Metadata: Old archives of the CIB
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles
- Holding institution (official language):
- Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles
- Postal address:
- Rue Joseph Dupont 2 / Joseph Dupontstraat 2, 1000 Bruxelles
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 512 43 34
- Reference number:
- ComIsr-Brussels-Archives anciennes de la CIB
- Title:
- Old archives of the CIB
- Title (official language):
- Archives anciennes de la CIB
- Creator/accumulator:
- Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles
- Date(s):
- 1833/1945
- Language:
- French
- Hebrew
- Extent:
- 2 linear metres
- Scope and content:
-
This fonds contains material produced by the CIB and related to the community. We note files concerning: the proposed construction of the synagogue (dated 1869), loans, the Royal Decrees concerning the CIB, admission to the Consistory, kashrut, marriages in preparation, pogroms in Russia (1905), pastoral visits (1868-1895), funeral services, the Louis Lassen monument, ceremonies organised by the CIB and Consistory (1890-1927), religious education, the Alliance Israélite Universelle, budgets (1891-1906), revenue and expenditure (1819-1920), building specifications and architects, the purchase and sale of the synagogue situated in the rue de Bavière, the purchase of the land in the rue de la Régence, payments of various furnishings of the synagogue, the comité de conférences juives, Hanukkah (1936), the liturgical music of Samuel, donations for Torah scrolls, the rabbis and ministres officiants, the Société des Mères israélites, agreements between the CIB and the Jewish community in the rue de la Clinique, bequests, foundations and donations, applications of ministres officiants, rabbis and Chief Rabbis, government bonds (1877), the emancipation of the Jews (1906), marriages, appointments, relief, choirs, the German occupation, the Horowitz affair, etc.
The fonds also contains bookkeeping records (1883); photo negatives; statutes and regulations of the synagogue and Consistory; documents concerning the bequests of baroness Hirsch; bookkeeping records (1869); a poster concerning the sale of the synagogue in the rue de Bavière; divorce certificates issued by rabbi Shapira; marriage certificates; photos of the synagogue; documents regarding insurance and safety; minutes of meetings (1833-1847); certificates of Jewishness (attestations de judaïcité); minutes of meetings of the general assembly of the Consistory (1843-1930); press clippings; correspondence concerning the construction of the synagogue in the rue de la Régence, minutes of conferences regarding the situation in Romania (1872), notes for the city of Brussels, an inventory of ritual objects (1879), minutes of meetings of the board (1879-1907), circumcision books (1888-1937), expert reports of the synagogue (1922), various printed material, documents concerning the donation of Baron Hirsch, a draft budget (1933), accounting records (1931), documents regarding the accounts and budgets (1852-1879), various contracts, etc. Lastly we point out the files concerning the Jewish cemeteries and plots in Uccle, Nivelles, Leuven, Saint-Gilles, Koekelberg and Ghent.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The influence of the Central Jewish Consistory of Belgium on the Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles (‘Jewish community of Brussels’)(CIB) remained very significant throughout the 19th century, leading to a confusion of roles and responsibilities. The Consistory favoured the Brussels community, the principal Jewish community of the country, granting it a majority of resources – and thus positioning itself in the favour of the community holding the most enlightened ideas. In the 19th century the CIB was managed primarily by notables and the establishment. The confusion of functions partially remained, notably in the case of the renovation of the new synagogue of Brussels in 1878 which was borne by the Consistory. Previously, the CIB had organised its religious services in a private house in the rue aux Choux, and later in the Saint-Eloy chapel in the rue des Dominicains (in 1817). At this time, the community represented some three hundred members, mostly Jews from the Netherlands. The place of worship of the community was transferred to the rue de la Blanchisserie, from 1820 until 1833. In 1833, the Consistory acquired a building located at the place de Bavière for the purpose of transforming it in a synagogue. This new temple was inaugurated in April 1834. The Jewish population of Brussels doubled between 1830 and 1840 and the synagogue became too small. The architect Désiré De Keyser was the winner of the competition launched by the Consistory for the construction of a new synagogue. It was inaugurated on 20 September 1878. The Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles was officially recognised by royal decree of 7 February 1876, one year after the inauguration of the Great Synagogue of Brussels. The community had a synagogue as place of worship. A board of directors ensured its daily management. The CIB also had a rabbi and several ministers (ministres officiants), a secretariat, an accounting service, charities, rooms for festivities and meetings, a cemetery, it organised cultural activities, etc. In the early 20th century, some of the Jewish immigrants in Brussels did not agree with the liberal and modern form of Judaism practiced by the CIB. They later founded the Communauté israélite orthodoxe de Bruxelles. Although communities organise the major Jewish ceremonies and rites of passage, the role played by the CIB exceeds that of a simple community; it serves as a showcase of Judaism in the capital. Since its inception, the CIB counted many famous personalities among its members. Its leading role has not disappeared at the dawn of the 21st century. The CIB is involved in various cultural events, participates in Heritage Days, opens its synagogue to visitors in order to promote Jewish cultural heritage. At present almost 430 families are affiliated with the CIB. Its membership is in decline, as are the number of ceremonies held. (La Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles: http://www.jewishcom.be/wordpress/nl/2009/03/01/la-communaute-israelite-de-bruxelles/; J.-P. Schreiber, Politique et religion. Le Consistoire central israélite de Belgique au XIXe siècle, Bruxelles, éd. de l’Université de Bruxelles, 1995, pp. 73-80; La Grande Synagogue de Bruxelles. Contributions à l’histoire des Juifs de Bruxelles, 1878-1978, Bruxelles, Communauté israélite, 2e éd., 1995.)
- Subject terms:
- Aid and relief
- Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity
- Antisemitism
- Architectural drawings
- Architecture
- Burial
- Cemeteries
- Education
- Education--Schools and universities
- Emancipation
- Financial matters
- Jewish community
- Jewish community records
- Jewish community records--Mohel books
- Jewish holidays
- Kashrut
- Marriage and divorce
- Monuments and memorials
- Music
- Occupation (military)
- Pogroms
- Privileges
- Rabbis
- Real estate
- Synagogues
- Torah (scroll)
- Vital records
- Vital records--Marriage records
- Access, restrictions:
- The authorisation of the board of the Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles is required.
- Finding aids:
- There is an unpublished inventory: J.-P. Schreiber & A. Rubinsztejn, Inventaire des archives anciennes de la CIB.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
