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Jewish museum in Portugal’s oldest synagogue reopens

Built in the 15th century, it was abandoned until it was restored in 1921 by a Polish-born Jew, Samuel Schwarz.

The four pillars of the Synagogue of Tomar, Portugal. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
The four pillars of the Synagogue of Tomar, Portugal. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

A museum inside Portugal’s oldest synagogue reopened on Tuesday following a two-year renovation.

The Interpretive Center of Tomar Synagogue and Abraão Zacuto Luso-Hebraic Museum in Tomar, Portugal—a little more than an hour-and-a-half from the country’s capital, Lisbon—was built in the 15th century.

It was abandoned until it was restored in 1921 by a Polish-born Jew, Samuel Schwarz.

Inside the synagogue are four pillars, representing Judaism’s four matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.

The Israeli premier told the country’s High Court that demands to remove the national security minister are unconstitutional.
The guidelines in the so-called “frontline areas” were also tightened to limit public gatherings to up to 50 people outdoors and 100 indoors.
The site contained over 110 pounds of explosive material and around 200 pipe bombs, according to the Israeli military.
“We still have more to do,” the premier said, speaking just hours before the U.S.-Iran talks collapsed.
“That’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” the vice president said.
The dollar continues to weaken against the Israeli currency.