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Dutch Princess Inaugurates Jewish Museum

by Tamar Runyan – Chabad.org

Princess Maxima of the Netherlands formally inaugurated a new building at the Jewish museum in the Dutch city of Elburg on Wednesday. Located about 50 miles northeast of Amsterdam, Elburg was once home to more than 100 Jewish residents, who prayed in the synagogue that was converted into the museum four years ago.

The new building includes an exhibition hall and educational space where visitors can learn about the social, economic, and cultural history of the local Jewish community.

The Princess, wife of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, was welcomed by about 450 people, including Mayor F.A. de Lange, Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, and museum president Theo van Ledden.

In his speech, Jacobs, chief rabbi of the Inter-Provincial Chief Rabbinate, lamented the fact that what was once a synagogue serves only as a museum. He added, however, that the museum was “beautifully developed” and went a long way towards educating people about Jewish history.

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5 Comments

  • Ephraim Grushnit

    The new building mentioned here is a restored house neighbouring the former synagogue in which the museum has been operating for several years.
    calling the museum a ´Jewish museum´ is not completely true.
    The museum is founded, funded, fitted out and run by christians.
    60 Years after the Shoa (in which local christians did very little to rescue Jews) some of them had the brilliant idea to commemorate the Jewish inhabitants of their town. Nobody asked the Jews of course. A Jewish group from a nearby town asked to be involved but was refused. Another Jewish group asked to be allowed to pray in the former synagogue on friday nights, after opening hours of the museum,but this was refused as well.
    Yet, much to the chagrin of many Dutch Jews, chief rabbi Jacobs participated in the inauguration at the opening.

    Ephraim Grushnit, The Netherlands

  • Tzvi Gedlia

    seeing how she is dressed, i assume she is not from Crown Heights:)

  • The look of Royalty

    She has royal looks – she is tznius and gorgeous. Let’s learn from her how to look beautiful on the inside and outside.