Portugal, The Last Hope: Sousa Mendes’ Visas for Freedom

Presented by The American Sephardi Federation, Sousa Mendes Foundation, and Portuguese Consulate of New York in partnership with the Municipality of Almeida, Portugal, The Museu Virtual Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Turismo Centro de Portugal, The Center for Jewish History, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, The American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), Leo Baeck Institute, Luso-Americano Foundation, and The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation The evening program included remarks by Manuela Bairos, Consul General of Portugal at New York and António Baptista Ribeiro, Governor of Almeida, Portugal, who presented the ASF and several other participants with medals. Additional elements included the screening of historical footage of the 1940 exodus through Portugal, introduced by Luisa Pacheco Marques and Margarida Ramalho, architect and historian, respectively, of the future museum. A conversation with Sousa Mendes visa recipient Jean-Claude van Itallie and Sheila Abranches-Pierce, granddaughter of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, was moderated Olivia Mattis, President of the Sousa Mendes Foundation. Portuguese guitar music was performed by Pedro da Silva.