Before the Second World War, the Jewish community in Belgium experienced significant growth. By the early 1930s, their numbers exceeded 50,000, reaching an estimated 65,000 around 1935.
The Jewish population in Brussels alone was around 25,000 during this period.
The increase was attributed to various factors, including migrations from Eastern Europe due to economic and political pressures, as well as the rise of National Socialism in Germany and Austria, prompting a new wave of Jewish migration.
The community's diverse origins will be reflected in this IWalk by following the trajectories of four children, whose families originated from Poland, Hungary and Romania.