MUTAMORPHOSIS is a transdisciplinary project bringing together performances, concerts, DJ sets, and more, dedicated to contemporary forms of hybridity. This second edition is conceived as an evolving research project exploring the transformations of bodies, identities, and gender in our societies.

Presented as part of Various Voices, this new edition showcases queer artists through works that blend performance, music and experimental sound. MUTAMORPHOSIS explores the physical, social, cultural and political shifts that are redefining the ways in which we relate to one another, whilst imagining new forms of dialogue and solidarity.

Through a performance that blends personal memory and documentary fiction, Victor Abraham Lacô revisits the imagery associated with bullfighting and Catalan cultural heritage from a queer perspective, where personal narratives become spaces for reappropriation and transformation.

Hot Bodies presents a musical and performative project at the crossroads of pop, club music and collective experience. Combining electronic textures, vulnerability and dancefloor energy, his practice views music as a space for the circulation of emotions and desires.

With her hybrid sets blending hard house, breakbeat, guaracha and Latin influences, Vera Moro transforms the dancefloor into a space for connection, emancipation and collective celebration. Rooted in stories of circulation, transmission and resilience, MUTAMORPHOSIS views sound and space as active zones of metamorphosis. By making visible the fluid nature of a changing society, the project seeks to create spaces for imagination, reflection and encounter, where hybridity becomes a way of being together.

Programme:

20:30 – 21:00 | Victor Abraham Lacô, Queer Tauromachie (performance)

21:15 – 22:00 | Hot Bodies (musical performance)

22:00 – 23:00 | Vera Moro (DJ set)

Venue: VAUX HALL, Rue de la Loi 5, 1000 Brussels

Free and no reservation required.

This event is part of Vaux Hall Summer, a project supported by the City of Brusse

The Royal Conservatory of Brussels Returns to the Museum!

The Jewish Museum of Belgium is once again partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Brussels to offer you an exceptional evening dedicated to chamber music. Following the success of the previous edition, we invite you to discover a variety of works performed by the Conservatory’s talented young musicians.

This year, enjoy a diverse program featuring Darius Milhaud, Laurent Grynszpan, Igor Stravinsky, Jean-Michel Damase, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Musicians from the Chamber Music class, performing in ensembles ranging from duos to quintets, will showcase the richness and talent of chamber music.

Program:
6:30 PM: Doors open
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Chamber music concert
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Drink

Practical Information:
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Jewish Museum of Belgium
21 Rue des Minimes – 1000 Brussels

Price: Free, reservation required
Reservations: https://concert-de-musique-de-chambre.eventsquare.store/fr/eu1gfu9tdu20/gu5ipxfmu32w/info

Discover the concert program in the document below:

Passover

On the occasion of Passover, a festival associated with freedom in Jewish tradition, the Jewish Museum of Belgium and the Jewish Social Service (SSJ) invite you to a multidisciplinary evening.

This event offers an exploration of the historical, symbolic, and contemporary meanings of Passover, through:

• A lecture on the challenges of transmission and freedom, linked to the stories and practices associated with this festival.
• A presentation of objects from the museum’s collections, illustrating the history and diversity of Passover traditions.
• A buffet inspired by the culinary symbols of Passover, for a sensory and cultural experience.

Detailed Program

7:00 PM: Welcome and opening of doors
7:15 PM – 8:00 PM: Lecture by Yonathan Kreisman (social sciences researcher) on the theme: « Passover, Freedom, and Post-Truth »
A reflection on the question of freedom through the lens of Jewish tradition and the Passover narrative.

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM:
Opening of a symbolic buffet inspired by the Seder plate
Presentation of objects from the collections of the Jewish Museum of Belgium related to Passover, guided by two cultural mediators

Practical Information
Date: April 9, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Jewish Social Service (SSJ) – 68 Avenue Ducpétiaux, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Speaker: Yonathan Kreisman (social sciences researcher)
Prices: 10€ (full price) / 5€ (students)

An invitation to discover Passover differently, between heritage and reflection.

Note: This is not a traditional Seder, but an immersive evening around the themes of Passover, accessible to a wide and diverse audience.

Book your place now!

The Nocturnes are back at the Museum!

Thursday 12 March | 6 pm – 10 pm

The Nocturnes are back in Brussels, and the Jewish Museum of Belgium is taking part in this exceptional new edition.

On the evening of 12 March, we invite you to enjoy an immersive experience specially designed for the Nocturnes.

A sensory immersion into the heart of Jewish culture

During a workshop created especially for the occasion, we will explore Jewish culture through our five senses. Objects, flavours, sounds and scents will transport you into the heart of the rites and traditions that shape this fascinating culture.

The experience will include:

• a guided presentation of a capsule exhibition featuring a selection of objects from the museum’s collections;
• sensory experience stands.

Accompanied by our mediators, you will enjoy a moment at the crossroads of learning, transmission and discovery.

The Nocturnes in Brussels

The Nocturnes begin on Thursday 12 March and continue for seven weeks, until 23 April. Every Thursday evening, several Brussels museums exceptionally open their doors from 6 pm to 10 pm and offer unique activities.

Discover the full Nocturnes programme.

Practical information:

Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium, 21 Rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Free upon reservation: Booking link

CROWNED! – Purim Ball: Reclaiming the Queen Within

(Kings admitted)

What if, for one evening, you put on a crown?

On the occasion of Purim and International Women’s Rights Day, the Jewish Museum of Belgium invites you to CROWNED!, a festive, creative and immersive Purim Ball.

Inspired by the figures of Purim — Esther, Vashti and all the unsung heroines — this evening celebrates the many ways of existing, asserting oneself, refusing or revealing who we are.
Through costume, masks, dance and storytelling, the figure of the queen appears in plural forms: visible or invisible, flamboyant or silent, crowned or uncrowned.

Purim is a celebration of joy, transformation and playful appearances. Here, carnival becomes a space of freedom, creativity and sharing — where symbols are amplified, roles are reversed and we celebrate together.

Dress code: Queens · anti-queens · hidden heroines

Programme

4:00 – 4:30 pm | Welcome

4:30 – 5:30 pm | Voices of Queens
Discussion about the women of Purim: Esther, Vashti and others — between courage, power and disobedience.
With Nehama Uzan and Estelle Cincinatis Abramowicz.

5:30 pm | Creative workshops & tastings open
Crowns, masks, face painting, creative workshops and traditional treats to celebrate Purim differently.
Special Purim exhibition from the museum’s collections.
Kids friendly.

6:00 – 8:30 pm | Purim Ball
Festive DJ set with La Dame.

Practical information

Date: March 8, 2026, 4:00 – 8:30 pm
Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium

Prices:
Free for children
Students: €5
Standard ticket: €10

Closing of the exhibition ‘THERE IS A CRACK IN EVERYTHING’

On 14 December, the Jewish Museum of Belgium invites you to the finissage of the exhibition There Is A Crack in Everything‘. From 2pm to 6pm, explore the exhibition through guided tours led by the curators, encounters with the artists, and unique performances. A final opportunity to experience the exhibition differently, and to bid farewell to the building before its transformation.

There Is a Crack in Everything brings together twenty-eight international artists whose practices intertwine emotion and form with questions of belonging, identity and memory. Just months before its demolition and complete renovation, the museum is at a pivotal moment. Its emptied rooms become spaces of anticipation and transformation, where the exhibition unfolds as an open conversation between artists. Their works question and shift our ways of inhabiting the world and relating to others. 

The exhibition concludes as it began, with the presence of Prinz Gholam, who return to the museum to present You Never See Yourself, a proposition in which improvisation, bodily memory and ephemeral gesture interlace. 

---

Programme 
2:00pm Doors open 
2:00–6:00pm Culinary performance by Michelle Woods and Hélène Bedouet (ongoing) 

2:30–3:00pm Conversation with Barbara Cuglietta and Martin Germann 
3:00–3:30pm Reading and discussion with Ethan Assouline 
3:30–4:00pm Reading and discussion with Alma Feldhandler 
4:00–4:30pm Meeting with mountaincutters 
4:30–5:00pm Reading and discussion with Yann Chateigné Tytelman 
5:00–5:30pm Performance by Prinz Gholam 
6:00pm Doors close 

Price:
Standard ticket: €10
Students: €5
Children: free

Reservation link: https://www.visit.brussels/en/visitors/agenda/event-detail.CLOSING-There-is-a-Crack-in-Everything.5700016470

More information about the exhibition : https://www.mjb-jmb.org/en/there-is-a-crack-in-everything/

With the support of the German Embassy in Brussels.

HanuQueer – Inclusive Hanukkah Celebration – December 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

HanuQueer is a cultural and inclusive event organized by the Jewish Museum of Belgium in partnership with the Mazal Pride association. This event is open to everyone: members of the Jewish community, allies, families, friends, and anyone who is curious. It offers a warm and welcoming space where Jewish culture, dialogue, and LGBTQIA+ pride come together.

Evening program:

• Talk and discussion with Élise Goldfarb
• Lighting of the Hanukkah candles
• Latkes and sufganiyot
• Visit of a mini-exhibition featuring Hanukkah-related objects from the museum’s collections
• Traditional Hanukkah songs, followed by a collective musical moment

Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Time: From 7 PM to 10 PM
Location: Jewish Museum of Belgium
Tickets: Adult €8.00 — Students and children: free

Book now here

Sunday, September 7, from 3 pm to 6 pm, join us for the fifth edition of Boire ou Manger at the Jewish Museum of Belgium.

As part of the exhibition There is a Crack in Everything, we are inaugurating the Laboratory of Hospitalities. How can a closed museum temporarily open up and reinvent itself as a welcoming space for encounters? By blurring the boundaries between host and guest, through an event-based program, the museum goes beyond its traditional role as host to give its guests the opportunity to welcome in return. How do we welcome the other? How can hospitality be thought of not simply as a gesture of openness, but as a space of negotiation, where host and guest co-construct a shifting common ground?

Boire ou Manger is a series of small Brussels events dedicated to utilitarian objects and their containers. For this fifth edition, the artists are invited to create a jug, which will then be filled with the delicious recipe of Osma_bxl.

The approach of Boire ou Manger is as local as possible, both in terms of the artists and the food.

While waiting to discover these jugs, here is the list of participating artists:
Adèle Pasquier, Agathe Bertin, Anna Zanichelli, Arianna Musetta, Axel Fourmont, Brigitte Arbelot, Charlotte Burgaud, Charlotte Chauvin, Chloé Girten, Coline Rosoux, Eliot Duran, Fanny Canel, Hélène Bedouet, Hélène Drénou, Ivonne Gargano, Jaco Mnes, Leonard, Lieza Dessein, Louise Devin, Quentin Caillaud, Sarah Kerloveou and Sukrii Kural.

Free Event. No registration required.

Practical information:
21 Rue des Minimes, 1000 Brussels
From 3 PM to 6 PM
Kefir €2
Jug €90

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 – 7:15pm – Hady-Salomé Dahan (performance/slam)

7:30pm – 9:00pm – Super Rumba (Concert)

9:15 pm – 10:45 pm – Rokia Bamba (DJ set)

­­­­­***

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.

***

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:

• 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.