Reading and travel are two of the greatest pleasures in life. The chance to combine the two is a dream come true for American seniors and book club members who are signing up for immersive travel experiences that explore the settings of classic novels, or locations connected to their favourite writers.
We’ll take a look at how literary travel tours can bring books to life and take you to the heart of the streets and places that define some of the world’s great literature, cult classics – or just your own personal favourites. In this blog post, we’ll explore how Richard Zimler’s best-selling novel The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is inspiring readers to join Jewish Heritage tours of Portugal!
Bruheem kol dumuyay eloha! Blessed are all God’s self-portraits.
Richard Zimler, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon
Jewish historical fiction covers three thousand years of some of the most turbulent, exciting, tragic – and occasionally miraculous – events in human history. The historical Jewish experience ranges from the hilltop forts of Iron Age Israel, through the cruelty of the Roman Empire, the trials and triumphs of the diaspora, and the nadir of the Holocaust. Post-war Jewish history, with the birth of Israel and its struggle for survival is every bit as compelling.
There is a wealth of Jewish historical fiction that covers almost every period. The best writing will take you back in time and bring the past to life in your mind’s eye. The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is set in early 16th century Portugal and is based on real life events, namely the savage Lisbon massacre of 1506. The young protagonist Berekiah Zarco is a kabbalist and a manuscript illustrator who discovers the murdered body of his uncle Abraham, who is also his spiritual teacher.
We won’t spoil the plot for anybody who hasn’t read the book yet, but suffice to say that it’s a superb historical novel that will grip and entrance you from the opening pages. On a basic level, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is a historical murder mystery set against a backdrop of a murderous pogrom and secret esoteric exploration. The book is superbly researched and is a treasure trove of atmospheric historical detail. Writing and researching the story was clearly a labour of love for Richard Zimler.
Exploring Historical Portugal with Luxury Jewish Heritage Tours
Some books, characters or time periods, inexplicably resonate with us on a deeper level. If you are hooked on The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon – or any other Jewish historical novel – you can take your appreciation and exploration of the book a step further. A Jewish heritage tour of Portugal can be customized to take your book club group straight to the key sites in The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon. An English speaking guide can give you a more detailed explanation of each site, its historical context and role in the book.
The wider history of the Jews in Portugal goes back an estimated 2,000 years but the cultural achievements were cruelly curtailed by the Portuguese inquisition, and edicts of expulsion and forced conversion in the 1490s. Portuguese Jews who fled antisemitic state policies created thriving communities in Amsterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp and traveled across Europe as merchants. Some had taken part in 15th century voyages of exploration and settled in the Americas, India and Africa. Many modern Jews don’t realize that they have some distant Portuguese Jewish ancestry.
Jews trickled back into Portugal in the early 1800s and began a new chapter in the country’s Jewish heritage. The first destination for US tourists who are eager to explore the Jewish world portrayed in The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is the Alfama quarter and Judiaria Grande. The modern Shaare Tikva synagogue is definitely worth a look, but history buffs will make a beeline for Rossio Square. It’s the site where 1,300 Jews condemned by the Inquisition were burned at the stake.
Lisbon is a major port (the fish restaurants are amazing – try the grilled cod) and its Belém district is where the Portuguese navigators (including Jews) began their dangerous voyages of exploration. You can also visit the tomb of Vasco de Gama who discovered the sea route to India. Lisbon is a beautiful city and the authorities are making a genuine effort to preserve and restore Jewish heritage sites.
It’s a real pleasure to stroll through the old Jewish areas as part of a guided tour. With just a little imagination, it’s possible to capture something of the atmosphere of Lisbon in the middle ages, and the shadowy world that Richard Zimler’s kabbalist Berekiah Zarco and his friends lived in. Lying back in the evening in a luxury Lisbon hotel, and rereading the passages set in places that you just visited is a very special experience!
Experience More Jewish Heritage in Portugal
There are plenty of stunning historical sites outside Lisbon, including some important Jewish heritage sites. The seaside village of Obidos (80 kms north of Lisbon) was home to a number of Jewish communities going back to the 5th century. There is still a 12th century synagogue in the Jewish quarter.
The nearby city of Tomar has a 15th century Jewish synagogue (which is now a museum) and a mikveh. It gives a beautiful insight into the basic rhythms of day to day life in medieval Jewish Portugal. There are several surviving Jewish sites, as well as interesting ruins scattered across Portugal – and often in some surprising places. A tailored Jewish heritage tour will include luxury transport and guided tours of any locations that interest you.
Portuguese Jews in the Golden Age lived all over the country, including small rural villages, and were not exclusively concentrated in the major cities. A place that’s definitely worth visiting is the mountain village of Belmonte, home to the last surviving Marrano community.