Lajbman family papers

Isaac Lajbman (later Jacques Leibman, 1931-2011) was born on 1931 June 22 in Brussels, Belgium to Abram (later Abe Leibman, 1904-1990) and Chaja Sura (née Radziejewski, later Helen Leibman, 1907-1991) Lajbman. Abram and Chaja moved from Poland to Belgium in the interwar period, and Abram worked as a leather goods manufacturer. Isaac had two brothers, Bernard (b. 1938) and Raymond (b. 1946).

The Lajbman family remained in Brussels after the German invasion. In the spring of 1942 Isaac's parents secured false papers for themselves and found hiding places for the children. Abram lived under the assumed name of Franz Joseph Dupont and Chaja under the name Helene Yvonne Duviensant. Isaac and Bernard were first hidden in Wilrijk (near Antwerp) and then in Marcinelle (near Charleroi). In both places food and sanitation were very poor, so in September 1942 they were moved to the village of Tourinnes-Saint-Lambert. There they lived with two separate families: Isaac with Alphonse and Marie Quintin, and Bernard with the Ravet family. Both families treated the children as one of their own until liberation. Isaac's mother, who paid for their upkeep, was able to visit them once a month.

After the war the Lajbman family was reunited and moved to Ixelles, where they remained until immigrating to the United States. Abram, Chaja, and Bernard immigrated in 1953, and were sponsored by Chaja’s relatives Philip and Al Rothstein. Isaac immigrated to the United States separately after he finished his Belgian military service.