Nederlands Israelitische Gemeente Amersfoort

The first (Sephardic) Jews came to Amersfoort in 1650. Later on, Ashkenazi Jews followed. In 1727 the synagogue was consecrated. Since then a rich Jewish life developed imbedded in the Amersfoort civil society. At the end of the 18th century there was a conflict in The Netherlands between supporters of the Prince, forefather of our King Willem Alexander, and republicans. Mr. Benjamin Cohen, president of the Jewish community offered the prince and his wife a safe place in his house in Amersfoort. Since then, there is a bond between the community and the Royal House of the Netherlands.

During World War II almost 400 members of the community were murdered in the concentration camps of the nazi's. Meanwhile, inhabitants of Amersfoort stole almost all of the furniture from the synagogue. After the war, with a diminished congregation, Jewish life went on until today and hopefully in the future. We are proud that the synagogue is the eldest Ashkenazi synagogue in the western hemisphere which is still in use with the exception of the years 1943-1945.

In 2027 we celebrate the 300-year anniversary of the Amersfoort synagogue. The synagogue is a listed national cultural inheritance monument by the Government. https://monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl/monumenten/7833#offcanvas-

The aim is to preserve this historic monument and secure its future. Our focus is to restore the grandeur of the interior to its pre-war state, reintroduce (new) wooden benches, and revitalize the space in line with its heritage. The interior will be painted again in the old colors we detected during an examination. New bookcases, wardrobes and balustrades are needed. And we want to install two display cases.

More or less in the same time that the Amersfoort synagogue started an important Jewish family called Italiaander, came from Italy to a place nearby Amersfoort, called Nijkerk. The family brought her own tora scroll. The Jewish community of Nijkerk was almost destroyed during the Holocaust. Only 5 people returned, which meant the end of the congregation. After the War the few remnants of this community came to the Jewish community of Amersfoort, including the scroll which was written in the 17th century in Marocco. We want to show this scroll in a new display case to honor its memory, its age and the voyage it made from Marocco to Italy, to Nijkerk and finally to Amersfoort.

In another new display case we will exhibit silverware which dates from 1866 and is still in use during the Jewish holidays. We decided it is time now to show these precious objects, which of course means that the showcase must be provided with safety glass.