Kadoorie – Mekor Haim Synagogue

Kadoorie–Mekor Haim Synagogue is the principal synagogue of the Jewish Community of Porto and one of the most prominent modern Jewish religious buildings in Portugal. The synagogue was inaugurated in 1938, at a time when Jewish communities elsewhere in Europe were entering a period of extreme persecution.

Its creation was closely connected with the revival of organised Jewish life in Porto during the early 20th century and with international Jewish support, including assistance associated with the Kadoorie family. The Hebrew name Mekor Haim means “Source of Life.” Today the synagogue is not only a heritage monument: the Jewish Community of Porto identifies it as an active centre where a minyan is maintained for Shabbat and Jewish festivals, within a wider community infrastructure that includes facilities for religious observance and education.

This continuing use is essential to the site’s sacred significance. The synagogue also plays a major role in presenting the history of Jews in Portugal to visitors, alongside the community’s museum and educational activities. Because it is an active religious institution, arrangements for tourism, group visits or participation in services should be confirmed directly with the community rather than assumed from older guidebooks.

The record avoids unsupported claims about visitor numbers or rankings; its importance is established by its documented 1938 inauguration, active congregational role and place in the modern history of Portuguese Judaism.