Musée S. Kruglanski de la Communauté israélite de Liège

The presence of a Jewish community in Liège dates to the early 19th century. Before that, Jews were not tolerated in the Prince-Bishopric. The Jewish community was dependent on the main synagogue in Maastricht. It came under the authority of the Central Jewish Consistory of Belgium in 1834, encompassing the communities of Limburg. In 1840 there were 23 families, or about 88 people. The community grew over the years, mainly due to the emigration of Jews from the Netherlands and Dutch Limburg, but also from Alsace, Great-Britain and the German Empire. The Communauté Israélite de Liège was officially recognised by royal decree of 7 February 1876. The community did not have a dedicated place of worship at the time; the faithful gathered in private homes. The chapel of the former Saint-Julien hospice was reassigned to become a synagogue. Due to the expansion of the community a new, larger synagogue was built. Located in the rue de la Boverie, this synagogue, designed by architect Joseph Rémont, is still in use today. It was inaugurated in 1899 and became a listed monument in 2005. The Jewish population in Liège significantly increased since the end of the 19th century, reaching 1,000 individuals in 1892, including numerous foreign students at the turn of the 20th century. Many immigrants came to work in the industrial area and notably settled in Seraing, where they established their own community, including a place of worship (oratoire) in the rue du Marais. Furthermore, the ministre officiant of Liège regularly went to Spa for the holidays, Shabbat and other religious services organised for the Jewish vacationers in this health resort. Given the success of this resort destination, he was assigned a particular ministre officiant in 1912. By 1939, the Jewish community of Liège was estimated at almost 2,560 individuals, of which 60% were of Polish origin. 733 Jews of the region lost their lives due to the persecution during the war. There were many who could be hidden and avoid deportation. The community was gradually rebuilt after the Second World War. Its activities resumed. A number of Lebanese and Syrian Jewish families came to Liège, diversifying an almost exclusively Ashkenazi community. A cultural centre was created, the Foyer israélite. In 1984 the Musée de la Communauté Israélite de Liège was founded, also known as the Musée Serge Kruglanski. The community also manages a cemetery in Eijsden (the Netherlands) as well as two Jewish plots in the municipal cemetery of Robermont.