Brussels
Approximately 20,000 Jews live in the French-speaking capital of Belgium. The population has stabilized in recent years due to a low birth-rate and a high rate of assimilation. Nevertheless, Brussels has more than a dozen synagogues, representing all streams of faith. There are two Jewish schools.
Some of the Jewish sites are located in the middle of the city.
The Great Synagogue on Rue de la Regence, often described as a "stately Romanesque" building, was designed by Christian architect Desire DeKeyser and completed in 1878. The facade features a three-storied gabled midsection flanked by four-story towers. This ornate building also houses several Jewish organizations, including the Consistoire and the Communaute Israelite de Bruxelles, as well as the Belgian Jewish museum. The rest of the synagogues are scattered throughout Brussels.
The National Monument to the Jewish Martyrs of Belgium is on the corner of Rue Emile Carpentier and Rue Goujond, in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The monument depicts a menorah made of chains and a wall bearing the names of more than 23,000 Belgian Jews killed in the Holocaust. Close by is a smaller memorial to the Jews who fought in the Belgian Resistance. A number of other memorials inBrussels honor Jews, such as the Louis Bernheim Monument in Square Marie-Louise. Bernheim was a Jewish general who became a World War I hero. The Jewish community of Brussels sponsors cultural events that could be found on the site.
There’s a Chabad house too witch works the Jewish community especially during all Jewish holidays including high holiday services open for everyone, Succoth events, big Chanukah menorah lighting, Purim events followed by organizing pessach Seders around town.
Antwerp
Flemish-speaking Antwerp (15,000 Jews) has one of the largest Orthodox communities in the Diaspora. And for this reason, Antwerp is sometimes regarded as the last shtetl in Europe. The city's 30 synagogues are all Orthodox. These include the Hollandse Synagogue on Bouwmeesterstraat, which was built in 1893, and the Oosten Synagogue on Oostenstraat, which was constructed in 1913-1914. The Chassidic Jews follow the traditions of Belz, Ger, Satmar, Lubavitch, Vishnitz and Czortkow . Kosher food can be easily found in Antwerp; there are several kosher delis, restaurants and grocery stores.
Approximately 95% of Jewish children in Antwerp attend Jewish day schools and receive intensive religious education.
While Flemish is often the language of instruction, most students know French, Belgium's second language, as well as Hebrew and Yiddish for prayer and cultural purposes. English is increasingly a necessity in the international diamond trade, a popular profession for Jews in Antwerp
The Oosten Synagogue Jewish Antwerp is a self-contained entity, mostly on Pelkinstraat and the surrounding streets. Pelkinstraat begins at the central railroad station and runs six blocks parallel to the train tracks. Just around the corner from the train station is Diamondland, the diamond center, where visitors can view the different preparation processes of diamonds. More than 80% of the city's Jews are involved in the diamond trade and Yiddish is the main language spoken at the diamond exchange. It is common for both Jews and non-Jews to say mazel u'bracha (luck and blessing) after reaching a deal. Further down Pelkinstraat, at number 106, are the offices of the largest Jewish newspaper in Belgium, Belgisch Israelitisch Weekblad. This weekly reaches every Jewish household in the country. Nearby, at 12 Nervierstraat, is the Romi Goldmuntz Center, which hosts Jewish cultural events such as Israeli folk dancing, lectures and concerts.
There’s a Chabad house too witch works the Jewish community especially during all Jewish holidays including high holiday services open for everyone, Succoth events, big Chanukah menorah lighting, Purim events followed by organizing Pessach Seders around town.
Other Communities in Belgium:
KNOKKE
Van Bunnenlaan 30, Knokke
AARLEN
063 21 79 85
Rue des Martyrs 11/6, 6700 Aarlen
CHARLEROI
07 131 10 66
Rue Pige au croly 56, 6000 Charleroi
GENT
Veldstraat 60, 9000 Gent
LUIK (LIEGE)
Rue Leon Fredericq 19, 4020 Liege
OOSTENDE
Parklaan 21, 8400 Oostende
WATERLOO
02 354 68 33
Synagogue Avenue Belle - Vue 140, 1410 Waterloo
Approximately 20,000 Jews live in the French-speaking capital of Belgium. The population has stabilized in recent years due to a low birth-rate and a high rate of assimilation. Nevertheless, Brussels has more than a dozen synagogues, representing all streams of faith. There are two Jewish schools.
Some of the Jewish sites are located in the middle of the city.
The Great Synagogue on Rue de la Regence, often described as a "stately Romanesque" building, was designed by Christian architect Desire DeKeyser and completed in 1878. The facade features a three-storied gabled midsection flanked by four-story towers. This ornate building also houses several Jewish organizations, including the Consistoire and the Communaute Israelite de Bruxelles, as well as the Belgian Jewish museum. The rest of the synagogues are scattered throughout Brussels.
The National Monument to the Jewish Martyrs of Belgium is on the corner of Rue Emile Carpentier and Rue Goujond, in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The monument depicts a menorah made of chains and a wall bearing the names of more than 23,000 Belgian Jews killed in the Holocaust. Close by is a smaller memorial to the Jews who fought in the Belgian Resistance. A number of other memorials inBrussels honor Jews, such as the Louis Bernheim Monument in Square Marie-Louise. Bernheim was a Jewish general who became a World War I hero. The Jewish community of Brussels sponsors cultural events that could be found on the site.
There’s a Chabad house too witch works the Jewish community especially during all Jewish holidays including high holiday services open for everyone, Succoth events, big Chanukah menorah lighting, Purim events followed by organizing pessach Seders around town.
Antwerp
Flemish-speaking Antwerp (15,000 Jews) has one of the largest Orthodox communities in the Diaspora. And for this reason, Antwerp is sometimes regarded as the last shtetl in Europe. The city's 30 synagogues are all Orthodox. These include the Hollandse Synagogue on Bouwmeesterstraat, which was built in 1893, and the Oosten Synagogue on Oostenstraat, which was constructed in 1913-1914. The Chassidic Jews follow the traditions of Belz, Ger, Satmar, Lubavitch, Vishnitz and Czortkow . Kosher food can be easily found in Antwerp; there are several kosher delis, restaurants and grocery stores.
Approximately 95% of Jewish children in Antwerp attend Jewish day schools and receive intensive religious education.
While Flemish is often the language of instruction, most students know French, Belgium's second language, as well as Hebrew and Yiddish for prayer and cultural purposes. English is increasingly a necessity in the international diamond trade, a popular profession for Jews in Antwerp
The Oosten Synagogue Jewish Antwerp is a self-contained entity, mostly on Pelkinstraat and the surrounding streets. Pelkinstraat begins at the central railroad station and runs six blocks parallel to the train tracks. Just around the corner from the train station is Diamondland, the diamond center, where visitors can view the different preparation processes of diamonds. More than 80% of the city's Jews are involved in the diamond trade and Yiddish is the main language spoken at the diamond exchange. It is common for both Jews and non-Jews to say mazel u'bracha (luck and blessing) after reaching a deal. Further down Pelkinstraat, at number 106, are the offices of the largest Jewish newspaper in Belgium, Belgisch Israelitisch Weekblad. This weekly reaches every Jewish household in the country. Nearby, at 12 Nervierstraat, is the Romi Goldmuntz Center, which hosts Jewish cultural events such as Israeli folk dancing, lectures and concerts.
There’s a Chabad house too witch works the Jewish community especially during all Jewish holidays including high holiday services open for everyone, Succoth events, big Chanukah menorah lighting, Purim events followed by organizing Pessach Seders around town.
Other Communities in Belgium:
KNOKKE
Van Bunnenlaan 30, Knokke
AARLEN
063 21 79 85
Rue des Martyrs 11/6, 6700 Aarlen
CHARLEROI
07 131 10 66
Rue Pige au croly 56, 6000 Charleroi
GENT
Veldstraat 60, 9000 Gent
LUIK (LIEGE)
Rue Leon Fredericq 19, 4020 Liege
OOSTENDE
Parklaan 21, 8400 Oostende
WATERLOO
02 354 68 33
Synagogue Avenue Belle - Vue 140, 1410 Waterloo