Metadata: Archives of the rabbis of the CILB
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Communauté Israélite Libérale de Belgique Beth Hillel
- Holding institution (official language):
- Communauté Israélite Libérale de Belgique Beth Hillel
- Postal address:
- Rue des Primeurs 80 / Vroegegroentenstraat 80, 1190 Bruxelles (Forest)
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 332 25 28
- Web address:
- http://www.beth-hillel.org/
- Email:
- secretariat@beth-hillel.org
- Reference number:
- ComIsrLibB-Brussels-Fonds Rabbins de la CILB
- Title:
- Archives of the rabbis of the CILB
- Title (official language):
- Fonds Rabbins de la CILB
- Creator/accumulator:
- Communauté Israélite Libérale de Belgique Beth Hillel
- Date(s):
- 1970/2010
- Language:
- French
- Hebrew
- English
- Dutch; Flemish
- Extent:
- 3 moving boxes
- Scope and content:
- This fonds firstly contains the personal planners of rabbi A. Dahan (1970-1997 and 1998-2010), the annual planners containing his appointments, activities, various interventions, personal information as well as numerous notes. We also note correspondence of rabbi A. Dahan with individuals, Belgian and international institutions, ambassadors etc. (dated 1985-1998). Furthermore the fonds contains correspondence, notes, press clippings and minutes of meetings of rabbi David Meyer, as well as his files concerning: the religious committee and the periodical Shofar (1997-1999), children and the children’s prayer book project, the preparation of the B’nei Mitzvoth, educational activities for adults, the Talmud Torah and ‘Sunday School’, individual guidance of members, conversions, divorces, the planned website of the CILB, introductory courses to Judaism, etc. We also find files produced by rabbi Floriane Chinsky, notably regarding shehitah. Lastly, we point out the correspondence of rabbis Henri Noach and Stephen Berkowitz.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- The Union Israélite Libérale de Belgique was created in 1965 by a group of friends originating from Anglo-Saxon countries, where this type of open Reform Judaism is more common. Rabbis were hired ad hoc until the nomination of rabbi Abraham (Albert) Dahan, who remained attached to this community for more than four decades. He organised a Sunday school and a program of specific courses. Soon the first religious ceremonies took place: marriages, circumcisions, bar and bat mitzvoth. In 1970, Beth Hillel was the first synagogue in Belgium allowing girls to have their religious “confirmation” in a synagogue. The community expanded. It relocated to new buildings and acquired, in 1976, a warehouse situated in the avenue de Kersbeek. The synagogue there was inaugurated in 1979. In addition, a Talmud Torah (school for studying Judaism) was also established, accommodating dozens of children and adults. Beth Hillel is not recognised by the consistorial religious authorities. One of the main objects of controversy is the lack of recognition of the Jewishness of some members of Beth Hillel, resulting in the refusal to bury them in the Jewish cemeteries of the two orthodox Jewish burial societies. The Board of Beth Hillel has acquired an independent plot in the Kraainem cemetery called Gan Hashalom, where members of the community can be buried. Lastly, Beth Hillel is recognised as a fabrique d’église by the State, allowing the community to receive operating subsidies and public financial contributions. These subsidies, in addition to the generosity of members and friends, allowed the community to construct a new building located at rue des Primeurs 80. It was inaugurated in September 2005. (http://www.beth-hillel.org)
- Access points: persons/families:
- Berkowitz, Stephen
- Chinsky, Floriane
- Dahan, Abraham (Albert)
- Meyer, David
- Noach, Henri
- System of arrangement:
- Rabbi Dahan’s planners are ordered chronologically; his correspondence is arranged chronologically, and then alphabetically by correspondent. The correspondence of rabbi David Meyer is ordered alphabetically by correspondent.
- Access, restrictions:
- Consultation requires the authorisation of the board of the Communauté Israélite Libérale de Belgique.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium
