What it’s about
The Jewish community of Oporto announced their upcoming film, “The 2,000 Exiled Jewish Children,” set for a 2024 release. The film delves into the harrowing story of Jewish children taken from their families in Portugal in 1493 and exiled to the island of Sao Tome.
Why it matters
This film brings to light a tragic yet often overlooked chapter in Jewish and world history. By recounting the ordeal faced by these children and their families during the Inquisition, it serves to educate current and future generations about historical antisemitism and its ongoing repercussions.
Key details
The children’s journey began when they were taken from their homes and sent to Sao Tome, an island on the African coast. Out of the 2,000 children, only 600 survived their first year. The film is part of a broader effort initiated by the Jewish community to acknowledge the traumatic impacts of past persecutions and eliminate modern-day antisemitism.
Context and background
This announcement comes in the wake of the community’s previous film, “1506-The Lisbon Genocide,” which depicted a brutal three-day massacre of Jews in Lisbon. The initiative aligns with the community’s steps towards promoting awareness and understanding of Jewish history. Approximately 1,000 children, who were a part of a recent educational event at the Oporto Jewish Museum and Holocaust Museum, will benefit from this historical education.
Why it resonates today
Michael Rothwell, Director of the Oporto Jewish Museum, underscores the need for educational efforts, especially now, to combat rising antisemitism. Emphasizing the critical nature of this educational outreach, he said, “This dark episode demonstrates the depths that many went to in order to try and defeat and destroy our people.”
Urgency in combating antisemitism
Reflecting on modern acts of antisemitism, Gabriel Senderowicz, President of the Oporto Jewish community, thrust into light the present-day relevance of this historical narrative. Highlighting recent violent acts, he noted, “It is important to show the context of current antisemitism as a continuation of what has gone before.”
The parallels drawn between historical persecutions and recent events emphasize the necessity of vigilance and education to protect Jewish communities globally.
This story was first published on jpost.com.