The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam has canceled the annual Hanukkah concert, which was scheduled for December 14. Reason for this, as Het Concertgebouw wrote on Sunday a statementfeatures the participation of cantor Shai Abramson, who also performs as chief cantor for the Israeli Army (IDF). Abramson therefore plays an “important role” in the IDF, the statement said, which is currently waging a “controversial war.”
The Concertgebouw writes that the cancellation of the concert on the day of the Jewish festival of lights was a difficult decision, but that a performance by Abramson would be “at odds” with the “mission of connection through music”. For the organization, “it is decisive that the IDF is actively involved in a controversial war and Abramson is a visible representative of it.” The majority of experts agree that Israeli actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
The Chanukah Concert Foundation, which organizes the concert, reacts indignantly to the move by Het Concertgebouw and announces “legal steps”, according to a statement released NRC has realized. “The Concertgebouw links this step exclusively to the person of cantor Shai Abramson. The Jewish community has been confronted with exclusions in the cultural sector for more than two years. Exclusion and isolation deeply affect the Jewish community today. And that is exactly what The Concertgebouw is doing here.”
The foundation writes in the statement that Het Concertgebouw has terminated the interim lease agreement: it wants to file a legal objection against this. “We cannot and do not want to agree to a restriction of religious freedom of choice. We assume that the concerts on December 14 will go ahead, including cantor Abramson.”
Chief cantor
Abramson (51) served as a lieutenant colonel in the Israeli army until 2017. Since then he has continued to work in the role of chief cantor in the Israeli army, as can be read on the website of his own company. In that capacity “he represents the State of Israel and the IDF in Israel and abroad, as the chief cantor of the IDF in state commemoration ceremonies, official events, shows and conferences,” it also states the website.
In the statement, the Chanukah Concert Foundation states, contrary to what Abramson’s company website suggests, that his “occasional participation in national ceremonies does not make him a director, spokesperson or representative officer of the Israeli army.” A spokesperson says otherwise by telephone NRC cannot refute the information on Abramson’s company website. However, he emphasizes that Abramson has not been invited in that capacity, but “exclusively” in his capacity as a “Jewish religious cantor.”
‘No formal title’
According to Het Concertgebouw, there have been several discussions with the Chanukah Concert Foundation to find another cantor. The spokesperson already announced at the beginning of September NRC that conversations with Het Concertgebouw would not change their minds.
The spokesperson said at the time: “Chief cantor is not a formal title. There is no relationship of authority. Shai was previously employed, until 2017. He still carries the honorary title chief cantor and is requested by the State of Israel for commemorative ceremonies. Of course, that is often the case with the military. We don’t see anything negative in that.”
The spokesperson said then went on to say that he was aware of the sensitivity surrounding the Israeli army, but, he explained: “Our audience has no problem with Shai or with the IDF. The label of the IDF today evokes a lot of hate. If you want to put that on it, it is not surprising that the haters think something of it.” About the experts who speak of genocide, he said that “there is a group of scientists who agree with each other. But that is not how it works with such a heavily charged subject.”
The Concertgebouw wrote on Sunday that it understands the position of the foundation and remains open to a different interpretation of the concert. “In a time of increasing anti-Semitism, we think it is important to emphasize that The Concertgebouw will always remain a place where the Jewish community is welcome.”
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