IJC Hosts Survey Results Meeting Undeterred by the cold weather, on Sunday January 11,  2026, more than 30 dedicated IJC’ers gathered in our sanctuary to enjoy a scrumptious catered lunch to discuss the results of IJC’s recent membership survey. A full summary of the results and next steps will be available to IJC members & Giur members shortly. A few highlights: ·       The response rate to the survey was outstanding ·       IJC is viewed as a friendly, warm and welcoming co

By Rabbi Brian -- I’m writing this early on January 1 st  after returning yesterday from a short city trip to Rome with Peter. I was planning to write about Chanukkah and our fabulous celebration, an amazing example of IJC at its communal best, but my memory of Chanukkah this year has lost much of its joy. So, instead, here are some musings on Rome, sunshine and 15°C.   The last time I visited the city was 35 years ago, and while the spectacular sights haven’t lost their magn

The Lighting Ceremony Guests: Organisers of the Emouna Interfaith Programme. The recent IJC Chanukkah party was a great success!! Here are some preview pics, with the full story coming soon.. All best wishes for a more peaceful 2026.

By Rabbi Brian --- This Monday morning, December 15, I sat in the car, parked outside a local DIY store, and my phone beeped, a WhatsApp notification, so I took a look. It was a message from my sister in Australia. “We are in shock here,” she wrote. “This is not the Australia we love. It’s impossible to know what to say or do, we are all heartbroken.” And at that moment I realised my heart was broken too and emotion overwhelmed me. It was OK to be emotional, but as my equilib

By Ann E- --- Or is there? Here are a few of amazing coincidences that I have heard which defy logical explanation. A distant relative of mine in the UK called Brian was a very naughty boy when he was young. He was fascinated by many forbidden things including his mother’s Shabbat candlesticks. These were hollow inside so he placed a cork in the base of each one and then proceeded to carve his initials with a penknife as if claiming them as his own. This all happened in Londo

Opening Day hosted by the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the KU Leuven The second edition of the Flemish Emouna Programme started on October 8 with Peter DB and myself as Jewish participants alongside a strong contingent of Muslim, Buddhist, Baha’i, Catholic, Protestant and Humanist representatives. This visionary project was launched in Paris in 2016 and continues to inspire communities of faith across Europe. Founded at Sciences Po by Rabbi Pauline Bebe, among

By Ann E ---Throughout history, there have been amazing Jewish women doing incredible things. Jewish women have been active in a very wide range of fields – art, literature, science, politics, feminism, acting, dancing and even spying. The first part of this article was posted in September. Lipstadt's Official Portrait as US Special Envoy Deborah Lipstadt An unsung heroine is Deborah Lipstadt. She struck a major blow against Holocaust deniers when she won a landmark libel cas

Andres Mosquera on the right  All three members of this year's graduating class at the rabbinical seminary run by the Reform movement in Argentina happened to be from Spain. And one of these graduates is former IJC member Andrés Mosquera. It was a great reason to hold the first ordination ceremony in Spain in more than 500 years.   About 10 years ago, Spain passed a law offering citizenship to the descendants of  Sephardi Jews  expelled during the Inquisition. As many Jews,

By Sarah S- -- On a recent Sunday, our President Peter G. and I had the honor of taking part in the annual clean-up of the Jewish cemetery in Kraainem, an event organized by the Union des Étudiants Juifs de Belgique (UEJB). It was a morning filled with remembrance, respect, and a strong sense of community. The atmosphere was wonderful, with 20 or so kind and motivated people coming together to honor those who came before us and to preserve this important place of memory. It w

It’s hard to believe that two years have passed since October 7th, 2023 – two years of pain in Israel, in Gaza, and across the world. Our...

By Peter Goldfein - While many of the melodies are still echoing in my head, I would like to share just a few words with everyone...

Granada Sephardic Museum The summer break is drawing to a close and we can look back on some very warm weeks, and hopefully sweet holiday...

The IJC is seeking one Jewish man and one Jewish woman  to join the Chevra Kadisha , which we share with our friends at Beth Hillel. The...

By Ann E – Part of a two-part series… We all know exceptional Jewish women. Our formidable mothers for a start, then there is a whole...

By Sarah S -- LJG Brabant – Tilburg Synagogue recently held its annual shul outing, this time to the beautiful city of Maastricht....

Henry VIII and the Rabbis or “How the King Relied on Jewish Law to End His First Marriage - and Why He Failed” by Jerry Rabow Every...

First rabbinical ordinations  in Spain since 1492 -- Andres Boaz Mosquera is ordained..   Early in June of this year, I was asked by the...

‘When you are asked to serve, you have to step up,’ says Leslie Oversteyns, who has just joined the IJC Board. She had been asked before,...

For our final event of the semester, 20+ IJC members and friends gathered in the sun-drenched Kortenberg countryside for a Shabbaton of...

On Sunday June 1st, IJC and Beth Hillel came together in record numbers to celebrate Shavuot together. We started with Erev Shabbat...