“Heil Hitler” Chants During Holocaust Memorial Event

HOLLAND [CHI] — The annual memorial service at former children concentration camp “Vucht”, commemorating the last children transport to Poland, transpired different then other years. During the speech of Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the InterProvencial Chief Rabbinate (IPOR), dutch youth driving by on their motorcycles tried interrupting the ceremony by yelling “Heil Hitler”.

After pausing for a few moments Rabbi Jacobs continued his speech which was followed by two minutes of silence. The event was attended by many prominent Dutch officials including Gerdi Verbeet – President of the Dutch House of representatives, Rabbi Menachem Sebbag – Chief Chaplain of the Dutch army, Franklin the Liever – secretary general of the InterProvencial Chief Rabbinate (IPOR) and others.

The local police forces are investigating the event and are hoping to be able to make an arrest soon. The youth didn’t look like they were from Arabic origin, they rather looked Dutch.

This was the last in a chain of anti-semitic incidents Rabbi Jacobs said to be witnessing. Only last week the doors of the 280 year old Synagogue in his city of residence, Amersfoort, was smeared with red paint. The mayor of Amersfoort, Albertina Van Vliet, expressed her shock and concern about the event. Also in this case no arrests were made so far.

From the local population there were encouraging messages. Like: “As a co-inhabitant of out society I see this attack as an attack on our city and on our civilization”. A message also came from the pro-Israel Christian community “we feel connected to the Jewish people, we will fight together with the Jewish community against any form of antisemitism and offer any assistance if needed”.