Le judaïsme parisien et le Comité de Bienfaisance israélite (1830-1930)

Abstract

Founded in 1809, the Jewish Charity Committee (Comite de bienfaisance israelite de Paris, CBIP) is the first Jewish charity organization in France, from the point of view of its longevity as well as its numerous areas of action. The Committee thus received a great amount of donations, issuing first from the Grand Bourgeoisie, and after the turn of the century, also from the middle class. The motivations animating these donors are of various nature, sometimes based on religious principles or family traditions, or simply intended to reveal a cultural and social identification with the Jewish community. In order to facilitate the distribution of these donations, the CBIP has not hesitated to modernize its structure, using the methods and techniques of general philanthropy. From 1880 on however, it is confronted with a series of problems, in relation with the Eastern European Jewish immigration, as well as the concurrence of other Jewish and non-Jewish charity organizations.