Brussels lawyer Philippe Markiewicz will be the next president of the central Israelite Consistory of Belgium, revealed the body in a press release on Thursday. The central Israelite Consistory of Belgium elected Mr. Markiewicz, who will succeed Baron Julien Klener, president for almost 15 years. Mr. Markiewicz is also president of the Brussels Israelite community. He was formerly the president of the Belgian Jewish organisations coordination committee from 2001 to 2007.
The Consistory was established in Belgium at the beginning of the 19th century. It aims to defend the Jewish faith with civil authorities, and to be the legal intermediary for the state to acknowledge Jewish communities and rabbi nominations.
The Consistory groups approximately 20 communities in the main Belgian cities, including Antwerp, Ostend, Knokke, Ghent, Charleroi, Liège, Arlon and Waterloo.
(Source: Belga)
