The Jewish foundation Emmer Sjoel Sjemmesj has decided to temporarily cancel its planned activities in the former synagogue in Emmen. This is to avoid attracting unnecessary attention and to ensure the safety of visitors.
This was reported by chairman Margot Maynard of the Jewish foundation. A lecture would take place on Sunday, November 5, in the building on Julianastraat, given by pastor Menso Rappoldt. “We have decided not to go ahead with this lecture,” the chairman said. “Not that the theme would be a sensitive subject, but we do not think it is wise at this time to draw extra attention to visitors to our building.”
In his lecture, Rappoldt would talk about the book ‘The Little Prince’ by the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery. A planned festive moment in early December during the Jewish festival of lights Hanukkah will also not take place in the Emmen building, Maynard reports.
According to her, the decision has everything to do with a certain “hardening” in society due to the war between Israel and Hamas. In several places in the country, Jewish locations – especially synagogues and schools – are confronted with threats and therefore an increased sense of insecurity. In Groningen it was recently decided to cancel a silent procession in commemoration of Kristallnacht (85 years ago this year).
Maynard: “We see and hear all around us that relations are on edge due to the war. We find that a difficult situation. There is no immediate reason for us to fear confrontations in Emmen, but we would rather not take any risks. ” The Jewish foundation has recently been in contact with the municipality of Emmen and the police. “The local police officer was quite willing to keep an extra eye on the area around the synagogue on the Sunday of the lecture, but we ultimately thought it would be better to postpone the lecture for a year.”
At the synagogue museum on Kerkstraat in Coevorden, people are currently a lot more alert, says Barend Faddegon on behalf of the museum. “For now, we are just keeping to our regular opening hours and fortunately nothing strange has happened so far. But we do pay close attention and register it immediately if, for example, there is suddenly shouting.”
The museum, like the Emmense foundation, is in close contact with the municipality and the police. “We have discussed a protocol and instructions with each other, so that everyone knows what needs to be done in the event of an emergency. Let’s hope it is not necessary.”
The plan is to receive ten new ones in Coevorden next Tuesday together with relatives stolpersteine to be revealed at three addresses, will continue as usual, according to Faddegon. Stolpersteine (also called stumbling stones) are memorial stones with names of Holocaust victims, which are placed in the sidewalk in front of the victims’ former home address. Faddegon: “We think it is very important that we can continue with this. I also think that you should not always duck away from fear, because what else can you do?” According to him, the police are aware of the planned activity. “I expect that people will be watching in the background.”