History of the Jews in Antwerp
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The history of the Jews in Antwerp, a major city in the modern country of Belgium, goes back at least eight hundred years. Jewish life was first recorded in the city in the High Middle Ages. While the Jewish population grew and waned over the centuries, by the beginning of World War II Antwerp had a thriving Jewish community comprising some 35,000, with many Jews connected to the city's diamond industry. The Nazi occupation of Antwerp from 1940 and The Holocaust decimated the city’s Jewish population. By the time of Antwerp's liberation in September 1944, the Jewish population had fallen to around 1,200.
Since then, Antwerp’s Jewish community has rebounded to become a major European centre of
History
Early history
The establishment of the Jewish community in the region of Flanders is considered to be in 1022, when Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders, invited Jacob bar Jequthiel and thirty other Jews from Rouen to settle in Arras.[2]
The first official document that refers to the Jewish community in Antwerp itself is the will of
It may be that many of the Jews who helped establish Antwerp as a commercial hub in the Low Countries were refugees from England and France.
A new group of Jewish immigrants started to settle in Antwerp in the early 16th century, when the city became a relatively safe haven for
19th century
It was not until 1794 and with the arrival of the French Revolution that Jews could settle freely in Antwerp again. Pursuant to Napoleon's Imperial Decree of 20 July 1808, Jews throughout areas under French rule, which included Antwerp, were forced to acquire fixed first names and family names (which were forbidden to be from the Hebrew Bible).[5]
The current Jewish community of Antwerp was officially established in 1816, when there were about one hundred Jews living in the city. This, the first legally-recognized community, was known as the Jewish Community (in French, Communauté israélite). The first Jewish public prayers were held in the private home of Moise Kreyn, having received the approval of the city authorities. The Jews of Antwerp acquired possession of a cemetery in 1828. There were 151 Jews living in Antwerp in 1829.
The Holocaust
On the eve of World War II, there were some 50,000 Jews in the city [
Post-Holocaust reconstruction of the community
Jewish community in the 21st century
The Jewish community of Antwerp consists of around 20,000-25,000 members. The majority of residents identifying themselves as Jewish belong to traditional or Orthodox communities, although levels of religious practice vary. The Haredi, or
In recent years many of the younger generation of secular Jews have moved away from the crowded city center. There has also been small but steady growth of Orthodox satellite communities in suburbs such as
Within the prominently-
- The Israëlitische Gemeente van Antwerpen Shomre Hadass; primarily oriented toward the Modern Orthodox community. It is led by Chief Rabbi David Moshe Lieberman. This council also espouses the values of religious Zionism and maintains a pro-Israel stance in community affairs.
- The Orthodox Israëlitische Gemeente Machsike Hadass primarily oriented toward the ultra-orthodox Haredicommunity.
- The "Portuguees Israëlitische Gemeenschap van Antwerpen" is the Sephardireligious community.
The late Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth, was the Chief Rabbi of the Machzikei Hadass kehilla for many years and was widely regarded as a pre-eminent scholar of Talmud. He died in 2001 and was replaced by Rabbi Rubinstein of Israel, who died a few months after being nominated to the post. Since December 2010, the position has been filled by Rabbi Aaron Schiff. Rabbi Schiff, a follower of the current Grand Rabbi of Belz (Hasidic dynasty), Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, is an alumnus of the Erlau yeshiva in Jerusalem and was previously the Rabbi of the local Alexander synagogue.
An essential difference between these two organizations is apparent in the Shomrei Hadas' alignment with religious Zionist doctrine, which the Machzikei Hadass rejects.
Hasidic Jews
Hasidic Jews comprise about forty percent of the Jews of Antwerp.[7] Hasidic movements represented in Antwerp include:
- Alexander (located in the Isabellalei)
- Belz (the big one on Van Spangenstr-Media plein, and the new shtiebel at Lange Leemstr.)
- Bobov
- Belz-Machnovka (located in the Van Leriusstraat)
- Chortkov (located in the Van Leriusstraat)
- Ger
- Lubavitchis located on the Brialmontlei. A splinter group of Messianic Lubavitchers meets in the Oostenstraat.
- Pshevorsk(located in the Mercatorstraat)
- Satmar
- Shotz
- Skver
- Sanz-Klausenberg (located in the Isabellalei)
- Vizhnitz(Vizhnitz Bnei Brak, Vizhnitz New York)
The
There are also other Hasidic rebbes in Antwerp, including a Spinka Rebbe and a Zhemigrader Rebbe. These groups have rebbes in other locations as well.
Non-Hasidic Jews
Although the Jews not aligned to any Hasidic group probably no longer greatly outnumber the Hasidim, they have a substantial presence. The three major synagogues in Antwerp, known locally by their addresses, The Van Den Nestlei and the Bouwmeesterstraat (pictured above) shuls of the Shomre Hadass and the Oostenstraat shul, are not aligned to any Hasidic movement.
There is a small
Eruv
As in other cities with large Jewish communities, Antwerp is surrounded by a wire called "eruv" (Eiroew in Dutch). In contrast to the eruvs in New York City or other large cities, the Antwerp eruv surrounds the whole city center. The presence of this eruv allows Jews to interpret the city as one big house, making it easier to avoid breaking some Sabbath regulations within it. The wire constituting the eruv can be found close to the Singel at a height of 6 meters, and at the entrance of the Diamond district.[8]
Schools
A number of Jewish schools are found throughout the Jewish district (95% of the Jewish children of Antwerp receive a religious education). The three main Jewish schools in Antwerp are the Yesode Hatora of the Machsike Hadas, and the Yavne and Tachkemoni schools of the Shomre Hadas.
The Yesode Hatora - Beth Jacob population is composed primarily of students from Hasidic, Haredi, and Orthodox backgrounds. It provides instruction in religious as well as secular studies: Students follow a dual curriculum starting in pre-school/kindergarten, through primary school and secondary school. Established in 1903, it is the oldest of Antwerp's Jewish schools, and has the highest population of Jewish students. Students are educated in accordance with the values of Haredi Judaism, and fulfill the educational requirements of the Belgian Ministry of Education. The student population is separated by gender; male students attend Yesode Hatora, and female students attend Beth Jacob. In accordance with the religious ideology that puts little value on secular learning, the school actively discourages the pursuit of secular higher education.
The Yavne school is aligned with the religious Zionist movement. Similar to Yesode Hatora/Beth Jacob, the Yavne school follows a dual curriculum composed of religious and secular studies. Students are educated in accordance with the values of religious Zionism, and fulfill the educational requirements of the Belgian Ministry of Education. The school is not mixed, they do meet up in the playgrounds; male students attend the Yeshiva Tichonit and females the Ulpena Lebanot. An estimated 98% of Yavne students typically emigrate to Israel (commonly referred to in Jewish communities as "making aliyah") within one year of graduation from secondary school. In recent years, far-reaching improvements have been achieved in the secular curriculum. Religious instruction also adheres to high standards and a widely developed curriculum.
The Tachkemoni is a fully co-educational school, attracting students from primarily secular Jewish backgrounds and some modern-Orthodox families. Its high level of Hebrew and serious preparation for the Jerusalem Examination (Bechina Yerushalmit) administered by the Jewish Agency and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem makes it one of the finest Jewish educational institutions in Europe. Most graduates pursue university studies after completing secondary school, and many spend a year in Israel. Tachkemoni was founded in 1920 by Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Amiel, a moderate religious Zionist. His vision of a strong Jewish education, along with a good secular education, is still part of the culture of Tachkemoni.
In addition, there are several
Many
Demographics
The Jewish community in Antwerp has maintained a strong and active presence in the local diamond trade. After World War II, Belgian Jewish survivors as well as others from Eastern Europe settled in Antwerp and built up an influential and highly successful stake in the diamond business. Whether through established diamond trading offices, cutting and polishing factories, or as diamond brokers, Antwerp's Jews established themselves as capable businessmen and -women.
Over the course of the past decade, however, much of the wholesale diamond trade has been taken over by the Jain Indian community. With easy access to manufacturing centers in India, where production costs are significantly cheaper, the Jewish community has lost some of its influence as far as the diamond trade is concerned. However, the diamond business remains a common profession shared by most of the members of the Jewish community.[citation needed]
Community publications
- Joods Actueel is a family-owned and operated monthly magazine led by General Director Terry Davids and Managing Editor Michael Zevi Freilich.
- Kehilatenu, published weekly by the Shomre Hadass, in Dutch, contains sections on the portion of the week, including community news.
- Shabbat b'Shabbato, published weekly by the Machzikei Hadass, in Hebrew and Yiddish. It is commonly perused by synagogue attendants at Sabbath services.
- Lema'an Teida, a Yiddish weekly e-newsletter written by Pinchas Kornfeld, consists primarily of editorial content.
See also
- Pshevorsk(Hasidic Jewish movement based in Antwerp)
- History of the Jews in Belgium
- The Holocaust in Belgium
- Antisemitism in contemporary Belgium
- Eisenman Synagogue, Antwerp
References
- ^ "De chassidische joden in Antwerpen: wie zijn ze?". VRT Nieuws. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
- ISBN 978-0521580328.
- ^ Abicht, Ludo (1995–96). "The Jerusalem of the West: Jews and Goyim in Antwerp". The Low Countries - Arts and Society in Flanders and the Netherlands: A Yearbook: 21–26. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Abicht, Ludo (1995–96). "The Jerusalem of the West: Jews and Goyim in Antwerp". The Low Countries - Arts and Society in Flanders and the Netherlands: A Yearbook: 21–26. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Imperial decree of 20 July, 1808, concerning Jews with no fixed first or family names". Fondation Napoléon. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Kallis, Aristotle (2009). Genocide and Fascism: The Eliminationist Drive in Fascist Europe. Routledge. p. 280.
- ^ "The Jewish Community of Antwerp, Belgium - The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
- ^ Antwerp's Eruv/ Antwerp Retrieved 25 January 2013.
Further reading
- Dubin, Lois. "Introduction: Port Jews in the Atlantic world Jewish history." Jewish History 20.2 (2006): 117–127.
- Isidore Singer and Cyrus Adler, ed. (1916). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Funk and Wagnalls. pp. 658–60.
- Vanden Daelen, V. "Antwerp Jews and the Diamond Trade: Jews shaping Diamonds or Diamonds shaping Jews." XIV International Economic History Congress in Helsinki, Finland. 2006.