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| New life in aging Dutch community
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Nicky Cohen, chairman of the Dutch Masorti movement
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The synagogue in the Dutch town of Weesp will be holding extra-special celebrations for the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah on Wednesday when the institution receives its first torah scrolls in 63 years.
The holy items, have been donated by the Dutch Masorti movement, a group who believe in a left wing interpretation of Judaism.
The synagogue’s brownstone building, opened in 1840, has not held a scroll, known as a Sefer Torah, since the deportation of the Jews of Weesp in 1942.
Growing movement
Masorti was launched in The Netherlands on 25 September this year, with a national conference in Hilversum, attended by 80 people.
Chairman Nicky Cohen said he expects a fast growth of the movement within a few years.
The Amsterdam born Cohen, 38, says Masorti fulfils the needs of those who long for a traditional Jewish life.
Until now, the strictly orthodox Netherland's Israelitisch Kerkgenootschap (NIK) had been dominant in Jewish life in the country in recent years.
Masorti is widespread in Europe, except for Holland and Belgium.
In the United States Masorti, Hebrew for 'traditional', is known as Conservative. The headquarters of the international Masorti movement are in Jerusalem and New York.
European support
The Dutch Masorti has received support from Rabbi Chaim Weiner, chair of the European Masorti Beth Din. As yet the movement is unable to authorize conversion to Judaism, but study classes are given, and conversion candidates are pointed to Masorti England.
Masorti respects traditional religious Judaism, however local traditions set the minhagim (customs). The Dutch brand will be relatively conservative, with women and men seated separated in the sanctuary.
Cohen said the Masorti movement is aiming to return to Dutch traditions, some of which he accuses NIK of changing, such the introduction of a completely un-transparent barrier between men and women in NIK synagogues.
New roots
The first Masorti congregation can be found in Almere, a suburban boomtown 20 kilometers east of Amsterdam.
Almere is a new town, established forty years ago into handmade land in the heart of Holland. Many former citizens of Amsterdam moved to Almere in the past decade due to its family housing.
Cohen’s was one of many Jewish families that moved to the new lands as well. His father Bernhard became a well-known leader of Amere's Jewish community.
The Weesp synagogue is hosting the Almere services as it is close to the town.
Masorti also has contacts in Utrecht, Leiden, Schiedam and Amsterdam, the capital in which mister Nicky Cohen expects to found the next Masorti congregation in The Netherlands.
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