Metadata: Accountancy
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-Comptabilité
- Title:
- Accountancy
- Title (official language):
- Comptabilité
- Creator/accumulator:
- Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles
- Date(s):
- 1876/2016
- Date note:
- Material continues to be added to this collection.
- Extent:
- 23 linear metres
- Scope and content:
- This fonds primarily consists of bookkeeping records, invoices, decrees, balance sheets, accounts, the staff payroll, documents concerning operating costs of the community and of the SIAI, journals, documents regarding gifts and donations of members, receipts for donations made in cash, etc. We also note files concerning the restoration of the building and its roof.
- Archival history:
- The recent bookkeeping records are ordered and kept in the offices of the CIB. The oldest documents are also ordered and are located in the basement.
- 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.)
- Access points: locations:
- Brussels
- Access, restrictions:
- The authorisation of the board of the Communauté Israélite de Bruxelles is required.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
