A leading Dutch rabbi has accused the Christian churches of Holland of maintaining a detached attitude toward Judaism and the Jewish people, even when in sympathy with them. Rabbi Avraham Soetendorp, speaking at a symposium on the 50th anniversary of the Liberal Jewish Congregation, observed that after the synagogue bombing in Antwerp last month there was no spontaneous reactions from the churches or any appeal by them to participate in solidarity demonstrations.
Soetendorp’s father, the late Rabbi Jacob Soetendorp, had been active in creating better understanding between Christians and Jews. But in recent years, this understanding has become less rather than more, his son declared.
He said that if there is any reaction at all from Christian churches to attacks on Jews it is cool, analytical and aloof. He noted that even the statement by the Council of Christian Churches condemning anti-Semitism lacked any expression of solidarity with Jews. He attributed that attitude to the fact that the Jewish people and Israel are no longer seen as a sign of hope but as a troublesome problem.
In addition, Soetendorp said, the churches view Judaism mainly as an interesting object of study. The new generation of Christians no longer feels any responsibility for the suffering caused Jews by the Nazis and there is now, in several Christian churches, a strong interest in Islam and the Moslem countries because of the large numbers of Turks and Moroccans now living in Holland, he said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
