Month: May 2021

Although the opening of the exhibition ‘Are Jews white?’ has been postponed until the 9th of June, this week marks the beginning of public attention for the topic with a debate programme ‘Strange Bedfellows’ in De Balie and several Dutch national newspapers running articles on the subject. ‘Are Jews white?’ tackles the uncomfortable position of… Continue reading Eyes white shut

Today, a letter went out to the Dutch Parliament on behalf of a broad and diverse coalition of minority groups, including Black, Muslim, Asian, Roma and Sinti, refugee and Jewish voices. Actually, I am proud to say that I was the one that printed the final version and put it in an envelope. A letter… Continue reading 96 cents for change

The topic of inclusive remembering around the 4th of May Commemoration has been a hot potato. Marginalised voices have expressed their needs to have the injustices and trauma done to them become part of the commemoration, but recognition has not come automatically as can be seen in the Jewish fight for inclusion in the commemoration.… Continue reading Inclusive remembering (III): propositions

Dutch Jews are a traumatised group as a result of the genocide that was committed against them and in which more than three quarters of their community was decimated. Recognition of this genocide is still an issue to this day. The municipality of Amsterdam for example has only recently started to investigate its active role… Continue reading Inclusive remembering (II): genocide and trauma

What does it mean to make a commemoration inclusive? To answer this question, I am invited into a panel on the Dutch National Commemoration Day on the 4th of May for the victims of the Second World War and all victims in wars and peace operations since. I am hesitant to accept. Commemorations are minefields… Continue reading Inclusive remembering (I): genuine recognition