Ghent Jewish Community – Then and Now
Does the fact that a Jodenstraat (Jewish street) exists indicate the possible presence of a Jewish community in Ghent? There are some written sources dating from the Middle Ages that point to the presence of Jews in the city. As Ghent was at that time one of the most important cities in Western Europe, it is likely that Jews came to Flanders for economic reasons. Unfortunately, no details of their lives at that time have come down to us.
A negative and often deadly view of the Flemish Counts who ruled over East and West Flanders prevailed during this period. In 1125, Charles the Good decided to expel the Jews from his territory. This decision had everything to do with the first Crusade of which Charles
was an enthusiastic participant. In the 13th century the Jews were allowed back in, but such tolerance did not last for long. The Jews were blamed for the plague or Black Death lasting from 1347 to 1351. A rumour spread like wildfire that the Jews poisoned the wells.
It was only in the 18th century that we find definitive proof of a Jewish presence in Ghent. This proof was connected to the long struggle of the Jews to have their own burial ground. A book published in 1984 describes “How the Jews of Ghent managed to acquire their own graveyard and how they lost it again.”
However, the Royal Decree of 1876 finally gave legal recognition of the Ghent Jewish Community together with that of four other Belgian communities – Brussels, Antwerp, Liege and Arlon.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the University of Ghent proved a popular choice for hundreds of East and Central European Jews. This continued until 1935 when the university insisted on Dutch being the language of study. Subjects such as applied science and medicine were the most sought-after qualifications. These foreign students considered themselves as modern thinkers with no time for anything religious. Consequently, there were no organised Jewish student organisations. Many of these newcomers decided to stay in Ghent after completing their studies.
There was never an actual synagogue in Ghent but services were often held in private houses. This was the case of the house of Rabbi Lustig which now bears a memorial plaque in memory of the rabbi who did not survive the war. The father of Vice President Bill Abrahams paid for a Torah scroll which is still used by the community.
A very moving memorial in the shape of a dreidel was set up in 1997. This monument is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Lustig and to all the Ghent victims of the Shoah. The names of those Jewish students who did not survive are engraved on a memorial plaque in the peristyle of the university lecture theatre.
Ann Englander
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