A new Portuguese dictionary was published here today by the Ministry of Education, removing, for the first time, insulting” interpretations” which have been for many years tied to the definition of the word “Jew.”
The word “Jew” has always been “explained” in Portuguese dictionaries issued here as the equivalent of “usurer” and of “evil spirit.” Two years ago, Dr. Fernando Leviski, prominent attorney and Yiddish writer, started a campaign for elimination of those objectionable “interpretations.” His campaign has now met with success.
It was pointed out here that many Spanish dictionaries in use in Latin America also use the same “explanations” hitherto included in the old Portuguese dictionaries.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
