This Was Not a Pogrom

From my years as a guide at the Amsterdam Holocaust Museum, as an interviewer and quality control manager on the Spielberg project, and as a counselor for second-generation Holocaust survivors, I know what a pogrom is and that is not what happened here in Amsterdam last month.

The mythical reality of Amsterdam, renowned for its tolerant politics, long history of vibrant Jewish life as well as the famous red-light district and ‘coffee shops’ has exploded in social media all over the world. Social and international Jewish media have highlighted the most recent news: clashes between Israeli football supporters and Muslim hooligans, increased acts of anti-Semitism and massive emigration to Israel.

As a well informed and socially motivated resident since 1976, I am taking this opportunity to share my impressions and understanding of these incidents and present two examples of how the City Council of Amsterdam has chosen to respond to them.

My name is Sauci Bosner. I am a Jewish woman, 71 years young. I was born in Irvington, New Jersey, and lived in the United States until my emigration to the Netherlands in 1976. I feel most privileged to have lived most of my life here in Amsterdam. It is here that I experienced the challenges of motherhood and the joys of grandmotherhood. It is here that I explored and came to understand the complexities of individual, communal and government reactions to the issues of diversity, racism and inclusion. It was here that my motivation to offer options for positive Jewish life in a world of cast shadows and living memories of the Holocaust was realized. Participating in numerous Amsterdam Dialogue groups throughout the last fifteen years, consisting of Jews, Muslims and local politicians has been among the highlights of both my professional and volunteer careers.

“Are you okay, Sauci?” After the football-match clashes a few weeks ago, I received numerous phone calls from distressed friends in the United States, England and Israel. On the news and social media, it was reported that a “pogrom” was taking place in Amsterdam. Let me tell you: this is not a pogrom. The term pogrom is applicable when there is an organized effort with the support of police and local authorities to damage, burn, destroy, injure and kill Jews.

What happened here in Amsterdam was an escalation of powerlessness by both the Israeli football supporters and Muslim youth. Israeli Maccabi supporters wore Israeli flags while walking through the center of Amsterdam, common for supporters to do at football games. There are allegations that a Muslim Uber driver was attacked by several tourists and his taxi was vandalized. Muslim youth, deeply aggravated by the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, took this as an opportunity to release their aggression and swiftly crisscrossed the city center searching for Israeli football supporters. They communicated with each other on Telegram and WhatsApp, intimidating and injuring their victims and swiftly escaping on their scooters. They pursued groups of Israelis. Video cameras throughout the city captured films of both Israeli and Muslim activities in the city center. These allegations are under strict investigation by Dutch authorities. The mayor has spoken with the Uber taxi driver personally.
With all the varying interpretations of who initiated these clashes, who is responsible, and what the outcome will be, only time, perseverance in exploring these
horrendous events will be brought to the light.

The Dutch police were unprepared for this and were not able to follow all the scooters. Films of Israeli and Muslim clashes have been submitted to the Mayor, Minister of Internal affairs and the police force. Thorough investigations of all the events are being examined. At this time, 100 Muslim youth are being sought and will be brought to court.

Let me repeat: this was upsetting and shameful, but this is not a pogrom. The Mayor of Amsterdam, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the police force have found and arrested most of these violent Muslim trouble makers. There is intensive contact with Israeli authorities and tapes of the Israelis who misbehaved in Amsterdam have been shared. Hopefully they will be identified and held accountable.

On November 14, 2024 it was published that the UN Special Committee announced Israeli warfare methods in Gaza are consistent with genocide, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war. Last week, Amnesty International’s investigation also concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

We must acknowledge these truths. It is the only way to counteract the increasing polarization happening around the world, including the Netherlands.

We must all acknowledge the validity of all atrocities, from the Holocaust to the Gaza Strip, from Lebanon to Amsterdam. As neighbors we must share this burden equally.

Please hear me when I say this: acknowledging Israeli war crimes does not negate the horrors of the Holocaust, nor the centuries of Jewish struggles that came before.
It is possible to be the victim in one conflict and the aggressor in another, and the Jewish people do not have sole claim to victimhood.

Importing political dramas and personal traumas to the Netherlands through social media facilitated nothing except enhancing dangerous stereotypes and further promoting what I call the Monologues of Fear.

Both Jews and Muslims have individual and collective Monologues of Fear. We know them all too well. Memory and storytelling can enhance or deflate them. History can support or denounce them. Impatient, angry Muslim youths take TikTok and YouTube clips as a priori truths. Israelis, exhausted from the bureaucracy and terror of wars, express their powerlessness with aggressive outbursts of hate. We are and become what we believe to be true.

Truth is what I yearn for in these turbulent times. Having been privileged to reside and work in both Israel and Palestine, I recognize that my life and work experiences created the options for my living and working with immigrants and refugees in the Netherlands for over ten years. I have seen with my own eyes that our culturally specific Monologues of Fear hold more similarities than differences.

I am impressed with how much the Amsterdam City Council has done to broker peace in the community by encouraging its residents to find common ground. They have organized sessions for residents to meet each other, to share their fears and misconceptions and to brainstorm on how to increase understanding between communities with the intent to create options on how to move forward with positive energy and commitment. Building a community that acknowledges differences with respect is the Council’s high priority.

The municipality of Amsterdam chooses not to ignore the violence and the hate that divides it; instead the city rallied its residents, inviting us to share our ideas on how to improve and increase the quality of life for all who dwell here. The City Council wants our response and our input.

These so -called Dialogue Meetings have specific guidelines:
-Safety and security for all is a necessity.
-One must have the intention to share one’s truth and the willingness to listen to others.
-Curiosity is essential.
-The only stupid question is the one not asked.
-Participants must show patience to allow each person to express themselves.
-They acknowledge vulnerability by showing respect.
-Most importantly, nobody must enter into the dialogue to prove they are right.

The first meeting, hosted by the Orange Church, focused on the Israel-Gaza-Lebanon violence and how it has affected us here in Amsterdam. It was a public meeting. Jews, Muslims, and Dutch citizens attended. The intention was to break through diminishing stereotypes of the ‘other’ and, together, reflect upon individual actions each of us can integrate into our daily lives. The evening was kicked off by a Jewish man and a Muslim woman, both of whom shared the impact of cross-cultural friendships in their personal lives.

The 60 participants were divided into smaller groups, each group with a facilitator. We addressed the following questions:
-What has affected me since October 7,2023?
-What are my concerns about the tensions in Amsterdam?
-Is this anti-Semitism or hooligan shenanigans?
-How can we create win-win situations where racism and discrimination against Jewish and Muslim communities will not be instigated or tolerated?

Who am I if I release myself from my Monologue of Fear?

These questions brought me to the list of fears I have experienced this past year:
-Do I take off or hide my Star of David? Answer: I wear it under my shirt.
-Do I place my chanukiyah on the window pane or on a table? Answer: My chanukiyah is placed on my table.
-Do I trust that there will be sufficient security measures taken at my synagogue? Answer: Yes I do.
-Do I feel safe walking the streets, taking an Uber, or doing my grocery shopping at the kosher shops? Answer: Yes I most certainly do.

I continue to watch the international news reports and follow the Dutch parliament discussions broadcast on Dutch television. I snack a bit more than usual. I go to sleep a bit later than usual. I carry on with my life as usual, other than fielding these phone calls, text messages and emails from my concerned family and friends abroad who worry about my safety.

The second meeting, organized by the City Council on November 23, was even bigger. Three thousand invitations were sent out and a diverse group of 250 people was selected. The intention of this 9-5 program was to create dialogue and monitoring groups regarding conflicts, and accomplishments in the Amsterdam East district. We were divided into four groups according to where we live, labelled with four colors: orange, yellow, pink and green. Each of us received a colored goodie bag with bottled water, a coffee cup, a small notebook and pen, a folder with the day’s program, and of course, a cookie.

Photographs of Amsterdam, taken by local artists, decorated the hallways. Organizations active in the district displayed their activities. Large pieces of paper for feedback and suggestions were placed throughout the rooms. Collectively, we listened as the local politicians introduced themselves and shared their motivation for investing and promoting diversity and inclusion. After enjoying the catered buffet, we all reentered the main hall and made our way to discussion tables according to our assigned colors.

Under the guidance of our designated facilitator, we introduced ourselves. Two hours later, this group of strangers had developed meaningful connections while engaging in animated discussions concerning this district of ours. Specific local concerns and communal challenges for safety were tackled. The wars overseas were never mentioned. Our lives were intermingled as we moved from Monologues of Fear towards Dialogues Beyond Borders.

The City Council of Amsterdam is wisely choosing this way to deflate polarization, to increase mutual understanding, to promote a functioning community, and to inspire us to build a better world for all on this raging planet we call home.

Al Tireh: do not fear.
Another Day, Another Way