Nestled in the heart of Tomar, Portugal, lies a piece of Jewish heritage that many might walk past without realising its immense historical and cultural significance: the Tomar Synagogue. Today, it stands as a museum and a symbol of the rich Jewish history in the region. However, the synagogue’s survival and restoration were not always assured. This is the story of how a determined Polish engineer saved the synagogue from near obscurity and neglect.
A Forgotten Treasure
Tomar’s synagogue was constructed between 1430 and 1460, during a time when the Jewish community played a vital role in Portugal’s cultural and economic development. The building’s architecture is unique, blending Gothic and Islamic styles, with its elegant vaulting supported by four slender columns, each representing the mothers of Israel. However, when King Manuel I ordered the expulsion of Jews from Portugal in 1496, the synagogue fell into disuse, eventually becoming a warehouse and even a prison over the centuries.
By the early 20th century, the synagogue was little more than a neglected ruin, a faint reminder of Tomar’s once-thriving Jewish community.
The Polish Saviour
In 1923, a Polish engineer named Samuel Schwarz, who had moved to Portugal after World War I, stumbled upon the dilapidated building. Schwarz was not just any engineer—he was a Jewish scholar and historian deeply interested in Jewish heritage. When he realized that this crumbling structure was, in fact, a synagogue, he set out to save it.
Schwarz purchased the building with his own money and began the painstaking process of restoring it to its former glory. He also took steps to ensure that it would be recognized as a historical monument, gaining the support of the Portuguese government and Jewish organisations worldwide.
A Lasting Legacy
Thanks to Samuel Schwarz’s dedication, the Tomar Synagogue was officially classified as a national monument in 1939. After restoration, it opened to the public as the Museu Luso-Hebraico de Abraão Zacuto in 1933, named after the renowned Jewish astronomer and mathematician who was associated with the region.
Today, the synagogue is the best-preserved medieval synagogue in Portugal, attracting visitors from all over the world. It not only serves as a museum dedicated to Jewish history but also as a poignant reminder of the resilience of cultural heritage, even in the face of adversity.
Why It Matters
The story of Tomar’s synagogue and its unlikely saviour, Samuel Schwarz, is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Without Schwarz’s intervention, this important piece of Jewish history might have been lost forever.
As you walk through the streets of Tomar and explore the synagogue today, take a moment to reflect on how one individual’s determination can shape the course of history. In the synagogue’s quiet halls, the memory of a forgotten past is preserved—thanks to the work of a humble Polish engineer.
Plan Your Visit The Tomar Synagogue is located in the heart of the city, on Rua Dr. Joaquim Jacinto. It is open to visitors year-round, offering a glimpse into Tomar’s Jewish past and the broader story of the Sephardic Jewish community in Portugal.
Synagogue of Tomar Dark History
During the Portuguese Inquisition, Tomar was a significant centre for Jewish life, housing a vibrant community and a notable 15th-century synagogue. In 1540, an Inquisition tribunal was established in the city, leading to the persecution of many Jews and New Christians. The first auto-da-fé took place on May 6, 1543, followed by another on June 20, 1544. After these events, the tribunal was suspended, possibly due to administrative abuses, and was officially closed in 1548 following a papal bull of pardon.
During the Inquisition’s peak in the 16th–17th centuries, approximately 1,000 people were executed in autos-da-fé across Portugal, with many more imprisoned, tortured, or exiled. While Tomar’s tribunal was short-lived, the city’s Jewish community faced severe repression. For instance, after the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, many refugees settled in Tomar, only to face forced conversions and later Inquisitorial scrutiny