Petition update
Dear signatories,
A million thank-yous for supporting our petition.
We are deeply saddened that the Concertgebouw will allow the IDF Chief Cantor to sing not one but two concerts during Chanukah, by invitation only. A singer that represents a genocidal army will be welcomed into our country, our city and our concert hall at a time when the world can no longer turn a blind eye to the genocide of Palestinians.
Unfortunately, fearmongering and bullying from a powerful and organized campaign have overtaken courage and integrity. The Concertgebouw has caved to pressure, conceding to the tired refrain that opposing state actors involved in war crimes and genocide—such as Shai Abramson and the institution he represents—constitutes antisemitism. This reversal reveals the alarming power of the Zionist lobby in the Netherlands, which disseminates Islamaphobic, xenophobic narratives and falsely conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. That conflation is not only intellectually dishonest but also dangerous: it fuels and distracts from real antisemitism while silencing legitimate criticism of a genocidal state. As Jews and allies, we reject the weaponization of our identities, histories, and religious practices to repress dissent and artwash genocide.
Organizations like the Central Jewish Council, which Concertgebouw cited in its statement as “representative of organized Jewish Netherlands” do not represent us. It represents a small sect within a politically diverse population, and the Concertgebouw has now participated in misrepresenting the Jewish community as a monolith and our erasure as antizionist Jews.
On the evening of December 14th, we will gather for a protest and vigil outside of the Concertgebouw, during which we will light the first candle of the Chanukah menorah together.
In solidarity,
Elena on behalf of Erev Rav, Anti-Zionist Collective in the NL
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