BOOK FAIR

Henri Jones - Brussels

Article by Joëlle Perelberg (translation Aline Brandon)

H.E. Mr Jacques Revah, Israeli Ambassador in Brussels and Ms. Revah, Mr Gregory Berkowitsch

In collaboration with the European Sephardic Institute, the Henri Jones Lodge in Brussels organised a "Book Fair » on November 25th, 2012, with the profit for Meir Panim, a charitable organisation for needy children.The Fair took place in the prestigious premises of the Art & Glass Gallery, Place du Grand Sablon, kindly offered to the organisers by its Director, Mr. Gregory Berkowitsch. Surrounded by a beautiful collection of paintings by Calder, Magritte, Delvaux, Picasso, Folon, Chilida etc. and by some exceptional pieces of glass and crystal, 25 French and Belgian writers, including Rabbi Guigui, Chief Rabbi of Belgium, presented their books. Such a Fair is an opportunity for the public to meet and discuss with the authors, buying their books while doing a « mitswa », since the profits were earmarked for this charity. The contribution of the well-known bookshop "Filigranes" greatly helped the success of the sales. About 500 visitors came to the event to meet the authors of books on many subjects such as Judaism, Israel, history, novels and contemporary poetry. Notable visitors to the Fair were H.E. Mr. Revah, Israeli Ambassador to Belgium and his wife as well as Baron Julien Klener, President of the Belgian Jewish Council.

The success of this venture will allow for a significant contribution to be made in favour of needy children in Israel.

Organisé par la Loge Sigmund Freud du B'nai B'rith France qui s'est tenu les 1 et 2 décembre à la mairie du 3ème arrondissement de Paris
 
 « Tout d'abord merci à tous ceux qui se sont déplacés pour venir participer au colloque "Universels ?" qui a eu lieu les 1 et 2 décembre derniers à la mairie du 3ème arrondissement de Paris. La loge Sigmund Freud est heureuse d'avoir accueilli plus de 120 personnes en cumulé, et de leur avoir proposé de penser et d'échanger sur la question de l'Universel.
 
Il faut fraternellement remercier nos soeurs et frères qui ont proposé et mené ce projet, pour faire de ce colloque une réussite.

Read more...

When and where were you born?
My parents felt very happy at the birth of their only child, in March 1929, in Mannheim (Germany), although just at this time men in brown shirts first marched in town.
 
Tell us something of your early life and the history of your family
My mother was the eldest daughter of Rabbi Dr. Simon Eppenstein who for the last decade of his short life served as a lecturer at the Berlin Rabbinerseminar. My father, Rabbi Dr. Chaim Lauer, was called, in 1924, to work with the elderly Rabbi of the Klaus, Dr. Isac Unna, one of Germany's leading orthodox rabbis. When, in 1935, Dr. Unna retired and joined the majority of his children in Palestine, my father remained the sole rabbi of this congregation. So, I best remember life in the Klausapartement in the complex of the Klaus. No doubt, my father would have remained with his congregants to the bitter end; they were deported to terrible camps in Southern France and further on. However, as we already were citizens of Switzerland, the Swiss consul urged us, right after the night of pogrom on November 9th, 1938, to return immediately to Switzerland; which we did. Already a fortnight before, I was woken very early in the morning by steps and voices from the staircase: Students of the yeshiva of Polish origin but paperless were arrested to be deported to the no-man's land at the German-Polish border. One of the German students gave me regular private lessons in chumash with Rashi. Moshe Perlmann eventually joined Kibbutz Tirath Tzevi and achieved some fame as a musicologist. It so happens that just a little while ago I met his son, a well-known producer and teacher of Israeli theater. As from 1935, even before the ill-famous racial laws were promulgated, Jewish children had to attend Jewish schools only. I have no positive recollection at all from my ways to and from school.

Read more...

Théo Tobiasse, member of the Côte d'Azur Lodge in Nice passed away on Sunday November 5th at the age of 85. Born in Israel, he had moved to Nice and at the liberation to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

He was famous for his artwork in painting, sculpture, carborundum engraving, pastel, drawings, pottery and stain-glass windows. He became a member of the Lodge in 1969 and donated a special artwork made for the Lodge representing the emblem of B'nai B'rith, the Menorah. The last piece he made for the Lodge in 1996 is also a painting representing a Menorah indicating that it has been specially made for the 50th anniversary of our Lodge.

He will be remembered for his kindness, his devotion to the Jewish cause and will be missed by all.

As we were about to issue this publication, we were informed of the sad passing of Brother Piero Cassuto, President of the Isidoro Kahn Lodge in Livorno on Tuesday November 27th. Piero Cassuto was the first President of this Lodge that was installed mid-March 2009.

He was born in 1934 and many were his commitments to the Jewish Community of Livorno, from his role as a young member of the board when the new synagogue was inaugurated until he became President in the early eighties. He was also continuously active in the defence of the State of Israel

We present our deepest condolences to his wife, to his family and to the members of the Isidoro Cassuto Lodge, may the Almighty comfort them with all the other mourners for Zion and Jerusalem.