Figure 1.--This photograph shows the Ruah children with their toys. The Ruah were a wealthy Jewish family that settled in Portugal from Morocco (19th century). This was possible after the Portuguese Government finally suppressed the Inquisition (1821). At the right, another child unassociated withthe Ruah children, is looking at the scene. We don't know who he was. He looks like a ordinary Portuguese child. At first we thought he might be a neighbor, but the Ruah family lived on Ivens Street in one of the wealthier districts of Lisbon, so we can assume that the child is not a neighbour. We know he is not a street child because he has such well-patched trousers. His mother is clearly looking after him. But we don't know why he is in the photo. It is clearly ataged photograph so the photographer could have told him to step back. He provides a comparison between wealthy and poor children. The photo was taken in Lisbon during the early-20th century. Readers have asked about the image.

This photograph shows the Ruah children with their toys. The Ruah were a wealthy Jewish family that settled in Portugal from Morocco (19th century). This was possible after the Portuguese Government finally suppressed the Inquisition (1821). At the right, another child unassociated withthe Ruah children, is looking at the scene. We don't know who he was. He looks like a street child. We don't know even why he is in the photo. It provides a comparison between wealthy and poor children. The photo was taken in Lisbon during the early-20th century. Readers have asked about the image. So we thought it might be useful to assess the image and family in more detail. We had never heard of the Ruah family, but younger Americans are familar with the name. Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah is a popular Portuguese-American actress.

Expulsion (1497)

We believe that the Ruah family was one of the thousands of Jewish familes expelled by the Portugues (1497). The Portuguese seem more tolerant than the Spanish, butonly to an extent. And pressued by the Spanish Court and Spanish Inquisition, King Manuel I of Portugal decreed that all Jews had to convert to Christianity or leave the country (1497). Many left. Some were robbed and killed in the proces of doing so. Some 5,000 Jews who remained were massacred in Lisbon (1506). There were forced deportation to São Tomé and Príncipe. The Portuguese Inquisition was etblished (1536). The Portuguese Inquisition held its first Auto da fé (1540). Ome of the primary destinations of the Jews who were expelled was neraby Morocco. Morocco was only one of several options available such as the Netherlands, other Morth africa locations, the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and Greece. But Morocco was nearby and a major destimation. This appears to have been the case of the Ruah family. We know nothing about them before the expulaion. They cold have been a Jewish family native to Morocco, but it seems more likely that they were some of the Portuguese Jews expelled during or after 1497.

Life in Morocco

Compared to Christian Europe, the Muslim world was tolerant toward the other Abrahamic religions (people of the Book). This was toleration in the modern sence, but it was firly impressive for the day. here were outbreaks of violnce, but they were more limited than Europe. Some of the jews expelled were robbed an enslaved when they arrived in Morocco, but many survived and estanlished themselves in Morocco. We have no details on where the Ruah family lived or on how they made aiving. The family here is rather propsperous. We do not know if they were prosperous in Portugal before they were expelled, how much of their wealth, they were able to take with them. and the degree to which they prospered in Morocco. One source suggests it was a few wealthy Jewish families that decided to return to Portugal. All we know for sure is that the Ruah family that came to Portugal in the 19th century came from Morocco.

Return to Portugal

We do not know for sure when the Ruah family returned to Portugal. It would have been after Just why they returned to Portugal we do not know. We do know that the Enligtenment (18th century) profondedly changed Europen attitudes toward religion. Religion was less likely tp motivate pople toward violence. And as part of that change, anti-Semtism began to decline. Portugal was not as affected as many European countris, but eben in Portugl atitudes were changing. One impact was that the Portuguese Government finally suppressed the Inquisition (1821). This made possible the return, althogh the open Jewish worship was not immditely possible. The first Brazilian Constitution allowed freedom of belief (1824). And as a result, the first Jews to openly emigrate to Brazil were also Sephardi Jewish from Morocco. The Ruah family here looks vert established abd very Westernized so the return probably ocurred some tome in the mid-19th century. Just why they returned to Portugl asopposed to another Europen country that was more prosprous, we do not know. Family stories bout their live in Portigl passed on hrough the generations may have been a factor. Or perhaps there were business interests. One source mentions "affluent families" of Sephardi Jewish Portuguese originfrom Morocco, returning to Portugal and mentions the Ruah and Bensaude families. Greadually the ability to worship freely became acceptable in Portugal. Afactor here were the Engkish families that settled in portugal and the opening of Protesrant churches. The first synagogue to be built in Portugal since the 15th century was the Lisbon Synagogue (1904).

Prominent Portuguese Jews

Isaac ben Judah Abarbanel (1437-1508) was a learned Jewish scolar before the explsion of the Jews. Baruch Spinoza (1632 – 1677) was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese origins. Benjamin Nathan Cardozo (1870 – 1938) was a Supreme Court justice who influenced American jurusprudence. Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah (1983- ) is a poplar Portugues-American actrss.

Comments

We have received two comments on this image. Here are the comments and our assesment. Reaters are invited to comment.

American reader

An American reader writes, "What an interesting image. The two boys (one in a sailor suit with long hair) and the other with basket in Eton collared short suit maybe cousins rather than brothers as the boy with longer hair appears older to me. Maybe it is primogenitor that the older son would have hair kept long longer but I don't think so. Also what is in the basket that the boy holds? Is it possible that he is a household servant while the boy in bare feet and torn and patched clothes is not but a child of a servant?" Our assessment: All good questions. I was aittle uncomfortable with the imgery, a poor Portuguese boy look on a rich Jews, but there is so much going on there including the topics you mention that I decided to use it. You may be correct about the cousin business. We are not sure about the servant idea, but the image is unusual so who knows. The older boy wearing long pants is not too unusual. Long pants were seen as a valid sailor uit option even for boys that normally wore knee pants or short pants. The long hair is differemt. Itvis unlikely that a an older boy wold have Dutch bangs and a younger boy short hair in a family. This rather suggests a cousin. As to the gord filled with goodies. This we o not understand.

British reader

A British reader writes, "This is a strange picture. I am wondering if it is a propoganda creation. The children seem to have brought their favourite toys outside to be photographed with. The boy seems to be holding a basket of goodies but I am not sure why. The boy from a less wealthy home seems out of place in the picture. The children look as if they don't know the boy is there. Wondering if its a photograph to discredit Jewish people." Our assessment: I kind of had an uneassy feeling felling just for that reason, but don't think so. As it show cased clothes and toys and I needed an image for the Portugues diaspora page, I decided to use it. Anti-Semetic propaganda rarely used kids. It certainly is a staged photograph, at least the Jewish kids. It wold have been staged by the parents who of course would not have stahed an anti-Jewish portrait. The Portuguese kid we just don't know.

Created: 4:17 AM 12/1/2017
Last updated: 4:17 AM 12/1/2017