For the second time, the Mala Zimetbaum Lodge in Antwerp organised the “Route of Jewish Heritage in the Province of Antwerp” in cooperation with the authorities of the Province of Antwerp.

Many visitors, not only from Antwerp but from all over Flandres, showed great interest in the sites that had been opened to the public who learned about the Jewish Cultural Heritage they had never heard before.

Different sites such as the Jewish Cemetery “Frechie” in Putte, the city of Heide-Kalmthout that was the Jewish vacation location until the ‘60s with kosher restaurants and hotels, the Diamond Museum of Antwerp and the Dutch Synagogue in Antwerp were presented to the visitors by high level guides who gave detailed explanations on each particular location.

During the afternoon, Cantor Shlomo Hoffman together with his sons Joël and David gave a beautiful concert of prayers that the very many attendees quietly listened to appreciating their talent.

Erwin Joos, curator of the Eugene Van Mieghem Museum, communicated his passion for Van Mieghem, the painter who expressed in his works the story of Jewish emigrants leaving for America on the Red Star Line boats. The visitors were very impressed with the knowledge of the curator concerning Jewish emigration from Europe to the United States.

Reinold Simon, President of B’nai B’rith Europe, who attended this event, was welcomed by the President of the Mala Zimetbaum Lodge, René Trau, who guided him through the Dutch Synagogue and the Diamond Museum. Reinold Simon was moved by the initiative that had been taken to preserve the synagogue and by the extraordinary exhibition displayed at the Diamond Museum.
The wonderful organisation and success of the day were possible thanks to all the volunteers and members of the Mala Zimetbaum Lodge in Antwerp.

Thanks are also due to Governor Camille Paulus and the various departments of the Province of Antwerp for their logistic support of the event.
By Henri Wimmer, Cultural Coordinator