Rui Moreira participates in the first Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism

The Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism is scheduled for 16th March and it gathers mayors from all parts of the world, from Porto to Athens, and from Pittsburgh to Frankfurt, in Germany, the online event organiser, jointly with the Combat Anti-Semitism organisation.

Porto has a past link with the Jewish community, which thrives to the present. So, it is no surprise that the Mayor of the Invicta accepted the invitation to take part in the first event devoted to fighting prejudice, hostility and discriminations against Jews. This will be a transcontinental gathering, with the attendance of the Mayor of Buenos Aires (Argentina), a government representative of Montevideo (Uruguay), and the Mayor of Pittsburgh (USA), the Mayor of Toronto (Canada), besides other representatives of European cities, namely Amsterdam, Brussels, Palermo, Vilnius, just to mention a few.

The Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism reaches far beyond local governments, as it summons panellists and speakers such as Michael O'Flaherty, the Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, also Lord John Mann, UK Adviser for Anti-Semitism, also Jacky Rosen, American Senator for the State of Nevada and a representative from Israel, Haim Bibas, both chairman for the Local Authority Federations and Mayor of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut.

The Hebrew community settled in Portugal, particularly in the Northern region, between the 5th and 15th centuries. The Jewish presence has left a heritage filled with memories that still endure in the Portuguese culture. As regards Porto, for instance, the Jewish quarter was situated near the Cathedral, the part of the city where today stand the Torre dos Clérigos, Sé, and the square and tunnel of Ribeira.

Porto hosts a perfectly settled Jewish community at present, with circa 500 members of over 30 countries; and this number has been increasing, enhancing the secular Jewish influence and heritage in the city of Porto.

It is worth mentioning that the “Museu do Holocausto”, aka Museum of the Holocaust will soon be inaugurated, when the pandemic preventive measures thus allow it. This museum was created by the Jewish community in Porto, and it is located in Rua do Campo Alegre, nearby the Kadoorie synagogue.

Register here to participate in the Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism.