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.

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.

***

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!

***

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.

***

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:

• Article 27 and 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.

Performance : David Bernstein – Even if it’s not true, it’s well found – 6.06 from 6pm

The title Even if it’s not true, it’s well found is a literal translation of the Italian expression Se non e vero, e ben trovato – meaning that even though a story might be made up, it is still worth telling. The work consists of a series of abstract sculptures that have had fictional stories written about them. These stories were generated from associations while looking at the artworks, and in that way, they reveal another “truth” about the object. 

Three of these sculptures are displayed within the museum with accompanying stories, told during the performance. Each sculpture is made of different materials – various kinds of wood, brass, and steel – to allow for different tactile experiences. The sculptures’ shapes are inspired by ancestral ritual instruments and modern industrial design objects. This work aims to look at the power of imagination to give different readings to the same object. It emphasizes the queerness of objects, celebrating the idea that one thing can be several things at once.

---

This event is part of the “Laboratory of Rituals” performance cycle.

At the heart of the Laboratory of Rituals project, four performance artists – Hilal Aydoğdu, David Bernstein, Barbara Salomé Felgenhauer et Zinaïda Tchelidze – are committed to creating new mythologies that re-en­chant the world.

In this artistic laboratory, these artists explore the depths of the collective imagination, venturing into the mean­ders of history, culture and tradition. They invite us to plunge into their artistic universes, to cross passages between the visible and invisible worlds, in order to discover new perspectives and new understandings of the world.

The Laboratory of Rituals is more than just an exhibition. It’s a space for artistic exploration, where cross-cultu­ral performers meet, question and share their worldviews. It’s a call for reflection and wonder, as well as the creation of new mythologies that revive our existence.

---

Program :
6:00pm – Doors open
6:30pm to 7:30pm : Performance “Even if it’s not true, it’s well found” by David Bernstein
7:30pm – Drink
8:30pm – Doors close

Price : Pay what you can (Recommended price 6€)

Discussion between Luc Benhamou and Sonia Wieder-Atherton and musical moments 

Chantal Akerman was born in Brussels in 1950. Her parents, originally from Poland, had settled in Belgium in the 1930s. During the war, part of her family suffered deportation and were murdered in Auschwitz. The ensuing silence guided both her work as a filmmaker and her life as a woman.

Sonia Wieder-Atherton and Luc Benhamou wish to share a moment of exchange by questioning Chantal Akerman’s relationship with Judaism. Some of the possible approaches are through her work, but also through her positions on several issues, her relationship to biblical texts and to transmission. Music will also be present through the voice of Sonia Wieder-Atherton’s cello.

LUC BENHAMOU :

Born in Paris in 1959, Luc Benhamou studied cinematography at the Insas in Brussels. He subsequently worked as a cinematographer, authored short films and studied Judaism. He framed and/or lit all Chantal Akerman’s films between 1983 and 1988, among these the notables Les Années 80 (1983) L’homme à la valise (1983), Un jour Pina a demandé (1983), J’ai faim, j’ai froid (1984), Family Business (1984), Golden eighties (1984), Letters Home (1986), Histoires d’Amérique (1988).

SONIA WIEDER-ATHERTON :

Cellist Sonia Wieder-Atherton studied at the Paris Conservatoire, then went on studying further with Natalia Chakhovskaya at the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow. She returned home at the age of 25, where she met Chantal Akerman. Their work and personal relation were set to last forever.  Their worlds came together in film scores and stage creations. Chantal Akerman also directed several films with SWA, who performed works ranging from Monteverdi to Dutilleux. Their collaboration on the music for “Histoires d’Amérique” gave rise to a recording of liturgical Jewish chants for cello and piano. 

Program:

6 pm doors open

6:30 pm start of discussion (approx. 1h30)

8 p.m. end (no drinks)

Credit: Collections CINEMATEK – © Fondation Chantal Akerman

Celebrate Pesach with us!

We’re delighted to invite you to a one-day Pesach celebration on April 14 at 3pm.
Pesach, also known as Passover, is one of Judaism’s three pilgrimage holidays, commemorating the exodus of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt according to the Torah’s Book of Exodus. The holiday evokes the notion of renewal, of freedom, and is honored through several rituals, including the consumption of unleavened bread (matza) and the celebration of the Passover meal.

Program :

Matzot-making workshop for children: Our young participants will have the opportunity to take part in a Matza bread-making workshop. They’ll have the opportunity to discover the importance of this ancestral tradition by getting their hands dirty.

Guided tour of the “Passage – Textiles & Ritual” exhibition: We also invite you to a guided tour of our “Passage – Textiles & Ritual” exhibition, a fascinating exploration of Jewish textiles and rituals.

This event is organized in collaboration with the European Jewish Community Centre (EJCC).

As part of NOCTURNES, the third “Passage” tour will open on April 11 in our Project Space, inviting you to explore the contemporary resurgence of beliefs and rituals through a program of unique performances.

In Turkish culture, when you welcome someone, you give them your bed, your home. Misafirperverlik means «hospitality » in Turkish. The term has Arabic roots: «musafir», «safar», which also means «hunger» and «he or she who goes on an expedition, who goes far away». And Persian roots: «parvar», meaning «to feed, to bring up, to educate». Misafirperver therefore means «he or she
who feeds his or her guest».

The performance is two-fold: «the preparation» and «the meal».
Duration: 2 h00.

---

Hilal Aydoğdu (1998, Liège), holds a Master’s degree in drawing from the Académie des Beaux-Arts de Liège and has practiced performance art for several years, in depth at La Cambre.

Hilal questions the place of women in a man’s world. She proposes to apprehend the devices that work to establish a deleterious hegemony – that of patriarchy – mainly through culture, by exploring the morbid lexicon of the values and injunctions it conveys: honor, virginity, obedience. Performance and installation allow her words to take shape; by breaking the boundaries between the object and
its flesh, by playing with what can be forced together, she attempts to suggest imbalance, to let the union give rise to vertigo, and vertigo to fall.

She aims to confront the order that strikes in the name of ideals that damage women with the consequences of its reign, reflecting back to it the horror and pain they generate.

---

Program :

• guided tour of the “Passage” exhibition at 6pm (FR)
• guided tour of the “Passage” exhibition at 6:30pm (NL)
• Performance Misafirperver by Hilal Aydoğdu from 6 pm to 8 pm (FR,NL,EN)
  
  For bookings –> via the Nocturnes website (ticket sales open on March 25)

At the heart of the Laboratory of Rituals project, four performance artists – Hilal Aydoğdu, David Bernstein, Barbara Salomé Felgenhauer et Zinaïda Tchelidze – are committed to creating new mythologies that re-en­chant the world.

In this artistic laboratory, these artists explore the depths of the collective imagination, venturing into the mean­ders of history, culture and tradition. They invite us to plunge into their artistic universes, to cross passages between the visible and invisible worlds, in order to discover new perspectives and new understandings of the world.

Through their performances, these artists offer us intense moments where the sacred and the profane meet, where emotions blossom and questions multiply. They open doors to sensory and intellectual experiences, inviting us to reflect on our own relationship with beliefs, myths and rituals.

The Laboratory of Rituals is more than just an exhibition. It’s a space for artistic exploration, where cross-cultu­ral performers meet, question and share their worldviews. It’s a call for reflection and wonder, as well as the creation of new mythologies that revive our existence.

The Laboratory of Rituals will open on April 11 in our Project Space and invites you to explore the contemporary resurgence of beliefs and rites through a program of unique performances. The first performance will take place as part of the Nocturnes event.

---

Program :

Misafirperver – Hilal Aydoğdu – 11.04.2024

La Chapelle des peines pour le monde – Barbara Salomé Felgenhauer – 22.05.2024

Even if it’s not true, it’s well found – David Bernstein – 6.06.2024

To your arrival and our welcome – Zinaïda Tchelidze – 1.09.2024

On the occasion of INTERNATIONAL ROMA DAY, the Jewish Museum of Belgium is pleased to invite you to an event dedicated to celebrating Roma culture and raising awareness of anti-Roma discrimination.
In partnership with ESMA, Carrefour des Cultures:

ESMA-CC is an association that promotes and supports artists, cultural creations and music from the Balkans and Roma, with the aim of encouraging encounters, debate and dialogue between groups, communities and cultural players in civil society.

Program

• 3:30 pm: Conference: Carol Silverman (Eng – Fr)
• 4:45 pm: Q&A
• 5:00 pm: Break
• 5:30 p.m.: Concerts
• 6:30 pm: Drink of friendship
  Price
  Price: 7 euros on site
  Free for students

Free event

---

Conference

Historical and cultural contexts of klezmer and Balkan Romani music: comparisons and contrasts
Jews and Roma are often considered Europe’s two most emblematic minority groups. Both communities have greatly enriched the culture and arts of Eastern Europe, while facing historical discrimination, including the Nazi genocide. This illustrated lecture explores the cultural links and differences between Jews and Roma in Eastern Europe. Focusing on music, we will examine the professional role of klezmer and Roma musicians, as well as the context of their repertoire and performances in ritual and family life. Today, Balkan Romani music is not only a dynamic community asset, but also a global musical product; klezmer is also being creatively revitalized and recast. At the same time, anti-Semitism and anti-Gypsyism are on the rise. In these difficult times, music can serve as a tool in the fight against neo-nationalism and xenophobia.

• Carol Silverman

Carol Silverman has been interested in Balkan music and culture for over forty years as a researcher, teacher, artist and activist. Professor Emerita of Cultural Anthropology and Folklore at the University of Oregon, she has taught Jewish and Balkan folklore, focusing on music, festivals, cultural policy and human rights issue

Concerts

• ESMA Next Generation Band
• Vilmos Csikos, Anette Dukane Csikos, Duka Vilmos
• The Klezmer Society

Exhibition

• Ceija Stojka

Ceija Stojka was born in Austria in 1933, the fifth of six children in a family of Roma horse traders. Deported at the age of ten with her mother Sidonie and other family members, she survived three concentration camps: Auschwitz-Birkenau, Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen. 

It was only forty-five years later, in 1988, at the age of fifty-five, that she felt the need and the necessity to talk about it; she embarked on a fantastic work of remembrance and, despite being considered illiterate, wrote several poignant books, in a poetic and highly personal style, which made her the first Roma woman survivor of the death camps to bear witness to her concentration camp experience, against oblivion and denial, against the prevailing racism. 

Immerse yourself in the universe of “Pierrot Lunaire” by Arnold Schoenberg by attending a concert organized by the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

A group of young artists, singers, and instrumentalists, are determined to confront the sacred monster of the Second Viennese School: Pierrot Lunaire. Together, and without a conductor, they attempt to capture the power of Arnold Schoenberg’s music, its extraordinary expressive and visionary force.

Don’t miss out on this unique musical experience!

Program:
6:30 PM – Doors Open
7:00 PM – Concert
8:00 PM – Drinks
9:00 PM – Doors Close

Free entry, reservation required.

Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium, Rue des Minimes 21, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
In partnership with the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

The Jewish Museum of Belgium invites you to discover “Les Guerrières de la Paix”, a documentary directed by Hanna Assouline and Jessica Bertaux in 2018.


In 2014, Israeli and Palestinian women decided to create an informal movement: Women Wage Peace. These women came together around a demand as simple as it was terribly audacious: that their leaders meet again around a negotiating table. In 2018, there are now tens of thousands of them, from all political backgrounds and origins. They are the warriors of peace.



Through this film and her recent speeches, Hanna Assouline strives to propose a humanist path, “without slogan nor flag”, to transcend the various antagonistic narratives at play and bring everyone together beyond their respective reactionary opinions.

This kind of apolitical approach presented in the documentary is often misunderstood and interpreted as ignoring the complexity of reality. We will examine its properties and relevance. Together we will question the essence of the word “peace”, the evocation of which now frequently arises suspicion and polemics, in order to understand how to restore its unifying character.



Program :

Doors open 6:30pm

Screening of the film “Les Guerrières de la Paix” at 7:00 pm

Meeting with Hanna Assouline at 8:00 pm, hosted by Sarah Halfin.