Metadata: Sylvain Brachfeld archives
Collection
- Country:
- Belgium
- Holding institution:
- Institute of Jewish Studies (Martin Buber Institute)
- Holding institution (official language):
- Institut d’Études du Judaïsme (Institut Martin Buber)
- Postal address:
- Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 17 / Franklin Rooseveltlaan 17, 1050 Bruxelles (Ixelles)
- Phone number:
- +32 (0)2 650 33 48
- Web address:
- http://www.ulb.ac.be/facs/philo/judaisme/
- Email:
- iej@ulb.ac.be
- Reference number:
- BuberIns-Brussels-Archives Sylvain Brachfeld
- Title:
- Sylvain Brachfeld archives
- Title (official language):
- Archives Sylvain Brachfeld
- Creator/accumulator:
- Brachfeld, Sylvain
- Date(s):
- 1958/1974
- Language:
- French
- Dutch; Flemish
- Yiddish
- Hebrew
- English
- Extent:
- 4 boxes
- Scope and content:
-
This fonds contains a great variety of documents collected by Sylvain Brachfeld. It mainly comprises invitations, leaflets, brochures and announcements of various Jewish organisations.
In the box [Brachfeld 1] we mainly find documents on Jewish life in Antwerp, notably from Bne Akiva, Shomre Hadass, but also publicity material by kosher butchers and restaurants, publications by Brachfeld on Jewish life in Antwerp (notably in Centrale), correspondence addressed to Brachfeld or from Jewish organisations.
Box [Brachfeld 2] contains documents from various organisations based in Brussels (1969-1970), correspondence from the Colonie Amitié, from the JJL, the CCLJ and the CDJ (1967-1970), the Jewish school of Brussels (1969), notes of the press and information service of the Israeli embassy in Belgium, publications from the Tachkemoni school in Antwerp, published on the occasion of anniversaries of the institution, documents from the Keren Hayesod (1970), of the Amis de l’Université Bar-Ilan en Belgique and of the Amis de l’Université Hébraïque de Jérusalem, archival material from the Romi Goldmuntz Centrum in Antwerp (i.a. invitations, programs, publications, correspondence, an organigram, the initial goals of the Centre, minutes of meetings of the redaction of the Centre’s information bulletin, documents concerning the inauguration of the Centre, hand written notes, etc.).
In the box [Brachfeld 3] we find material related to artistic activities in Antwerp i.a. invitations, leaflets, posters, documents produced by the Fonds Alex De Vries and a file concerning Jewish education in Europe. We also find documents from the Joodse Kulturele Kring, notably related to blood drives (containing lists of blood donors)(1967), a file on Soviet Jewry (including leaflets, press releases, programs of conferences, the list of delegates at the Brussels conference of 23-25 February 1971), publications from the Tachkemoni school (1969), correspondence from the Tachkemoni school (1969), documents from the Jesode-Hatora-Beth-Jacob school (including Publications, lists of teachers, programs of classes, a note on the history of the school, hand written notes, notes on Jewish education in Belgium, 1970-1974).
In the box [Brachfeld 4] we find documents related to the Athénée Maïmonide (including pieces on the inauguration of the new building, programs of classes), to the Athénée Ganenou (including brochures, correspondence with Brachfeld concerning the number of pupils, teachers and course schedules, 1969), documents from the Fédération WIZO Belgique et Luxembourg (including invitations, brochures, announcements, programs of activities, 1958-1972), documents related to mainly the Antwerp chapter of B’nai B’rith (including announcements of activities, reports, correspondence, invitations, hand written notes, 1968-1972), documents from/about the Centraal Beheer van Joodse Weldadigheid en Maatschappelijk Hulpbetoon (including leaflets, invitations, publications, brochures for the Villa Altol, a speech on the occasion of the institution’s 50 anniversary, the program of the Gala-Ball of 1971), and documents related to the Centrale d’Œuvres sociales juives in Brussels (1970-1971).
- Archival history:
- The fonds contains documents assembled by Brachfeld in the style of the YIVO zamler. He collected invitations, publications, correspondence and other documents produced by various Jewish organisations and businesses selling kosher products.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Sylvain Brachfeld (born in 1932) started his career as a diamond cutter (1950-1989). In the 1960s he became active as a journalist i.a. with the Volksgazet (1967-1974), the press agency Belga (1970-1974), as a correspondent in Israel of De Nieuwe Gazet (1974-1993) and the Evangelische Omroep Hilversum (1979) but also as a journalist and collaborator for many Jewish periodicals and magazines such as the Belgisch Israëlitisch Weekblad (1962-200), Tribune-Juive-T.J. Hebdo, Le Journal d’Israël, Revue Centrale-Bruxelles, De Centrale-Antwerpen, Aleh, Meda, Le Lien etc. Brachfeld also wrote, apart from journalistic articles, popular and historical works on the Belgian Jewish community and the rescue of Jewish children during the Second World War. He was (and is) very active (often as a founding member) in Jewish associational life in Belgium and Israel – i.a. in the Club der Jonge Talenten (1960-1962), B’nai B’rith (1963-1968), Belgische immigranten in Israël (1983-1987), the Instituut voor de studie van het Belgisch Jodendom (since 1987), Joodse ondergedoken kinderen in België - in Israël (1991-1998), the Vereniging van Voormalige Belgen in Israël (since 2001), etc. Brachfeld also was the representative of the Jewish community Shomre Hadas in the Consistory (1972-1974). He assembled an impressive collection of archival material and documentation about the Jewish communities in Antwerp. Sylvain Brachfeld was decorated for his work, i.a. with an appointment of Knight in the Order of Leopold (1993).
- Access points: persons/families:
- Brachfeld
- Subject terms:
- Aid and relief
- Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity
- Aliyah
- Art
- Art--Artists
- Ashkenazi Jews
- Children
- Correspondence
- Education
- Education--Schools and universities
- Education--Yeshivot
- Hasidic Judaism
- Health and medical matters
- Hospitality industry
- Hospitality industry--Restaurants
- Jewish community
- Jewish daily life and religious practices
- Jewish political activity
- Kashrut
- Orthodox Judaism
- Professions
- Professions--Jewellers and goldsmiths
- Professions--Journalists
- Publishing
- Ritual slaughter
- Secular Judaism
- State of Israel
- Zionism
- Zionism--WIZO (Women's International Zionist Organization)
- Zionism--Zionist organisations and parties
- Access, restrictions:
- Access requires the authorisation of the director of the IEJ.
- Yerusha Network member:
- State Archives of Belgium