Cornerstone laying ceremonies were held here today for the first Sephardic synagogue ever to be built in Brussels, in the presence of Belgian Chief Rabbi Robert Dreyfus; Conrad Franco, president of the Sephardi community, and many other Jewish communal leaders.
The synagogue will be named for Simon Haim, one of the most prominent members of the Sephardi community and the largest private contributor for the construction of the new building which will cost between six and eight million Belgian francs ($120,000-$150,000). Of that total, 1,000,000 francs ($20,000) will be paid by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
M. Haim was yesterday awarded the high Belgian distinction, “Chevalier de I’Ordre de la Couronne,” by Culture and Education Minister Henri Janne. Chief Rabbi Dreyfus and Israel Ambassador Amiel Najar were present at the ceremonies, at which M. Haim was cited for his support of leading educational institutions.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
