Members of the Jewish community told King Willem-Alexander during a visit to the Liberal Jewish Community Beth Jehoeda in The Hague on Tuesday that they have felt less safe since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
The King visited the synagogue to speak with people from different generations about Jewish life and the role of the community.
One woman said her son no longer wears a kippah in public because of safety concerns. She said she no longer takes an Uber to the synagogue and has removed the visible mezuzah from her door. A mezuzah is a small case containing a Jewish text that is attached to a doorpost.
When the King asked whether she could openly express her Jewish identity, she replied: “No, that is not possible.”
Another community member said he no longer felt comfortable reading a Hebrew book on the train.
Rabbi Marianne van Praag told the King that children in the community also face antisemitism. According to her, some are afraid to say they are Jewish. Participants in the discussion also said that some Jewish children in The Hague have changed schools.
When Willem-Alexander was told there was little he could do about the situation, he replied: “I can, however, draw attention to it.”
The King spoke about the importance of the “silent majority” supporting the Jewish community. “Keep your hands off it,” he said.
One participant then asked what members of the community could do to reach and mobilise that majority.
“What can we do? How can we activate it?” she asked.
“Keep talking,” Willem-Alexander replied.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
