The History of the Jews in the Netherlands

'A sweeping, comprehensive survey of Dutch Jewish history . . . warmly to be welcomed . . . the most authoritative survey of this field . . . 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 . . . 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 . . . ambitious and thorough . . . an always informative and often impressive tour de force.'
G. Jan Colijn, Shofar

'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

'Comprehensive . . . a useful introduction to the main social, political, economic, and communal issues shaping Dutch Jewish history.'
J. Haus, Choice

This 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 generally been one of fruitful collaboration which only the period of German occupation from 1940 to 1944 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 Jewish and Dutch history.

From reviews of the 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 Vrees, 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 Parool

J. C. H. Blom, Professor of Dutch History, University of Amsterdam
F. Chaya Brasz, Director, Institute for Research on Dutch Jewry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Joel J. Cahen, Chief Curator and Associate Director, Beth Hatefutsoth, the Nahum Goldman Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, Tel Aviv
R. G. Fuks-Mansfeld, Professor Extraordinary in the History and Culture of Modern Jewry, University of Amsterdam
Jonathan I. Israel, Professor of Dutch History and Institutions, University of London
Yosef Kaplan, Bernard Cherrick Professor of Medieval and Modern Jewish History, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Peter Romijn, Deputy Director, Netherlands State Institute for War Documentation, Amsterdam
Ivo Schöffer, formerly Professor of Dutch History, University of Leiden
B. M. J. Speet, Lecturer in History, Amsterdam College of Higher Education
Daniel M. Swetschinski, formerly Associate Professor, Department of Oriental Studies, University of Arizona

Notes on contributors
Note on conventions used in the text
List of abbreviations
Introduction IVO SCHÖFFER

1 The Middle Ages B. M. J. SPEET
First 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. SWETSCHINSKI
Jews in the Holy Roman Empire * The Hispano-Portuguese 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 Portuguese Jewish Colony in Amsterdam * The Still Uncertain Future

3 The Republic of the United Netherlands until about 1750: Demography and Economic Activity JONATHAN I. ISRAEL
The 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 KAPLAN
The 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 Sabbatean 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-c.1814 RENATE G. FUKS- MANSFELD
Good 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-MANSFELD
The 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. CAHEN
Demography * 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 ROMIJN
The 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 BRASZ
The First Few Months * The Jewish Co-ordination Committee * Antisemitism * Religious Congregations * Migration * The Problem of the Children * The Purges * Jews in Modern Dutch Society after 1950 * Numbers and Distribution * A Cultural Minority * Religious Change * The Colonies * Jews and Christians * Zionism * Middle East Policy * The Holocaust * Epilogue

Bibliography and bibliographical notes
Bibliographical resources
Index of names
General Index

'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 book¹s value . . . ambitious and thorough . . . an always informative and often impressive tour de force.'
G. Jan Colijn, Shofar