Archives of the Maison des Jeunes of the CCLJ

Collection description

Postal address:: Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies 52, 1060 Bruxelles (Saint-Gilles)

Reference number:: CCSusskind-Brussels-Archives de la Maison des Jeunes du CCLJ

Scope and content:: This fonds contains material produced by the JJL, the nursery Rachel Kemp-Nitzanim, the Shalom Alechem school, the CCLJ, documents produced as a result of the Année Bnei-Mitzvah, various other activities organised by the Maison des Jeunes, etc. We note various types of documents such as activity reports, correspondence, posters, minutes of meetings, publications, press clippings, subject files, files concerning subsidies, but also video tapes (VHS and other formats) related to ceremonies on the occasion of the closing of the “Bnei-Mitzvah year” (since 1993). These tapes complement the files regarding this project, consisting of i.a. the speeches given by the children and genealogical research on their family carried out by each of them. The archives of the nursery Rachel Kemp-Nitzanim contain inscription registers and inscription records of the nursery including the surname, first name, date of birth as well as the date of arrival and departure at the nursery (on paper for 1984-2000, digitally after 2000), statutes, correspondence, tax attestations, etc. The archival material concerning the Maison des Jeunes also contains material related to the youth movement JJL, including reports and documents used by the madrihim (instructors), correspondence, and reports of activities.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Maison des Jeunes (MDJ) was founded in 1963; it is recognised by the Communauté française, and is a member of the Fédération francophone des Maisons de Jeunes. It aims to provide young people with the necessary elements to construct their identity, to relate to the Jewish people while promoting their social development and citizenship. Today, several organisations and programs are present within the MDJ, including: the youth movement Jeunesse Juive Laïque (JJL), created in 1963; the nursery Rachel Kemp-Nitzanim, created in 1984; the Shalom Alechem school; the Année Bnei-Mitzvah and the various youth activities organised by the CCLJ. The Shalom Alechem school teaches Judaism to children from 3 to 7 years old every Saturday morning. The Année Bnei-Mitzvah is a study program aimed at teenagers at the age of their bar or bat mitzvah, and consists of education on contemporary Jewish history (via the history of their own family), analysis of biblical texts and of their parasha, and volunteering in the Jewish community. The JJL is a youth movement for children and young people between the age of 6 and 18 years. (http://www.cclj.be)

Subject terms:: Bar and Bat mitzvah; Children; Education; Education--Schools and universities; Film; Posters; Secular Judaism; Taxation; Vital records; Zionism; Zionism--Zionist youth movements

Access, restrictions:: Access requires the authorisation of the director of the Maison des Jeunes.