Brussels Jewish Heritage
Photos of the Great Synagogue of Brussels, posted with the kind authorization of the Jewish Consistory of Belgium http://www.jewishcom.be/FR/comm_bruxelles.html
As the Jewish community is about to celebrate Hanukkah on Dec.21 all over the world, let’s take some time to visit the Jewish Brussels .
Jews settled in Belgium between the 13th and 15th centuries., after being expelled from France, England, Spain and Portugal. In the Lowlands, especially in Antwerp, the Jewish community played an important economic and financial role.
When Belgium beame a country in 1831, the new regime recognized judaism as an official religion. By the end of the 19th century, both Sephardic and Ashkenazic jews were well implanted in the country. In 1939, an estimated 65,000 jews lived in Belgium, mainly in Brussels. After WWII, 40,000 had perished under the nazi regime.
Today, the Jewish community is about42,000, the majority living in Brussels and Antwerp. Belgium is the 4th largest community in Europe.
Jewish Landmarks in Brussels:
- The Belgian Jewish Museum http://www.new.mjb-jmb.org/
- The Great Synagogue. Built in 1878, it was not destroyed during WWII. Located 32 rue de la Regence, Brussels
- The Liberal Synagogue (Reform) : many Americans attend services there (96 avenue de Kersbeek, a 20-minute taxi ride from downtown)
- The National Monument to the Jewish Martyrs of Belgium. An impressive monument with 23, 838 names located in the district of Anderlecht.
http://fcit.usf.edu/holocaust/photos/bruss2/bruss203.htm
- The International Jewish Center organizes cultural and religious activities in English . http://www.ijc.be/
Happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish friends!
My name is Jackie Grandchamps. In 2003, I founded French Escapade, offering another way to travel in small groups of 8. "Don't be a tourist, be our guest" is the moto and spirit of my company.
Check www.frenchescapade.com
Through this blog, I will provide information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests on the tours.
Learn more about the company in the French Escapade section of this blog.
December 13th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Hello,
I have to say to I LOVE your blog. It is very diverisfied. You talked about Christmas a bit and now Hanukkah. There is a bit for everyone. I like to travel to Europe and I am always reading info about the country I travel to (like France). I have RSS your site so that I am aware of the new posts. I have also checked your web site frenchescapde.com and I am considering traveling with you one day.
Keep posting, I will keep reading.
Suzanne
December 14th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Thank you, Suzanne. I’m glad you like it. And, yes, it will be a pleasure to have you on our tours in France some day.
Take care and keep reading my blog!!!
Jackie
December 14th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
be sure to check out the tasty pike fish dumplings known as Quenelles in France and Belguim…. they are known in the US as Gefilte fish!
December 15th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Ok, Lisa. I’ve seen them in jars in some stores; how do you cook them ?
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:20 am
I work for the International Jewish Center and saw that you had linked to us – thank you! I hope some of your readers will be able to join our events. If anyone is traveling to Brussels and is interested in Jewish life, feel free to contact us with questions.
November 14th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Thanks for your comment, Sharon, anf for your proposition. I will sure pass the info to my clients whenever they visit Brussels. I will myself be very interested in coming to your events one day. Thanks again!