UPJB archives

Collection description

Collection

Country:: Belgium

Holding institution:: Union of Progressive Jews of Belgium

Holding institution (official language):: Union des Progressistes Juifs de Belgique; Unie van Progressieve Joden van België

Postal address:: Rue de la Victoire 61 / Overwinningsstraat 61, 1060 Bruxelles (Saint-Gilles)

Phone number:: + 32 (0)2 537 82 45

Web address:: http://upjb.be/

Email:: upjb.be@gmail.com

Reference number:: UPJB-Brussels-Archief UPJB

Title:: UPJB archives

Title (official language):: Archief UPJB

Creator/accumulator:: Union des Progressistes Juifs de Belgique; Unie van Progressieve Joden van België

Date(s):: 1969/2016

Date note:: Material continues to be added to this collection.

Language:: French; Yiddish

Extent:: ca. 29 linear metres

Scope and content:: This fonds contains the current and semi-current archives of the UPJB – meaning it consists of material used for/produced in the daily operation, general management and organisation of activities of the organisation. In the UPJB building at rue de la Victoire 61 the archives are located in the secretariat (ca. 15 linear metres) and in the attic (ca. 14 linear metres). The most recent material is to be found in the secretariat. In both cases, we mainly find material typical for archives of associations, such as series of correspondence and various types of bookkeeping records, minutes of meetings, notes, reports, etc. as well as photographs, audiovisual material, posters, leaflets, brochures and other publications, periodicals, documentation, etc. Furthermore, we note subject files on specific activities (e.g. the editing and administration of the periodical Points Critiques) or events (e.g. the sale of the holiday camp in Middelkerke). Lastly, we point out non-archival material such as medals and trophies, flags and banners, paintings, portraits, etc.

Administrative/biographical history:: Solidarité Juive (Sol, in short) was created in the autumn of 1939 by former members of the dissolved Patronatn and Comité Juif pour l’Espagne (both linked to the Belgian communist party, KPB); its main objective was to support the refugees from the Third Reich. Sol united active Jewish communists as well as ‘fellow travellers’ and sympathisers; virtually all its leaders were members of the KPB. During the Second World War, Sol was at the basis of the Comité de Défense des Juifs (‘Jewish defence committee’)(CDJ), created in 1942. Immediately after the Occupation, the organisation (then called Solidarité Juive, Aide aux Victimes de l’Oppression nazie) played an important role in the initial accommodation of and assistance to survivors of the camps and Jews returning from hiding. Apart from social and cultural activities, Sol also organised holiday camps, notably in the Villa Johanna in Middelkerke (purchased in 1946) and in Faulx-les-Tombes (Namur region). Its relationship with ‘the Party’ was not always cordial, but it was only really severed in the late 1960s. After several turbulent years, the Union des Progressistes Juifs de Belgique (UPJB)(‘union of Jewish progressives of Belgium’) originated in 1969 from a fusion of the weakened Solidarité Juive and the group Contact 66 (founded by, among others, members of the Union Sportive des Jeunes Juifs and former instructors of the holiday camps). Today, the UPJB is a secular Jewish and progressive organisation, fighting in the political arena for the defence of democratic values and against all forms of discrimination. It organises cultural activities, such as lectures and debates. The Club Sholem Aleichem is open to adult members; a youth movement (UPJB-Jeunes) was launched in 1980. As a consequence of its rejection of “israelocentrism” and its critical support for the Palestinian cause, the UPJB is often at odds with the broader Jewish community. Yiddish, spoken by the majority of the pre-war Jewish population, occupied an important place in the associational life of Sol / UPJB from the very beginning – this is notably reflected in the newspapers (i.a. Unzer Kamf, Solidaritet, Lebn un Sholem) and other publications of Sol. The UPJB-monthly Points Critiques (published since 1979) also always contains a section with Yiddish texts. (A. Bozzini, “Yiddish et “rue juive” communiste à Bruxelles au lendemain de la guerre (1944-1955)”, in Les Cahiers de la Mémoire contemporaine-Bijdragen tot de eigentijdse Herinnering, no. 8, 2008, pp. 193-218; A. Bozzini, “De l’engouement à la rupture. Les Juifs communistes à Bruxelles et le PCB (1944-1956)”, in Les Cahiers de la Mémoire contemporaine-Bijdragen tot de eigentijdse Herinnering, no. 7, 2006-2007, pp. 131-158; A. Lapiower, Libres enfants du ghetto, Bruxelles, Points Critiques – Rue des Usines, 1989; http://www.upjb.be.)

Access points: locations:: Middelkerke

Subject terms:: Communism; Communism--Communist parties and organisations; Financial records; Jewish languages; Jewish languages--Yiddish; Paintings; Photographs; Posters; Zionism; Zionism--Zionist youth movements

Access, restrictions:: Researchers are required to contact Mr. Joseph Szyster prior to consultation.

Yerusha Network member:: State Archives of Belgium

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