The Jewish Museum of Belgium embarks on its makeover: time for the ‘Jewish Museum In/ Out’.

The Jewish Museum of Belgium today announced the temporary closure of its doors for an ambitious renovation and extension project, with a planned reopening in 2028. This transformation is an opportunity for the institution to rethink its role in contemporary society around its key themes of openness, dialogue and education. During this period, the museum will take on a new form and become the Jewish Museum In/Out, pursuing its cultural missions through out-of-home and digital initiatives.

A dynamic program connected to the world

During the closure, the Jewish Museum of Belgium will continue to enrich the Brussels and international landscape under the banner of Jewish Museum In/Out. The institution will explore new ways of disseminating culture. Contemporary art exhibitions will be organized in partnership with other institutions, enabling the public to discover works and projects in new venues. In addition to exhibitions, the museum will continue to program traveling art events and performances, in partnership with the City of Brussels, incorporating artistic interventions in public spaces and partner venues. This nomadic approach will enable us to continue creating powerful and innovative encounters, reinforcing the museum’s presence in the cultural life of Brussels.

An off-site educational program has also been set up to interact directly with schools, promoting cultural education right in their midst. This commitment to young people testifies to the museum’s determination to remain a central player in the transmission of knowledge and humanist values, as well as in the fight against antisemitism and all forms of racism.

At the same time, the museum is turning to digital technology to meet contemporary needs. During the construction period, a digital museum will highlight all the museum’s missions – conservation, dissemination and education. An interactive platform, accessible to all, will enable visitors to explore the collections, follow exhibitions and take part in educational programs, wherever they may be.

“The renovation of the Jewish Museum of Belgium is essential to preserve and enhance this unique place of cultural and educational transmission. Its commitment to telling the story through art and memory is invaluable. Until it reopens, the hors-les-murs program promises to enrich our city and bring culture to the heart of Brussels’ neighborhoods, offering everyone a precious opportunity for exploration and reflection.” – Philippe Close, Mayor of Brussels

An architectural and cultural transformation

Housed since 2002 in a building dating from the late 19th century, the Jewish Museum of Belgium will undergo an architectural transformation. Barozzi Veiga Architects (Barcelona), in collaboration with Tab Architects (Ghent), will lead the renovation. The architectural project will include the addition of a “belvedere”, a symbol of openness and modernity, offering a panoramic view of Brussels. At the same time, particular attention will be paid to the scenography, designed by Christophe Gaeta, who will propose a new museum itinerary. The whole will be enriched by the integration of a contemporary work of art, reinforcing the dialogue between tradition and innovation.

A museum for the future

This renovation is much more than an architectural project. It testifies to the Jewish Museum of Belgium’s ability to reinvent itself, to respond to the challenges of tomorrow, and to reinforce its role as a place of exchange, reflection and transmission. In 2028, the museum will reopen its doors with a totally redesigned space, in tune with the expectations of a diversified public connected to its time.

The project to build the new Jewish Museum of Belgium is supported by Beliris – Brussels-Capital Region, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and the City of Brussels.

MUTAMORPHOSIS is an immersive exploration of hybridity, built around a  transdisciplinary program. Through performances, concerts, dance, and more, the project invites us to engage with the ongoing transformations that shape our identities, our bodies, and our societies.

MUTAMORPHOSIS weaves together processes of interculturality, intersections of influence, and the emergence of new forms of expression. These hybridizations urge us to rethink boundaries and redefine notions of belonging, taking a step toward building bridges between our true selves.

MUTAMORPHOSIS explores profound and underlying changes that disrupt established orders. These mutations, whether physical, social, cultural, spatial, or political, challenge existing norms and structures.

The program is structured around distinct themes that explore diverse cultural identities and the hybridization of bodies, genders, and spaces in a contemporary world where norms and traditions are constantly being questioned.

By revealing the fluid nature of an evolving society, MUTAMORPHOSIS seeks to create spaces for dialogue, dreaming, and reflection, spaces where new possibilities can emerge.

MUTAMORPHOSIS envisions hybridity as an ethics of relation: a movement beyond the self, toward the other.

Program :

Friday, June 13

6:30pm – 7:30pm – Marion Degardin (dance/performance)

7:45pm – 8:45pm – Barbara Salomé Felgenhauer & Kimia Nasirian (performance)

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Méchante Ambiance (DJ set)

22h15 – 23h00 – Bilou (Live Concert)

Friday, July 11th

6:30pm – 7:30pm – Hady-Salomé Dahan (performance/slam)

7:45pm – 9:45pm – House of Gabbana (dance/performance: voguing)

10:00 pm – 10:45 pm – LOV (DJ set)

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This event is part of Vaux Hall Summer, organized by the City of Brussels.

MUTAMORPHOSIS est une exploration immersive de l’hybridité à travers une programmation transdisciplinaire. Par le biais de performances, concerts, danses, dj set,  le projet nous invite à plonger au cœur des transformations permanentes qui façonnent nos identités, nos corps et nos sociétés.

MUTAMORPHOSIS met en avant les processus d’interculturalité, les croisements d’influences et l’émergence de nouvelles formes d’expression. Ces hybridations nous poussent à repenser les frontières et à redéfinir les notions d’appartenance.

MUTAMORPHOSIS explore les changements profonds et soudains qui bouleversent l’ordre établi. Ces mutations, qu’elles soient physiques, sociales, culturelles, spatiales ou politiques, remettent en question les normes et les structures existantes.

Le programme se déclinera en différentes thématiques qui exploreront les identités culturelles multiples et l’hybridation des corps, des genres et des espaces dans un monde contemporain où les normes et les traditions sont remises en cause.

En rendant visible le caractère fluide d’une société en évolution, MUTAMORPHOSIS veut créer des espaces de dialogue, de rêve et de réflexion qui permettent l’émergence de nouveaux possibles.

MUTAMORPHOSIS envisage l’hybridation comme une éthique de la relation, où il s’agit de sortir de soi pour aller vers l’autre. 

An Exceptional Kaddish Concert with Shaya Feldman and Franco Panizon at the Jewish Museum of Belgium!

On May 21, 2025, the Jewish Museum of Belgium, in collaboration with the Jewish Cultural House, invites you to an exceptional Kaddish concert featuring Shaya Feldman (vocals & double bass) and Franco Panizon (piano).

The concert will present a rich and varied repertoire centered around the Kaddish, featuring works by renowned composers such as Salomone Rossi, Maurice Ravel, André Hajdu, Josef Dorfman, Emanuel Vahl, as well as original compositions by Shaya Feldman.

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The Kaddish, a key moment in Jewish liturgy, has been the prayer for the dead since the Middle Ages. Written in Aramaic, this text praises the Eternal in all His majesty, without any direct reference to death. The term Kaddish also encompasses the music that accompanies it.

There are numerous versions of the Kaddish, varying by the period and place of their composition. They can be either sad or joyful. The Yiddish phrase a father says to his son, “Du bist mein kaddish,” ironically links love with death!

Behind each Kaddish lies a story, and there are many! Why does a particular melody become popular in a community? Why did Maurice Ravel, who was not Jewish, feel the need to compose a Kaddish?

Fascinated by this richness, Shaya Feldman has gathered several Kaddish versions from the 16th century to the present day, adding a contemporary touch.

An exciting evening with unique sounds that come from the depths of tradition!

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Shaya Feldman is a double bass player, composer, and multidisciplinary dada artist from France and Israel. He graduated from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris. In Israel, Shaya served as the musical director of the Association of Performing Artists and various festivals. He plays double bass in numerous orchestras, including the prestigious Opéra National de Paris and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. Shaya also performs his own compositions on various international stages in Israel, Europe, and the United States. He frequently collaborates with contemporary music composers.

Franco Panizon is a pianist who completed his studies with distinction at the Trieste Conservatory (2016), where he also studied harpsichord and composition. He furthered his education at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. In Brussels, he completed his academic studies with a master’s degree in piano performance at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in 2020. The following year, he also obtained a Master’s in Education from the Conservatory of Mons. He collaborates in duos with cellist Federico Bragetti, flutist André Portela, and double bass player Shaya Feldman.

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Practical Information

Date: May 21, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium – 21, rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels

Tickets:

• Students: 8€
• Regular: 15€
• Support: 25€

Book now!🎫

An Exceptional Chamber Music Class Concert at the Jewish Museum of Belgium

On Friday, April 25, 2025, at 7 PM, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels invites you to an exceptional concert by the Chamber Music Class, held at the Jewish Museum of Belgium. This event, coordinated by Jean-Marc Fessard*, promises an unforgettable musical evening, showcasing the talent and passion of young musicians.

An Inspiring Musical Evening

The concert will feature a rich and varied repertoire, including works by renowned composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven, Piotr Moss, Igor Stravinsky, and Johannes Brahms. Students from the Chamber Music Class will take you on a journey through iconic pieces, demonstrating their mastery and artistic sensitivity.

Program:

• Ludwig Van Beethoven – Trio op.11: Allegro con brio, Adagio, Tema con Variazioni. With Filip Cempa (clarinet), Elisabeth Lefebvre (cello), David Ganczar (piano).
• Piotr Moss – “Stances”. With Filip Cempa (clarinet), Elisabeth Lefebvre (cello), David Ganczar (piano).
• Igor Stravinsky – “Suite de l’histoire du soldat”. With Lana Herasymenko (violin), Armand-Wilfried Fessard (clarinet), Clément Bouvare (piano).
• Johannes Brahms – Trio op.114. With Jiaxu Zheng (clarinet), Cuting Liang (cello), Narmia Ismayilova (piano).

Practical Information

• Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
• Time: 7 PM
• Venue: Jewish Museum of Belgium – 21, rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels
• Admission: Free – Reservation required: https://concert-musique-de-chambre.eventsquare.store/fr/ggglvzebxsfw/vzac5vibev3p

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover promising talents in an intimate and inspiring setting. Reserve your place now to attend this exceptional concert.

*Jean-Marc Fessard, a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, is a renowned clarinetist and musicologist. A graduate of the CNSM in Paris and holding a doctorate, he is the winner of numerous international competitions. He has recorded around thirty CDs and performed with prestigious orchestras. Highly engaged in contemporary creation, he is also an author and lecturer.

Discover the celebration of Passover with your family at the Jewish Museum of Belgium!

On Sunday, April 6, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, we invite you to celebrate Passover in a warm, delicious, and cultural setting at the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

Program:

• Matza baking workshop (traditional unleavened Passover bread)
• Tasting of delicious Matza Ball Soup
• Discover Passover ritual objects from our collection, presented by Barbara Cuglietta, Director of the museum

A meaningful morning of sharing and tradition, in collaboration with Nehama Uzan from the EJCC.

👉 Reserve your spot before April 4!
📩 Reservations: secretariat@mjb-jmb.org

We look forward to welcoming many of you to the Jewish Museum of Belgium to celebrate this festival of freedom together! 🎉

An exceptional musical event at the Jewish Museum of Belgium

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 7 PM, the Royal Conservatory of Brussels presents The Right to Childhood at the Jewish Museum of Belgium, a creation by Patricia Jankowska inspired by the life and work of Janusz Korczak, a key advocate for children’s rights.

A powerful musical tribute

Created by Patricia Jankowska, this project pays homage to Korczak, a pedagogue, writer, and doctor who dedicated his life to children before being deported with them to Treblinka in 1942. The music, composed by Piotr Moss, and the artistic coordination by Jean-Marc Fessard, bring this moving story to life.

Practical information

• Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
• Time: 7 PM
• Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium – 21, Rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels
• Free entry – Reservation required : https://le-droit-lenfance-p-jankowska.eventsquare.store/fr/atklnl8b0vyw/zunywyoruays

Don’t miss this special evening dedicated to the memory and commitment of Janusz Korczak through music and artistic expression.

➡️ Reserve your spot now

Roma Queer Community: Pathways to Visibility, Representation and Belonging

Join us for a panel discussion that centers the voices and experiences of queer Roma community navigating intersecting identities. This event creates space to confront structural and social barriers while starting a conversation on how we can collectively push for visibility, representation, and belonging.

Guests

• Alba (she/her): Roma feminist and antiracist advocate from Spain. Co-founder of the Feminist Collective of Romani Gender Experts, Alba works to decolonize knowledge and amplify intersectional racial justice.
   
• Ana (she/her): LGBTQ+ human rights monitor at the European Roma Rights Centre, trans activist, and drag artist from Serbia. Ana highlights the unique challenges of LGBTQI+ Roma through grassroots work.
   
• Jaetta (she/her): With decades of experience addressing social exclusion, Jaetta advocates for Roma human rights in Belgium through activism and community-building.
   
• Aldessa (she/her): Feminist and intersectional DJ using music to amplify Roma culture, decolonize beats, and challenge the status quo on the dance floor.

Program

18:30 – 19:30 | Panel discussion
19:30 – 20:00 | Q&A
20:00 – 21:00 | DJ set by Aldessa

This event invites you to listen, reflect, and take action towards meaningful participation. 

More information about the event here.

On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Centre Communautaire Laïque Juif (CCLJ) is organizing an exceptional day dedicated to hope and resilience. This event will shed light on the reconstruction of individuals and communities after the war.

Day Program

1. Study Day: “Survive and Rebuild”
Démocratie et Barbarie is organizing a study day focused on reconstruction, with a particular emphasis on the liberation of the camps. This dedicated moment will explore how survivors overcame trauma to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.

• Where: Centre Communautaire Laïque Juif (CCLJ) – Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies 52, 1060 Saint-Gilles
• When: January 27, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Study Day Program
Registration is now open via this link.

An Exhibition to Discover Alongside the Study Day

In parallel with the study day, the CCLJ and the Jewish Museum of Belgium present an exhibition in the CCLJ rotunda. This presentation highlights post-war Jewish summer camps, symbols of renewal, solidarity, and transmission. The images on display illustrate the collective effort to provide children with an environment conducive to physical and moral reconstruction. These camps, supported by various Jewish political movements, underscore the importance of childhood as a foundation for the community’s future.

2. Evening Study Session: “Beyond Survival”

• Where: Centre Communautaire Laïque Juif (CCLJ) – Rue de l’Hôtel des Monnaies 52, 1060 Saint-Gilles
• When: January 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM

More information about the evening can be found here.
Registration is now open via this link.

This evening will center around testimonies from Holocaust survivors, recounting their journeys from the liberation of the camps to their involvement in rebuilding community institutions. These accounts will be enriched by contributions from their descendants, offering an intergenerational perspective on this legacy of resilience.

We invite you to join us for this event, rich in emotions and insights, honoring the memory of the victims while celebrating the strength of human reconstruction.

“Stolen Jewish Legacies: The Fate of the Andriesse Collection” traces the lives and cultural impact of the Dutch-Belgian philanthropists and art patrons Hugo Daniel Andriesse (1867-1942) and his wife Eli­­sabeth Andriesse (1871-1963). 

The Andriesses were socially prominent benefactors of charitable institutions in prewar Brussels who collected Old Master paintings and tapestries. Following their escape to New York in 1940, their collection of paintings and tapestries was looted by the Nazi occupation government in Belgium. Some of the collection remains missing.

While the Jewish Museum of Belgium undergoes renovation, the exhibition will be on view for a one-day presentation on November 7^th, 2024.

Free admission.

Curated by the Jewish Digital Cultural Recovery Project Foundation (JDCRP), in cooperation with the Jewish Museum of Belgium and the Federal Public Service Economy (Economy Ministry of Belgium). Exhibition curator: Anne Uhrlandt, Research and Documentation Officer at the JDCRP.

The exhibition is part of a project co-funded by the European Union and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (the Claims Conference), sponsored by the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ) and supported by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF).

Honoring Aristides de Sousa Mendes: The Courage of a Righteous*

The Fondation Les Justes de Belgique and the Aristides de Sousa Mendes Foundation – US, in partnership with the Jewish Museum of Belgium and the Central Jewish Consistory of Belgium, are honored to pay tribute to Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Righteous Among the Nations, on Sunday, November 17, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. This event is held under the high patronage of the Royal House of His Majesty King Albert II.

Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Consul of Portugal in Bordeaux from 1938 to 1940, is an iconic figure of moral courage and resistance against injustice. In 1940, during a time of heightened persecution of Jews and stateless people in Europe, Sousa Mendes made the brave decision to disobey his government’s orders. Inspired by his Catholic faith and his conversations with Rabbi Chaim Kruger, he followed his conscience and issued tens of thousands of visas to refugees, including many Jews, allowing them to escape Nazi tyranny.

These heroic actions saved people from 49 different nationalities, of various faiths and social backgrounds, including Austrians, French, Dutch, Luxembourgers, and Belgians.

As we commemorate the 70th anniversary of his death, this tribute serves as an opportunity to remember his extraordinary commitment to humanity and to reaffirm the importance of his memory in the fight against injustice and intolerance.

Please register by November 13 via info@justesdebelgique.org

*The Hebrew expression, translated as “ Righteous among the Nations”, designates, in rabbinic tradition, God-fearing non-Jews and, in medieval and modern times, those among them who maintained a correct attitude towards Jews unanimously hated and persecuted throughout Europe.