço Memória dos Exílios in 1999. It preserves a part of the memory of famous and anonymous Jewish exiles who had been brought to the region owing to the turmoil in Europe. In 2015, Cascais received the Tora in recognition of the importance of its solid Jewish community. Hanukkah Menorah has been celebrated for the last three years, and in its commitment to defending principles based on good relations among the different faiths, the Cascais Council hosted the first edition of Judaica – Film and Culture Festival in 2016. 

Address
 
Espaço Memória dos Exílios
Av. Marginal 7152-A, 1º
Estoril
Tel: 214815930
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Câmara Municipal de Cascais
Praça 5 de Outubro
Cascais
Tel:214825000
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Fundação D. Luís I
Av. Rei Humberto II de Itália, 16
Cascais
Tel:214815660
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