The Blogs: Three centuries of Jewish history, cancelled over Gaza | Andrew Srulevitch

Andrew Srulevitch reports that Museum Amersfoort cancelled an exhibition on 300 years of Jewish history in the city, citing the Gaza war. The article lists similar cancellations of Jewish cultural events across Europe and argues the decisions amount to bigotry and cowardice.

Andrew Srulevitch reports that an exhibition celebrating 300 years of Jewish history in Amersfoort, Netherlands, was cancelled by Museum Amersfoort due to the war in Gaza. The synagogue on Drieringensteeg, the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in Western Europe still in use, was to mark its 300th anniversary next year with concerts, performances, a commemorative book, and the museum exhibition. Paul Baltus, director of the city's arts umbrella organization Amersfoort in C, said the exhibition was put "in a completely different light" since October 7, 2023. Jitschak Elzas of the Jewish community called the decision "unacceptable," and community chair Alexander van Dijkhuizen said it is "very difficult to distinguish between being Jewish and Israel." The article lists similar cancellations of Jewish cultural events across Europe, including film festivals in Geneva and Malmö, a Kristallnacht memorial in Sweden, a Hanukkah menorah lighting in London, and a school event in Antwerp. Srulevitch argues these decisions are "cowardice dressed up as caution" and amount to bigotry, calling on European leaders to publicly stand with Jewish communities and fund security for Jewish events.