Aide aux pauvres archives

Collection description

Collection

Country:: Belgium

Holding institution:: Jewish Museum of Belgium

Holding institution (official language):: Musée Juif de Belgique

Postal address:: Miniemenstraat 21 / Rue des Minimes 21, 1000 Bruxelles

Phone number:: +32 (0)2 512 19 63

Web address:: http://www.new.mjb-jmb.org

Email:: info@mjb-jmb.org

Reference number:: JM-Brussels-Fonds Aide aux pauvres

Title:: Aide aux pauvres archives

Title (official language):: Fonds Aide aux pauvres

Creator/accumulator:: Aide aux pauvres – Office Central Israélite de Secours

Date(s):: 1937/1940

Extent:: 2 boxes

Scope and content:: This fonds consists of an alphabetical (card) index of beneficiaries of the organisation, mentioning their name, first name, address, the age of their children, the type and quantity of the received objects (such as coats, sheets, shirts and sweaters). (See box 110 (letters A to K) and 111 (letters K to Z).)

Administrative/biographical history:: The mission of the Office Central Israélite de Secours (‘Central Office for Jewish Relief’, OCIS)(1926-1953) was to assist the various Jewish charities in Brussels. Before the war the organisation’s president was Robert de Bendere (1889-1950). Max Gottschalk served as administrator from 1924 to 1940, while Joseph Matuzewitz assumed the function of treasurer. During the Second World War the OCIS was managed by the Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles. OCIS, sometimes referred to as Ezra, often negotiated directly with the Militärverwaltung, which put it in competition with the services of the Association des Juifs en Belgique (AJB). In January 1943, the OCIS was placed under control of the Comité local de Bruxelles of the AJB, although it maintained some autonomy. The OCIS operated a soup kitchen (cuisine populaire), offering meals in Brussels, Saint-Gilles and Schaerbeek. Those who could not benefit from public welfare received financial aid in cash. The OCIS also distributed clothing and offered to repair shoes. In addition, it managed a loan fund (caisse de prêts). One of the OCIS departments was devoted to helping children, placing them in foster care. The organisation also provided medical consultations and home visits, and distributed medicines. The relations of the OCIS with the AJB were complex. The OCIS wanted independence, but depended on funding from the AJB. After the war, its offices were loaned to the association Aide aux Israélites Victimes de la Guerre. The OCIS, presided by Jules Philippson, liquidated its assets and sold the building it owned for the benefit of the Centrale d’Œuvres Sociales Juives. The OCIS was dissolved in 1953. (minutes of the extraordinary general assembly of OCIS, 13 February 1953. Record Centre (BE / IEJ / Record Centre, boxes “La Centrale”); J.-P. Schreiber & R. van Doorslaer (dir.), Les curateurs du ghetto. L’Association des Juifs en Belgique sous l’occupation nazie, Bruxelles, éd. Labor, 2004.)

Access points: locations:: Brussels

Subject terms:: Aid and relief; Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity; Migration; Migration--Immigration; Refugees; Vital records

Access, restrictions:: Access requires the authorisation of the archivist of the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

Finding aids:: There is a preliminary inventory at the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

Yerusha Network member:: State Archives of Belgium

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