Posted to Chabad News, Jewish News on
by Glen Silver - VIN News
The chief rabbi and Chabad emissary of the Netherlands, Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, says “it is time,” and is calling on Netherland’s Prime Minister to follow the lead of his neighbors and offer an official apology on behalf of his nation for collaborating with the Nazis in the killing of Jews during the Holocaust.

Chief Rabbi: “It Is Time” for Netherlands to Apologize

The chief rabbi and Chabad emissary of the Netherlands, Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, says “it is time,” and is calling on Netherland’s Prime Minister to follow the lead of his neighbors and offer an official apology on behalf of his nation for collaborating with the Nazis in the killing of Jews during the Holocaust.

Rabbi Jacobs told the JTA last week that the time for a “comprehensive apology” has come due from Prime Minister Mark Rutte, despite a refusal by Rutte back in 2012 when the same issue arose on the heels of the book “Judging The Netherlands: The Renewed Restitution Process” by Manfred Gerstenfeld.

Approximately three-quarters of the Netherland’s 140,000 Jews were killed by the Nazis, who, in many cases, were assisted by Dutch police and local collaborators.

Since 1995, many neighboring countries have issued official apologies for similar transgressions, including most recently Luxembourg in 2015.

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5 Comments

  • And then what...?

    Lets say tomorrow they apologize… And then what?

    Acting apologetic is much more important. The Dutch have shown in the recent years that they act very well towards the Jewish commnity in the Netherlands.

    • I agree

      agree with number 1.
      The netherlands has became a leading country in it’s support and respect of the Jewish community. Why the need to apologize? Actions speak louder than words…

  • izzy tal, The Netherlands

    Just to be clear: rabbi Jacobs is NOT the chief rabbi of The Netherlands.
    He is the Head Shaliach of Chabad in The Netherlands. He is also, on behalf of the Dutch Israelite Community the responsible rabbi for no more than 1500 of its Jews outside the big cities Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. The DIC itself has no more than 8000 members.
    There are no more than 45.000 Jews living in The Netherlands and so rabbi Jacobs represents at best 3.3% of us. His opinion, therefore, is of little value. To the Dutch government AND to the Dutch Jews.