ABOUT US

HaMakom strives to be a welcoming, vibrant, participatory, and inclusive congregation of primarily diaspora and native Portuguese Jews in Porto where life is inspired by the values of Torah. We feel a deep sense of belonging to our congregation and commitment to one another. We see ourselves as partners, working closely to create a strong Jewish community. We share our individual skills, talents, stories, and dreams to help make our congregation engaging and meaningful for all. We are nourished by the relationships that we share, and over time, members of all ages deepen their connection with our community and with Judaism.

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We are a Welcoming and Inclusive Congregation.

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We are blessed to share in the life of a community that is diverse by age, nationality, religious background, family make-up, socio-economic status, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation. We see a spark of the sacred in each of us. We recognize our commonalities while honoring and cherishing our differences. We strive to make membership in our congregation accessible for all. 

 

We are a Community of Prayer and Celebration.

 

We gather to experience the joy and spirit of traditional wisdom and prayer in song, music and discussion.

 

We are a Community of Kindness/Compassionate Outreach.

 

We care deeply about one another, rejoicing in one another’s joys, and reaching out to support one another in times of need. Together, we strive to help nurture belonging, resilience and wholeness in our lives.

 

We are a Community of Action.

 

We engage in acts of Tikkun Olam (“Healing Our World”) and pursue Tzedek (“Righteousness and Justice”) through social action and political activism.  We do this individually as friends and as families; affirming our responsibility to make a positive difference for ourselves and for mankind.

 

We are a Community that Supports Israel.

 

We are committed to the safety and vitality of the Jewish people and to a secure and just state of Israel as a home – for all Jews and for all its inhabitants.

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We are a Community of Learners.

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At every age and from every background we grow in knowledge and deepen our understanding of the traditions and wisdom of Judaism.

 

We Lead by Example. 

 

We support all of these ideals with a mostly-voluntary engaged and nurturing community of leaders: clergy, lay leaders, professional and support staff. Our leadership blends organizational innovation with the inspirational values of our tradition. We are committed to the dream of building a temple home that warmly and comfortably houses us all.