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.
Shaland’s Porto and Northern Portugal is the third exquisite book, in Irene Shaland’s five book series on her travels in Portugal. It is a deep delve into the Jewish history of the area but also brings to life generally the history, geography, art, culture, and grandeur of the area. It is a state-of-the-art travel guide but offers so much more than what would normally be seen or understood by a traveller because of the expert research of the author who is Jewish herself and has an eye for what would escape the attention of most travellers.
The book is also superbly illustrated with a large number of colour photographs by Alex Shaland, Irene’s husband, and children’s author, who shares her travel adventures with her.
Even if you are not a globe trotter, this book has much to offer for those wanting to understand the history of the Jewish diaspora – the persecution, the forced conversions, the Inquisitions, and the expulsions. There is also a visit to a Holocaust Museum. The book also covers the times Jewish culture thrived, and the history of Kings, Christianity, the Knights Templar, and Islam in the land.
No wonder Irene is a sought-after speaker and educator on Jewish history, art, culture and heritage and her travel articles are eagerly awaited.
If you are planning to visit Portugal, take this book with you and keep it in your hand as you explore Portugal as it gives you a practical guide of what to do day to day in your travel. Better still, get it before you go and plan your travels.
“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:
“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!
Please “come” virtually to Irene Shaland’s lecture devoted to Jewish history in Portugal. This time, we will be exploring the enchanting islands of Madeira and Azores that belong to Portugal.
This lecture is hosted by the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies. The event is OPEN to the public. To receive the link to the event, you need to register. Please find the link to register:
Title: “The Hidden History of Jewish People on the Islands of Madeira and Azores and the Unsolved Mystery of a Sefer Torah”
Date: May 19, 2024
Time: 12:00 Noon EST
Description:
Join the renowned author and historian, Irene Shaland, in her exploration of two Portuguese autonomous regions in the Atlantic: Madeira and Azores. With their mild climate, dramatic waterfalls, and mountains, both archipelagos are popular tourist destinations with over five million visitors arriving annually.
However, few tourists know that the two islands of Madeira and the nine islands of Azores have a hidden Jewish history, and the archipelagos tightly guard their secrets.
The Jewish presence on the islands, still under the radar of most historians, spans the entire length of recorded history beginning with their discovery by the Portuguese in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is even thought that the explorer who discovered Madeira, Joao Zarco, was of Crypto-Jewish ancestry.
In Search of a Jewish Story in China Free Virtual Presentation Hosted by New City Library, New York
Date and Time: May 6th, 7:00 PM EST
Join an art and travel writer Irene Shaland as she takes us on a fascinating expedition, both familiar and unknown, through the 2,000 years of history in China. We will journey along the Silk Road and Gobi Desert, and visit six cities: Harbin, Beijing, Dunhuang, Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Shanghai.
As a Jewish historian, Irene Shaland remains ever attuned to what she calls the Jewish story, an often “endless chain of persecutions, from century to century, from country to country.” However, in China, she uncovered an entirely different chapter in Jewish history, which is divided into two unique narratives: the Jews in China and the Jews of China.
You are invited to discover these fascinating stories and find answers to many perplexing questions:
What are the secrets of the Gobi Desert and the Silk Road?
What do the most anti-Semitic of Russian Tsars, a railroad, a Chinese fishing village, and Russian-Yiddish culture have in common?
How did it happen that a port city in China occupied by the Japanese became a safe haven for thousands of European Jews during World War II?
What important lessons can we learn today from the history of the Chinese Jews?
Finally, why did the Jews of China disappear? And – did they really?
Read about Jews in China in Irene Shaland’s book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories: Tales of Jewish Diaspora, Persecution, the Holocaust and Rebirth in Europe, Africa and Asia.”https://amzn.to/2T1u5kK
Please “come” virtually to Irene Shaland’s 2nd lecture devoted to Jewish history in Portugal. This time, we will be exploring the enchanting islands of Madeira and Azores that belong to Portugal.
This event is FREE and OPEN to the public. To receive the link to the event, you need to register. I recommend registering as soon as possible; it only takes a couple of minutes. Please click the link to register: Link to Registration
About this Zoom event:
Title: “The Hidden History of Jewish People on the Islands of Madeira and Azores and the Unsolved Mystery of a Sefer Torah”
Date: February 27, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM EST
Description:
Join the BZD and renowned author and historian, Irene Shaland, in her exploration of two Portuguese autonomous regions in the Atlantic: Madeira and Azores. With their mild climate, dramatic waterfalls, and mountains, both archipelagos are popular tourist destinations with over five million visitors arriving annually.
However, few tourists know that the two islands of Madeira and the nine islands of Azores have a hidden Jewish history, and the archipelagos tightly guard their secrets.
The Jewish presence on the islands, still under the radar of most historians, spans the entire length of recorded history beginning with their discovery by the Portuguese in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is even thought that the explorer who discovered Madeira, Joao Zarco, was of Crypto-Jewish ancestry.
To learn more about the organization and to register, go to the BZD website: https://bzdisrael.org/ or call: 410-484-4510
In commemoration of the 2024 International Holocaust Memorial Day, the Baltimore Zionist District organization presents a lecture about unsung heroes during the Holocaust: people who risked everything to save untold thousands of Jewish lives during Shoah.
Day/Date: Sunday, January 28th
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Title: Acts of Loving Kindness During the Holocaust: Unknown Stories from Cuba, Corsica, Malta, and Calabria
