Does Size Matter?Belmonte serves as the heart of the Crypto-Jewish community, representing the epicenter of Jewish revival in northeastern Portugal during the 1920s. The narrative of Belmonte—marked by ritual preservation, oral tradition, and an unwavering commitment to Jewish identity—is indeed a compelling one.When Samuel Schwartz rediscovered the Crypto-Jews of Belmonte in 1925, approximately 300 New Christians resided in the town. In contrast, just fifteen minutes away in Covilhã, there was a notably larger population of around 6,000 New Christians, making up one-third of that community. While Covilhã established an official synagogue in 1929, Belmonte did not see the construction of its own designated place of worship until 1996.Have you ever heard about the New Christians of Covilhã? What implications does this have for understanding Crypto-Jewish identity?Is size truly significant?Picture: Hanukkiah in Belmonte