Archives juives 2006- 2 (Volume 39)| ISSN 0003-9837 | ISSN numérique : en cours | ISBN : 2-251-69422-6 | page 64 à 71 Distribution électronique Cairn pour les éditions Les belles lettres. © Les belles lettres. Tous droits réservés pour tous pays. Il est interdit, sauf accord préalable et écrit de l’éditeur, de reproduire (notamment par photocopie) partiellement ou totalement le présent article, de le stocker dans une banque de données ou de le communiquer au public sous quelque forme et de quelque manière que ce soit.

ABSTRACT — At the Liberation, the Jewish craftsmen who survived the torment are in utter destitution : homes destroyed, families scattered everywhere in the country, despoilment of the premises and equipments without which they are unable to resume their professional activity. Returning to normal life appears as a most difficult experience for them. Aware of this problem, ORT decides to help them regain their activity thanks to the granting of equipments and providing trainings for various jobs dealing mainly with clothing, the famous “shmates” in Yiddish. With the help of the ORT-France archives, including an important iconographical collection, this article sets out what was done in this area. Many hundreds of people – the present state of the investigations does not allow to give a more accurate number – could thus make a fresh start in life.

At the Liberation, the Jewish craftsmen who survived the torment are in utter destitution : homes destroyed, families scattered everywhere in the country, despoilment of the premises and equipments without which they are unable to resume their professional activity. Returning to normal life appears as a most difficult experience for them. Aware of this problem, ORT decides to help them regain their activity thanks to the granting of equipments and providing trainings for various jobs dealing mainly with clothing, the famous “shmates” in Yiddish. With the help of the ORT-France archives, including an important iconographical collection, this article sets out what was done in this area. Many hundreds of people – the present state of the investigations does not allow to give a more accurate number – could thus make a fresh start in life.