Alexandre Gourary archives

Collection

Scope and content:: This fonds contains documents originating from the Gourary family and related to the Kohn and Raffeld families. We note documents on the bank A. Kohn (1912-1933), yearbooks of the Communauté israélite de Bruxelles (1945-1946), the calendar of Ch. Raffeld for the year 1940 (see box 80); correspondence of the Fédération nationale des Anciens Combattants et Résistants armés juifs de Belgique (1965-1985), a class diary, photos, documents concerning the Fédération sioniste de Belgique (1973-1975), documents related to B’rith Trumpeldor, correspondence concerning the Fédération nationale des Anciens Combattants et Résistants armés juifs de Belgique (1965-1985) (see box 81); documents related to B’rith Trumpeldor, identity papers of Alexandre Gourary, brochures, reports, correspondence and bookkeeping documents of the Chambre de commerce Belgique-Luxembourg-Israël (1970s-1980s), blank membership cards of Agudath Zion Antwerp (see the non-inventoried moving boxes). (See boxes 80-82, and the moving boxes)

Administrative/biographical history:: Alexandre Gourary (1918-2000) was a businessman and honorary secretary general of the Chambre de commerce Belgique-Luxembourg-Israël. He received decorations such as the Médaille de Résistance, the Croix de Guerre avec Palme, the Croix du Prisonnier Politique, Chevalier de l’Ordre de Léopold II, Irgun medal and the Medal of Combatant of the State of Israel. Chaïm Nachum Raffeld (1894-1963) held the function of rabbi of the oratory Beth Israël in Molenbeek, he was ministre-officiant of the Jewish communities in Ghent and Ostend as well as circumciser (mohel). (J.-P. Schreiber, "Raffeld, Chaïm Nachum", in J.-P. Schreiber, Dictionnaire biographique des Juifs de Belgique. Figures du judaïsme belge, XIXe-XXe siècles, Bruxelles, De Boeck, 2002, pp. 287-288; obituary of Alexandre Gourary in Le Soir, January 2000.)

Access points: persons/families:: Gourary family; Gourary, Alexandre; Kohn family; Raffeld family

Subject terms:: Financial matters; Financial matters--Banks, banking, and bankers; Jewish community; Personal records; State of Israel; Trade and commerce; War veterans; Zionism; Zionism--Zionist organisations and parties

Access, restrictions:: Access requires the authorisation of the archivist of the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

Finding aids:: There is a preliminary inventory of the Jewish Museum of Belgium; there is no finding aid for the material in the 21 moving boxes.