The collection contains correspondence, documentation and publications related to the Rubinstein family, originally from Poland.

Mordka and Flakowicz Rubinsztejn (later Rubinstein) moved from Poland to Brussels in 1930, where they built up a business and raised their family (including sons Mojsze and Louis) until the Germans invaded Belgium on 10 May 1940. However, before Brussels could be invaded, Flakowicz arranged an escape for his family as well as a large number of extended family to France. They settled in Dax intending to wait out the war. A month later France was occupied and the family had to seek refuge elsewhere.

The family traveled to the Spanish border along with thousands of other refugees. With the help of the Portuguese Consul Aristidas de Sousa Mendes they were able to get a visa to enter Portugal. Travelling through Spain the family arrived in Portugal and settled in a town named Oporto. They survived by using the differences between the exchange rates in Oporto and Lisbon. Later they decided to move to Elisabethville in the Belgian Congo. In 1946 Mojsze Rubinsztejn decided to immigrate to South Africa where he was later joined by his brother Louis. While living in South Africa Mojsze attended the University of Cape Town and along with his family changed his surname to Rubinstein. Louis later decided to move back to the Belgian Congo.