Draft:Jewish cemetery of Angra do Heroísmo

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Gate to the cemetery

The Cemitério dos Hebreus (The Hebrew Cemetery in Portuguese), also referred to as Campo da Igualdade (Field of Equality), is located on Caminho Novo, in the historic center of Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island, in the Azores. It stands out for being one of the only remnants of Jewish culture in the archipelago.[1][2]

History[edit]

Inside the cemetery

The first references to the establishment of Jewish families in the Azores date back to the first half of the 19th century, originating from Morocco, where they left due to economic restrictions imposed on them at the time. During the same period, the influence of the Holy Office declined in Portugal, and the advent of Liberalism, particularly after the Liberal Revolution of Porto (1820), attracted these populations, likely of Portuguese descent. Consequently, several families began to migrate to the Azores, with the settlement of families such as Abohbot, Benarus, Levy, Zagory, or Besabat being recorded. The archipelago even had synagogues on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, and Faial. The acceptance of Jews in these communities at the time contrasts with the persecutions carried out by the Holy Office in previous centuries.[3]

According to the sales deed dated September 24, 1832, Joaquim Zagory (also spelled as Zagury) acquired at a public auction from the Municipal Council of Angra, for the amount of 300 thousand réis, a piece of land previously designated as the council's corral, to establish a Jewish cemetery. According to the same deed, the aforementioned amount had been bequeathed in a will by Abraão Benaoim, for the construction of a "(...) decent cemetery for all those who were of his Nation". In that same year, Fortunato Benjamim and Abraão Sebag were buried there.[4]

In 1958, the cemetery became the property of the Jewish Community of Lisbon, but in 1994, due to its state of abandonment, the Bensaúde Group took on its restoration, being responsible for its maintenance ever since. Starting from 2014, it became the responsibility of the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, which incorporated it into the historical heritage under its management.

Characteristics[edit]

The plot has a rectangular layout, currently containing 53 graves. Above the gate, a bilingual epigraphic inscription (Hebrew-Portuguese) reads:

"CAMPO DE IGUALDADE / OS HEBREOS COMPRARAO ESTE CAM= / PO A OS ILLUSTRISSIMOS MEMBROS / DA CAMERA DA CIDADE D ANGRA PA= / RA FAZEREM SEO JAZIGO / ANNO DE 1832"

"FIELD OF EQUALITY / THE HEBREWS BOUGHT THIS FIELD / FROM THE ILLUSTRIOUS MEMBERS / OF THE CITY CHAMBER OF ANGRA TO / MAKE THEIR BURIAL PLACE / YEAR OF 1832"

Here lies buried Mimom ben Abraham Abohbot, founder of the Ets Haim Synagogue in Angra.

Bibliography[edit]

  • GOMES, Augusto. Filósofos da Rua (3ª ed.). Angra do Heroísmo (Açores): Câmara Municipal de Angra do Heroísmo, 1993. 392p. fotos p/b ISBN 972-9135-08-8 p. 293.
  • Herança Judaica nos Açores, Direção Regional das Comunidades dos Açores, s.d. ISBN 978-972-8005-29-0.
  • "Em Ponta Delgada: Sinagoga abre portas amanhã". A União, Angra do Heroísmo, ano 115, nº 33814, 20 mar. 2009, p. 5.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "Jewish cemetery of Terceira - JGuide Europe - The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe". JGuide Europe. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  2. ^ "Jewish cemetery of Terceira - JGuide Europe - The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe". JGuide Europe. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  3. ^ Herança Judaica nos Açores, s.d.
  4. ^ "Cemitério Campo da Igualdade", in Herança Judaica nos Açores, s.d.
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