Dutch Royal Concert Hall Lifts Ban On Israeli Cantor After Protests (Video)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – Amsterdam’s Royal Concert Hall (Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw) announced Wednesday it would allow Israeli Cantor Shai Abramson to perform after mounting protests and international media attention — including from Worthy News — over its decision to ban his Hanukkah concerts.

The Royal Concert Hall, world-renowned for its acoustics, said it had reached a compromise with the Foundation Hanukkah Concert (Stichting Chanukah Concert) to allow the performances as two “private concerts” in the evening.

Pressured by pro-Palestine and anti-Israel activists, it had effectively canceled the December 14 program by terminating its contract with the Foundation, citing Abramson’s affiliation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its involvement in a “controversial war,” referring to the armed conflict in Gaza.

“We have noted that there is confusion surrounding the role of IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson. Our decision [to ban the concert] was in no way influenced by the fact that Mr. Abramson is Jewish, Israeli, or has a standard affiliation with the IDF — an affiliation shared by nearly all Israeli citizens,” the Royal Concert Hall stated. “Our concern lies solely with his active role as Chief Cantor of the IDF. In this capacity, Mr. Abramson plays a prominent role within the Israeli military and represents the IDF at official events.”

It added that the “decisive factor” was “the IDF’s active involvement in a controversial war, and Mr. Abramson’s visible representation of that institution. We wish to remain distant from this controversy, which is unrelated to music. It is the music that must remain at the heart of our programming,” the hall said, adding that a different cantor would be acceptable.

SEVERAL PROTESTS

However, following protests — including a pro-Israel rally in front of the building monitored by Worthy News — the Royal Concert Hall reached a compromise to organize the event as “private” concerts, officials said.

Yet the decision was received with mixed emotions by prominent representatives of the Netherlands’ Jewish community, which numbers some 35,000 people.

“Great news. Cantor #ShaiAbramson sings in #Concertgebouw anyway. It concerns two private concerts in the evening. A compromise has been reached ‘in the interest of cohesion in Amsterdam’,” noted prominent Dutch-Jewish representative Ronny Naftaniel on social media, citing officials close to the negotiations.

However, Coenraad Pen, a Dutch editor, writer, and speaker, expressed concern about the compromise. “There is a compromise… The question is whether a compromise is justified in this case. After all, there is an inequality in position between two stakeholders: the Concertgebouw as the cause and the Jewish community as the victim,” he stressed in comments seen by Worthy News.

CONTROVERSIAL HISTORY

“Once again, our Jewish community has had to make a partial bow to the cause of the injustice,” Pen added amid broader concerns about rising antisemitism in Europe.

“I don’t know whether this will help the rule of law, because the actions of the Concertgebouw are not tested against our democratic principles of the rule of law. In that sense, the Concertgebouw can again take such a decision of exclusion in future cases,” he warned.

The venue has a controversial history toward Jews: during World War II, the Royal Concert Hall came under Nazi control, banning Jewish musicians and composers — a legacy that makes the current accusations of exclusion especially sensitive.

Christians and Jews expressed concern in open letters as well as banners at protests, reading: “1941 – For Jews forbidden / 2025 – For Israeli Jews forbidden?”

The Royal Concert Hall stressed, however, that “we wish to emphasize that Jewish and Israeli musicians are, and will continue to be, an essential part of Het Concertgebouw’s programming.”

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