Re: Editorial: La Grande Synagogue de Bruxelles

Dear Rhonda,

I’ve just enjoyed reading your report concerning your visit to the ‘Grande Shul’ in Brussels. As I was born and raised in Winnipeg, and lived in Brussels for about 32 years, until retiring to Toronto in 2011, I thought I’d give you a little more background about the Jewish community there.

Jews have lived in what today is Belgium since early in the first century. There was a Roman community in today’s Brussels, and old Roman homes can still be found – actually about 500 meters straight down Rue de la Regence from the shul. In antiquity, the Jews followed the Romans into Brussels. In the more modern era, Brussels was incorporated (in writing) as a city in the year 979. It did take, however, another 250-300 years for there to be a Jewish community thriving.

Before World War II, about 76,000 Jews lived in Belgium. The biggest Jewish community (35,000) was in Antwerp. There were about 25,000 Jews in Brussels, and lesser quantities in Liège, Charleroi and other smaller towns. However, less than ten percent were Belgian Jews, as most were from Germany and other European countries. Approximately 29,000 died between 1942 – 1945.

Today, there are about 42,000 Jews in Belgium, with about 20,000 living in Antwerp’s vibrant and very visible Hasidic community. (There are about 30 shulsin Antwerp!) Today’s Brussels’ Jewish community also numbers about 20,000, the last I’d heard. They have twelve synagogues, including three Sephardic synagogues, and a Reform (Liberal) shul which is also frequented by expatriates from North America. There is also a Yeshiva in Brussels, three Hebrew schools, and three Jewish community centres, all with different ideologies, and each with its own ‘personality’. The Brussels Jews live in many different parts of town, some within walking distance of their synagogue!

There, you have it! A pity you didn’t arrive in town while I was living there, as I would have enjoyed showing you around! (Your father, Frank, and I were classmates at Kelvin in the mid-50’s!)

All best wishes,