New Cooperation with The Jewish Community of the NIG Twente

They are home.

All it took was the release of twenty hostages to bring about this ceasefire, and a calm that we wish had come much sooner. Too many lives were lost, too many families shattered before the world finally saw that peace begins when life is valued above politics. We are grateful to everyone who worked tirelessly for their release, and we thank President Trump for his leadership and determination in helping make this moment possible. His efforts, and those of others who refused to give up, have brought light into a time of deep darkness.

But relief must now give way to responsibility. We call on every European government to act with moral clarity. Lift the sanctions. End the talks of banning Israeli artists and athletes. Stop the symbolic punishments that isolate Israel when it needs understanding and partnership. If this ceasefire is to mean anything, it must be a turning point – one that moves the world away from division and closer to dignity, safety, and life.

The hostages are home. May this moment open the path to lasting peace, security, and truth.

As a rabbi, I prefer not to get involved in politics and my opinion is that a politician should not interfere with religion. But where does politics start and where do rabbinical matters end? Is euthanasia a religious matter or a political problem? And who decides how far freedom of education extends?
That difference is even more unclear in Israel, because: “Israel without Torah is like a body without soul”, one can’t separate the State of Israel from Judaism. And therefore, we see in the Knesset politicians with rabbinical opinions and rabbis as politicians.
But even the Jew who is not an Israeli resident has the conviction that he may state his opinion and interfere with Israeli political decisions because, he argues, without centuries of daily prayers in which we asked G’d to allow us to return to Jerusalem, Israel would not be today an Independent State. However, my opinion is that just as the Israeli citizen does not make statements about the Dutch Prime Minister, Rutte, we, not living in Israel, shouldn’t interfere in internal Israeli politics.
However, non-Jewish society sees us as an extension of Israel. Over and over again, I have to explain that I am Dutch and that the compliment that my Dutch is so fluent, is misplaced. You’re not going to give that compliment to the bishop or the preacher, do you? But in according with their opinion “the Jew is Israel and Israel is the Jew”.
And yet there is a heart of truth in their falsehood, for Jews know themselves interconnected by Jerusalem, our capital, where one day the Third Temple will rise when the ultimate peace will be there “for all inhabitants of Your earth.”
And until then? When Netanyahu called upon French Jews to emigrate to Israel because of anti-Semitic violence, I was pushed in front of a journalist’s microphone and was asked, “Rabbi, what do you think of Netanyahu’s call? Do you really believe that there is no place for Jews in the Netherlands anymore?” Wow, I thought, that’s a tricky one. It is not possible to request time for reflection, to say that Jews no longer belong in Europe is unwise and disagree in public with Netanyahu does not seem right. And therefore, my diplomatic, rabbinical and politically coloured answer was: Great we have got Israel for all those who must escape anti-Semitism. My parents had nowhere to go. But if and when I go on aliyah, will not be determined by fear for terrorism. I decide for myself, because I am independent, like the State of Israel!

Like every year, right before Purim, the EJA together with Bassad and RCE launched the Mega purim Project.  We have organized and delivered hundreds of Mishlochei Manot to be given in Jewish communities across Europe during the upcoming Purim.
May it be a joyful and peaceful Purim to all.