Masorti in the Netherlands was founded in 2002 in the city of Almere.
During 2005, the well-known Dutch economist and politician Prof. Dr. Arnold Heertje introduced the still homeless congregation to the organization in the nearby city of Weesp, just across the water on the shores of the "old land", that manages the synagogue, built in 1840, in that city.
At one time the marketplace of Weesp was the hometown of a well-organized albeit small Jewish congregation. In 1840, the year of the inauguration of the shul, 153 of the 6,500 inhabitants were Jewish. The most prominent son of the congregation was A.S. Onderwijzer, who became Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam. Of the 84 registered Jews in 1941, approximately 56 were murdered in the Nazi death camps; seven survived the cruelties of the death camps and of three their fate is unknown ...
During the German occupation the shul was plundered, leaving the Aron haKodesh (Holy Shrine) untouched.
After the war only very few Jews returned to live in Weesp, not enough to re-establish the congregation and reopen the shul. The building was sold and after restoration in 1986 it was equipped as a cultural centre.
The Masorti organization holds services every two weeks and at most of the many Jewish holidays. Our main principle – ‘Voor traditioneel, vroom en vrij Jodendom – For traditional, pious and free Judaism’ – guarantees the Dutch Jewish traditions of old. With respect for our Jewish inheritance we try to find modern answers on modern questions. Many happy occasions take place in our organization, including weddings, b'nei mitzvah, conversions and some social activities.
