Description
Book SynopsisThis history of the Jews of the Netherlands and the role they have played in Dutch society was originally published in Dutch and widely acclaimed for the breadth of its coverage. It covers both the internal evolution of the Jewish community and its social, cultural, and economic interaction with the wider population.
From the first Jewish settlements in the medieval duchies of Gelderland, Brabant, and Limburg to the Jewish community of today, the interaction between Dutch Jews and Dutch Christians has mostly been one of fruitful collaboration which only the period of German occupation from 1940 to 1945 was seriously able to disrupt. The contribution that Dutch Jews have made, and continue to make, to cultural life, to the economy, and to science is recognized as being of central importance to the Netherlands as a whole.
The ten eminent scholars contributing to this book each describe Jewish life in a particular period, from the Middle Ages to the present. In doing so they consider the strains caused within the Jewish community by the effort to play a full part in Dutch society while maintaining Jewish culture, setting the discussion in the context of trends and tensions within Dutch society in the period in question. The circumstances of the Jews under German occupation and in the immediate post-war period are also discussed.
The History of the Jews in the Netherlands is a definitive, indispensable work for the study of both European Jewish and Dutch history.
CONTRIBUTORS J. C. H. Blom, F. Chaya Brasz, Joel J. Cahen, Renate G. Fuks-Mansfeld, Jonathan I. Israel, Yosef Kaplan, Peter Romijn, Ivo Schöffer, B. M. J. Speet, Daniel M. Swetschinski
Trade Review'Comprehensive... a useful introduction to the main social, political, economic, and communal issues shaping Dutch Jewish history.'
J. Haus,
Choice'The balanced judgements, the seamless transition between individual essays, and the exemplary translation make it a joy to read this book.'
Wim Klooster,
H-Judaic'A sweeping, comprehensive survey of Dutch Jewish history... warmly to be welcomed... the most authoritative survey of this field, filling a sorely felt gap in the pre-existing historiography... The interpretations offered here... are uniformly sound, and are supported by an admirably comprehensive conceptualization of this historical narrative within the wider framework of Dutch and European history. While rich in detail, all chapters of the book retain a lively readability. Of particular value are the detailed and judicious bibliographic essays that are provided for each essay... excellently illustrated... all scholars of Dutch Jewish history will find this volume an indispensable addition to their library.'
Adam Sutcliffe,
Journal of Jewish Studies'A very good compendium that will prove to be of lasting value to scholars and interested laymen. In a fine translation, this volume spans the entire history of Jews in the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to today. Its contributors have produced a work of considerable depth, detail, and scope: important trends and events affecting European Jewry elsewhere are incorporated in broad strokes but also in terms of specific consequences in the Netherlands... Such comparative strands add considerably to the book's value... ambitious and thorough... an always informative and often impressive tour de force.'
G. Jan Colijn,
Shofar
'
The History of the Jews in the Netherlands is a definitive, indispensable work for the study of both European Jewish and Dutch history.'
Israel Book Review
DUTCH EDITION
'Presents a clear picture of the longer-term developments without any sacrifice of living history. Much space is devoted to social and religious life, to culture and to the economy ... Particularly impressive ... does honour to its status as a general survey.'
Frank van Vree,
De Volkskrant'Thanks to its wealth of anecdotes and readable style, this general survey should appeal to a wide public interested in the history of the Jews in the Netherlands.'
Julika Vermolen,
Het ParoolTable of ContentsList of illustrationsEditorial noteList of abbreviations
Introduction IVO SCHÖFFER
1. The Middle Ages B. M. J. SPEETFirst Signs of a Jewish Presence
The Northern Netherlands
Violent Persecution
Gelderland in the Fifteenth Century
Discrimination and Expulsion
The Christian Origins of Antisemitism
Fresh Accusations
In Search of an Explanation
2. Between the Middle Ages and the Golden Age, 1516–1621 DANIEL M. SWETSCHINSKIJews in the Holy Roman Empire
The Iberian Background
Portuguese New Christians in Antwerp
The Attitude of Humanists and Reformers to Jews and Judaism
The Toleration Debate and the Jews
Portuguese New Christians in Holland
Four Christian Views of Jews
The Growth of the Sephardi Colony in Amsterdam
The Future Still Uncertain
3. The Republic of the United Netherlands until about 1750: Demography and Economic Activity JONATHAN I. ISRAELThe Early Decades, 1595–1648
Expansion and Colonization
The Burgeoning of Commerce and of the Credit System, 1648–1713
Growing Population Figures During the Period of Economic Decline, 1713–1750
4. The Jews in the Republic until about 1750: Religious, Cultural, and Social Life YOSEF KAPLANThe Organization of the Community
Three Congregations
The Influx of Paupers
The Power of the Mahamad
New Synagogues
Sephardim and Ashkenazim outside Amsterdam
Religious Life: Tradition and Change
A Good Education
Ashkenazi Life
Jewish Printers in Amsterdam
The Shabbatean Movement in Amsterdam
Influential Rabbis
Culture and Secular Creativity
Literature and the Stage
Everyday Life
Ideological Conflicts
Relations between Jews and Christians
Jewish Stereotypes
5. Enlightenment and Emancipation, c.1750–1814 RENATE G. FUKS-MANSFELDGood Citizens
Demographic Changes and Emigration
Economic Changes
The Administration of the Jewish Communities
Administrative Changes after 1796
Religious and Cultural Life
6. Arduous Adaptation, 1814–1870 RENATE G. FUKS-MANSFELDThe Government and the Jews
Education
The Reorganization of the Jewish Communities after 1848 The Government and Jews under Threat Abroad
Dutch Jews as Citizens
Economic and Social Changes
The Attitude of Protestants and Catholics towards Jews
Cultural and Religious Trends
Reactions to the New Jewish Fellow-Citizens
7. Jewish Netherlanders, Netherlands Jews, and Jews in the Netherlands, 1870–1940 J. C. H. BLOM and JOEL J. CAHENDemography
Occupations, Economic Role, and Poverty
Religious Life, (Sub)culture, and Pillarization
Assimilation, Integration, and Antisemitism
Solidarity with International Jewry and Zionism
Refugees from Germany
Jews in the Dutch Colonies
Jew and Netherlander
8. The War, 1940-1945 PETER ROMIJNThe German Invasion • Registration
Segregation
New Regulations
Outlaws
Deportations and the Yellow Star
Forced Removal and Labour Camps
Organization and Selection
Flight, Going into Hiding, and Resistance
The Transit Camps
Deportation and Murder
Conclusion
9. After the Second World War: From Religious Community to Cultural Minority F. CHAYA BRASZThe First Few Months
The Jewish Co-ordination Committee
Antisemitism
Religious Congregations
Migration
The Struggle for the Jewish War Orphans
The Purges
Jews in Modern Dutch Society after 1950
Numbers and Distribution
A Cultural Minority
Religious Developments
The Colonies
Jews and Christians
Zionism
Middle East Policy
The Holocaust
Epilogue
Bibliographical essaysBibliographyNotes on contributorsIndex of namesGeneral Index
