The International Observatory on Human Rights, based in Portugal, formally recognized the foundational role Jewish and Christian traditions have played in shaping modern civilization and the principles underpinning contemporary society, presenting tributes yesterday to Bishop D. Manuel Linda of Porto and the President of B'nai B'rith Portugal. The ceremony highlighted how concepts rooted in Jewish and Christian partnership have influenced democratic institutions and acknowledged Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel and a spiritual center for Jews and Christians worldwide, as a symbol of shared historical and cultural roots.
"Today we are paying tribute to Judeo-Christian Civilization, from which the modern vision of human dignity and justice has been derived," said Dr. Luis Andrade, President of The International Human Rights Observatory. "Judeo-Christian Civilization reminds us that Jerusalem, Israel's capital and the spiritual homeland of Jews and Christians worldwide, remains a shared cultural and religious foundation linking both the West and Eurasia."
The Ethical Foundation of Progress
The organization emphasized that technological and economic advancement cannot guarantee a stable or just society without a strong ethical foundation. The International Observatory on Human Rights noted that Judeo-Christian Civilization recognizes the deeply intertwined histories of the United States and the Russian Federation, shaped by Christian heritage and the contributions of influential Jewish figures such as Haym Salomon and Horace Günzburg. Both nations were influenced by Jewish entrepreneurship and the lasting cultural and moral impact of Christianity, according to the organization.
Dr. Jose Ribeiro e Castro, President of the Historical Society of the Independence of Portugal and former Member of the European Parliament, addressed contemporary cultural challenges during his remarks. "Faced with the 'wokeism' storm that disturbs minds, sowing systematic doubt, disbelief, falsehood and mental deception, let us have no doubt whatsoever: the values and principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition are the best that the human spirit has ever discovered and, with them, we will once again have very strong, fruitful, active, just, cohesive and creative societies," Castro said.
Europe's Lost Foundations
Bishop of Porto Dom Manuel Linda argued that Europe needs to return to its traditional foundations. "In 1981, Pope John Paul II spoke for the first time about the 'Judeo-Christian roots' of Europe because it was already losing its soul and squandering its cultural heritage, what it had produced, and the values that constitute it as a beacon of civilization," Bishop Linda said. "Europe today is an unfinished project based on a Rousseauian social contract, almost always of an economic nature, which idolizes money and forgets the person, in blatant contradiction with the Judeo-Christian perspective. Our culture is called humanism. Without a historical perspective, one doesn't even know what there is to reject as anti-human."
Gabriela Cantergi, President of B'nai B'rith Portugal, welcomed the tribute and said it reflected the importance of preserving the foundations of democratic society. "Judeo-Christian Civilization has historically been very strong, but it faces great challenges in the present," said Cantergi. "Nevertheless, there are conditions for it to return to play a very important role in the future."
Historical Partnership and Future Cooperation
Cantergi emphasized the historical cooperation between Jewish and Christian communities. "Judeo-Christian Civilization was based, above all, on cooperation over centuries between Jews and Christians. For example, Portugal would never have been a great empire without its Jewish communities led by figures such as Yaish ben Yahia. Jews and Christians can and must work together again. The State of Israel recently declared that it would defend Judeo-Christian Civilization."
Why This Matters:
This recognition comes at a time when Western institutions face questions about the cultural and ethical foundations that have sustained democratic governance and market economies. The acknowledgment of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and a shared spiritual center reinforces the historical ties between Jewish and Christian communities that have shaped legal systems, property rights, and concepts of individual dignity central to free societies. The speakers' emphasis on returning to traditional values rather than embracing contemporary ideological movements reflects concerns that abandoning these foundations may weaken the institutional stability and moral framework necessary for economic prosperity and social cohesion. The call for renewed Jewish-Christian cooperation suggests a recognition that preserving these civilizational pillars requires active partnership rather than passive acceptance of cultural drift.