From the windswept fjords of Norway to the quiet resilience of Danish Jewish communities, this journey from Scandinavia’s Jewish past to present invites those who cherish global Jewish heritage and thought-provoking history to uncover stories rarely told.
Title: “Scandinavia through the Eyes of a Jewish Traveler”
Presented by: Irene Shaland a Jewish historian and author of 7 books, including “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories: Tales of Jewish Diaspora, Persecution, the Holocaust and Rebirth in Europe, Africa and Asia”
Join the BZD for a captivating journey through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark with internationally published author Irene Shaland. Known for their breathtaking landscapes, royal capitals, and striking modern design, these countries also hold rich and often little-known Jewish stories.
Together we’ll explore the Jewish communities that once thrived in Scandinavia, the role each nation played during the Holocaust, and what it means to live as a Jew in these societies today. From history to modern life, this presentation offers a unique window into Scandinavia through Jewish eyes.
Step into the hidden world of Sephardic resilience and rediscovery! If you’re a Jewish history enthusiast—or planning a meaningful journey to Portugal—this virtual lecture is your gateway to a rich, little-known chapter of Jewish heritage.
Join renowned scholar Irene Shaland for her newest presentation in the “Saga of Sefarad” series: “Porto and the North: Resilience and Defiance.” From the majestic synagogue and museums of Porto to the mysterious villages “Behind the Mountains,” where Crypto-Jews secretly practiced their faith, this immersive experience will transport you through centuries of courage, ingenuity, and spiritual defiance.
Whether you’re tracing ancestral roots or mapping your next travel adventure, this lecture promises revelations you won’t find in guidebooks. Registration is open—don’t miss your chance to uncover the untold stories of Sephardic Portugal.
Lecture Title: “Porto and the North: Resilience and Defiance”
Presented by: Jewish Historian and Author Irene Shaland
Hosted by: New City Library, New York
Date and Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM EST
Place: Zoom virtual event
This virtual event is free, but registration is required to receive the link to attend this lecture.
We begin our journey in Porto: visits to Portugal would not be complete without your immersion in the history and sites of this great city. No matter why you love to travel and whether you are passionate about the arts, music, architecture, rivers, bridges, or wine, Porto offers everything for everyone!
Specifically, for the Jewish history sleuths, we will explore Porto’s fascinating Jewish narrative by unveiling one site at a time. We will also visit Porto’s beautiful synagogue, the city’s two museums dedicated to Jewish history and the Holocaust, and discuss an amazing story of Porto’s Jewish community development throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
From Porto, we will travel to small towns and villages like Braganza, Chaves, Carcão, and Guimarães, to name just a few in the region called Terras de Trás-os-Montes or “Behind the Mountains.” We will “deep-dive” into the largely unknown outside of Portugal and little-researched Jewish narratives. There, Conversos or forcibly converted to Christianity Jews, risked their lives but secretly followed their ancestral religion by ingeniously modifying it to avoid the neighbors’ suspicion.
In the small ancient city of Bragança, we visit two unique Jewish organizations where the stories of the long-gone, forgotten, and hidden “behind the mountains” Jews are preserved: The Sephardic Culture Interpretation Center and The Sephardic Memorial and Documentation Center.
In Guimarães, we will learn why this fascinating city is widely regarded as “The Birthplace of the Nation.”
But it will be in the village of Carcão, where we will discover something extraordinary: the stories of its people’s astonishing defiance of the Inquisition, and see the village’s coat of arms that has a mezuzah and a menorah!
Our journey of discoveries through the unknown Jewish history in Terras de Trás-os-Montes concludes in Tui, Spanish Galicia, where we see the only preserved collection of Sanbenitos, or the Iberian Inquisition’s clothes of shame.
Rabbi Barbara Aiello talks about Irene Shaland’s recent book: “I’ve just had the great pleasure to read historian Irene Shaland’s new and most impressive book to date, Shaland’s Porto & Northern Portugal: An Illustrated Guide to Jewish History and Sites in Northern Portugal, Its Capitol Porto and Select Sites in Central Portugal.
In these days when our mobile phones provide thumbnail sketches of places we’d like to visit, Shaland’s book is a refreshing alternative to the ‘grab and go’ approach imbedded in much of historical travel.
Do you recall the days of printed guidebooks? I still have quite a selection. These printed texts lent themselves to thought, study and consideration – values brought to life in Shaland’s up to date, illustrated guide. More than 200 pages in length and, thanks to Irene’s husband Alex, filled with breathtaking photos, this is a book that, if you let it, will guide your Sephardic Portuguese adventure to many undiscovered treasures that shaped Jewish life in this fascinating region.” – Rabbi Barbara Aiello.
New Book Release: Shaland’s Porto & Northern Portugal: An Illustrated Guide to Jewish History and Sites in Northern Portugal, Its Capital Porto, and Select Sites in Central Portugal
The new addition to Shaland’s Portugal Series
Planning a trip to Portugal and looking for sites related to the history of the Jews in Iberia? Love reading stories of Jewish existence in Europe? The Jewish story of Portugal is not complete without a deep dive into the past and present of Porto and the north of the country—part of human history that, for the most part, remained hidden for centuries.
Not anymore! Now, with this unique guidebook in hand, you can travel in time and space to explore the Jewish sites in Porto, Batalha, Tomar, Guarda, Bragança, Carção, Chaves,Guimarães, and Tui.
Read heroic stories of Jewish resilience, ingenuity, and survival in the face of the relentless Inquisition, ruthless monarchs, and the watchful eyes of neighbors. Follow the wandering Jews of Iberia on the run from expulsions, forced conversions, executions, and outright massacres to short periods of relative calm and then packing up and fleeing again.
This travel guide will help you carefully plan an itinerary that best fits your interests and the time of your stay. After browsing through pages filled with insightful, fascinating stories, practical information, maps, and well over 200 gorgeous color photos, you will be ready for the journey of a lifetime.
Once you arrive in Portugal, we will guide you, step by step, to historical monuments, former Jewish quarters and ghettos, synagogues, and Jewish museums, helping you learn about the Jewish communities of Portugal from biblical times to the present day.As you turn the pages of this richly illustrated guide, you’ll have no trouble finding each site and learning about its history right then and there.
Send your curious child, grandchild, niece, or nephew on a virtual adventure of a lifetime!
While reading, or being read to, the Adventures of Jackie the Penguinseries children’s books, your child will be magically transported to a thrilling African safari, enchanted forests of Madagascar, magnificent Yellowstone National Park, and mysterious jungles of India teeming with wildlife.
Kids will learn about lions and giraffes, wolves and bears, lemurs and chameleons, majestic tigers, and many more fascinating animals and birds. And most importantly, together with a small loveable person, who happens to be a talking penguin, they will grow to care about the animals, nature, and people of our planet, Earth, and understand what it takes to be a true friend.
In Jackie the Penguin Goes on Safari, your child will meet a small South African penguin called Jackie who dreams of visiting wild animals of Africa and learning about their appearances, behaviors, and characters. However, being a bird who could not fly, Jackie was terrified to meet the big, scary, and possibly dangerous inhabitants of the African savannah. So, his dream remained, well, just a dream. But one day, Jackie’s life changed when he met and instantly became friends with two world travelers, Irene and Alex, who were on their way to an African safari.
In this book, filled with bright color pictures and vivid descriptions of African wildlife, kids will learn how relying on true friends helped Jackie to overcome his fears and anxieties and realize the dream of his life. https://amzn.to/3FjmS6Q
In Jackie the Penguin Goes to Madagascar, your child will join Jackie the Penguin and explore enchanted forests of Madagascar. This fascinating adventure story is richly illustrated with vivid, bright photos of adorable lemurs, colorful chameleons, tiny frogs, strange insects, beautiful birds, and other fascinating wildlife. No matter whether large or small, these creatures are very special because most of them do not exist anywhere else on Earth. https://amzn.to/3NQ2RLm
In Jackie the Penguin Goes to America, your child will join Jackie the Penguin and meet majestic bison, powerful black bears, fierce grizzly bears, ferocious wolves, sly coyotes, enormous moose, and many other American wild animals; be in awe of geysers, glaciers, and caves; and learn about the local Native American tribes. https://amzn.to/3zFZRfL
In Jackie the Penguin Goes to India, your child will join Jackie the Penguin and travel through several Indian wildlife reserves brimming with exotic animals and birds in search of the majestic Bengal tiger. https://amzn.to/3CpO1YR
In these children’s books, exotic animals and wondrous nature become real with the help of large, vibrant color photographs. And reading these books is just pure fun. Why? Because the stories are told by a small person, who happens to be an adorable penguin. While following Jackie’s adventures, kids will love learning about nature and let their imagination go wild!
And by the way, books in this series can be read in any order.
Are you and your child ready to embark on an incredible journey with Jackie the Penguin? You know where to find this book!
“Jewish Revival in the Mediterranean: Rediscovering Hidden Legacies”
Come VIRTUALLY to Irene Shaland’s lecture on February 11th at 11:00 AM EST
Presenter:
Internationally published writer and educator Irene Shaland
Date and Time of this virtual event:
Tuesday, February 11th at 11:00 AM EST
Description:
Travel to Southern Italy, which presents an unusually optimistic chapter in the history of the Jewish Diaspora. Visit the islands of Sicily and Sardinia and the tip of the Italian “boot,” Calabria, in the company of a Jewish author and historian Irene Shaland. On this virtual trip, you will discover a world of little-known Jewish history: centuries marked by fear and secrets, decades filled with the search for one’s identity, and the courage to defy conventions by reinventing oneself.
These are the stories of B’nei Anousim, or “children of the forced ones” from Southern Italy. The destruction of synagogues and the burning of “Judaizers” five centuries ago forced the Jews of Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria to take their traditions down to the cellars of their homes, where the memories and stories were kept alive, even when descendants forgot their exact meaning.
And now, the number of those with a “call of blood,” who think they have Jewish ancestry and want to learn more about it or even embrace their newly-discovered heritage, is on the rise throughout Southern Italy. Let the story of the Anousim lead you into the world of hope – the cultural and spiritual reawakening – The Return of The Jews.
For registration and ticketing information follow the link below:
Join the Baltimore Zionist District on January 28th at 11:00 AM for a virtual lecture
“Echoes of Memory: Navigating Holocaust Remembrance Across Europe”
Presenter: Internationally published writer and educator Irene Shaland
Date and Time: Tuesday, January 28th, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST
Description provided by BZD:
Join the Baltimore Zionist District on January 28th at 11:00 AM for “Echoes of Memory: Navigating Holocaust Remembrance Across Europe,” a powerful virtual event that coincides with International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Hosted by internationally published writer and educator Irene Shaland, this session provides a poignant exploration of four European countries to understand the multifaceted responses to Holocaust remembrance.
Journey Across Four Nations: Austria, Germany, Hungary, and the Soviet Union
Our exploration begins in Vienna, Austria, where the city’s reputation as a beacon of European culture dramatically darkened after the Anschluss. Discover how Vienna transformed from the home of Mahler and Freud into a place marked by profound antisemitism, and trace Austria’s path from initial denial to its current reckoning with the past.
In Germany, witness a nation’s proactive engagement with its painful history. We will virtually visit Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum, concluding with a discussion on the Stolpersteine project, which personalizes the Holocaust experience across Europe.
Our virtual tour then takes us to Budapest, Hungary, where the haunting “Shoes on the Danube” memorial serves as a stark reminder of Hungarian involvement in the Holocaust. Examine Hungary’s struggle with its history and identity, highlighted by contentious modern memorials that ignite national debate.
Finally, in the former Soviet Union, we visited Minsk, Belarus, home to the deeply moving Yama memorial. Learn about the Soviet suppression of Holocaust recognition and witness how this denial shaped the collective memory of Jews in Soviet territories.
“Echoes of Memory” offers an immersive look at how nations confront or conceal their histories. It’s an essential session for anyone interested in the dynamics of memory, the lessons of the past, and their implications for fighting antisemitism today.
For registration and ticketing information follow the link below:
(The link to the presentation is sent after the registration is submitted)
Event Description (from the BZD Website):
Embark on an extraordinary virtual journey with the unparalleled expertise of renowned historian and speaker Irene Shaland as she uncovers 500 years of Jewish history woven into the very fabric of Brazil. From the mysterious world of 15th-century politics, deception, and exploration, discover the pivotal role of Crypto-Jews in shaping Brazil’s development.
Dive deep into the untold stories that reveal why Anna Novinsky, a leading expert in Jewish history, famously declared, “Brazil was built by the Jews!” Travel through time from the 15th century to the present day, visiting key locations such as Salvador Bahia, Manaus, the Amazon, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, and the Iguassu Falls. Immerse yourself in the rich and diverse Jewish narratives that have flourished in this fascinating country’s bustling cities and remote jungles.
Join the BZD for a captivating lecture that promises to shed light on the hidden Jewish influences in Brazil’s history. This is a journey you won’t want to miss, whether you’re a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or simply curious. Get ready to be engaged and enlightened!
For Information and Registration follow the link below:
“Jackie the Penguin Goes to America: Jackie Visits American National Parks and Learns About the Animals, Geysers, Glaciers, Caves, and Native American Tribes”
The third book of “Adventures of Jackie the Penguin” series
In addition to the paperback edition, the eBook edition of “Jackie the Penguin Goes to America” is now available for purchase and is on sale for only $0.99: https://amzn.to/3XnNgr4
Would your adventurous child enjoy exploring Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks in the company of a little penguin?
In this third book of the Adventures of Jackie the Penguin series, your child will join Jackie and meet all kinds of wild animals; be in awe of geysers, glaciers, and caves; and learn about the local Native American tribes. Vibrant color photographs illustrating every animal make them come alive. And reading the story is just pure fun. Why? Because the story is told by a small person, who happens to be an adorable penguin. By the way, books in this series can be read in any order.
While following Jackie’s adventures, kids will love learning about nature and let their imagination go wild! Whether your child reads this story on their own, or you are the one reading it to them – Jackie the Penguin Goes to America will not only entertain and educate but also foster your child’s desire to explore our world.
Created by an award-winning photographer and author, Alex Shaland, this fun-filled story uniquely combines elements of a picture book and a chapter book. What sets it apart from other children’s books is the abundance of stunning color photographs and fascinating information about nature to learn.
Are you and your child ready to embark on an awesome journey with Jackie the Penguin? You know where to find this book!
“For a deep dive into Lisbon’s Jewish history, we will reconstruct the past while traveling not only through the modern city but also through time.”
This book is a vivid and fascinating look into Lisbon through the lens of Jewish history and culture. Irene Shaland paints a colorful story spanning centuries from Biblical times to today through a close-up look at Portugal’s capital (and other beautiful locations too.)
The book is told through a broad look at each time period, and zooms in each chapter for a close-up look at Jewish life during the time. The information – told like a story, as if Irene were walking you right through Lisbon, with intelligent observation – is complemented by stunning photographs.
Shaland’s Lisbon is perfect for anyone curious about Jewish history, anyone going to Lisbon, or anyone just curious about the area (it feels like I got to take a little trip there!) The book is perfect for reading on the go, as it takes you through the streets and points out architecture and little details you otherwise might’ve missed.
Though I’m not Jewish myself, I enjoyed learning more, and was fully fascinated and entranced by Irene’s storytelling that brought Jewish life from centuries ago into the present. But be warned – once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop!
