Jewish, Israeli organizations combine efforts to support victims of Amsterdam attacks

Only hours after Israeli soccer fans were hunted down and assaulted in Amsterdam following the Europa League match, Jewish and Israeli organizations began on-the-ground efforts to support victims of the attacks. 

The attacks saw Israelis assaulted in the streets and passports stolen. At least 5 Israelis were hospitalized and local police arrested some 62 people with investigations continuing. 

Maccabi World Union

Maccabi World Union on Friday condemned the antisemitic attacks that followed a soccer match in Amsterdam on Thursday night and announced they had opened an emergency assistance center in Holland for fans who remained in the European city. 

The center has helped provide hundreds of fans with transportation, hotel lodging, food and security, the union announced. 

Said Amir Gissin, CEO of Maccabi World Union, said "Maccabi World Union is spread throughout the world and is prepared to provide assistance to Israeli and Jewish sports fans.

"We will also stand at the forefront of the global fight against antisemitism, together with our partners at the Ministry of the Diaspora Affairs and Combatting Antisemitism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Jewish organizations."

Chabad on the ground

Chabad also aided the efforts, collecting stranded and wounded Jews from across the city and delivering them safely to shelter, the Jewish group announced on X on Friday. 

Mitzvot and light after nighttime attacks in Amsterdam!Chabad Rabbi Yanki Jacobs helps an Israeli man put on tefillin at an emergency shelter set up following a vicious Antisemitic attacks against Jews in Amsterdam following a soccer game. Chabad emissaries coordinated… pic.twitter.com/ddw7iE6KQR

— Chabad.org (@Chabad) November 8, 2024

While many victims of the attacks have been flown back to Israel, those wishing to observe the Jewish day of rest, Shabbat, have been invited to stay with Chabad through the weekend. 

Offering words of comfort and an opportunity to do tefillin, Chabad Rabbi Yanki Jacobs and others offered victims "Mitzvot and light" following their ordeal.

Jewish Agency offers support

Describing the lynchings in Amsterdam as a "terror attack," the Jewish Agency announced it was offering immediate  assistance to the community and would be sending a Jewish Agency’s security officer to the Netherlands to assess and provide additional support as needed

Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Major General (res.) Doron Almog said, “We are shocked by the attack on Jews and Israelis simply because of their Jewish identity in the streets of Amsterdam, exactly 86 years after Kristallnacht. We will expand the program to strengthen communities and increase their resilience, to ensure that every Jew, anywhere in the world, will never feel alone.”

CEO of the Jewish Agency, Yehuda Setton, added, “Through its thousands of emissaries and representatives, the Jewish Agency fights against manifestations of hatred and works to strengthen communities. This is our commitment to support the communities that embrace us here in Israel and help build the country and society, even more so in the last year.”

Almog and Setton confirmed they had spoken with Hanan Hertzberger, a representative of the Jewish community in the Netherlands. The two heard about the community’s efforts to assist Israelis who were attacked and offered immediate professional assistance in the fields of trauma and resilience.

Almog said, “We are shocked by the attack on Jews and Israelis simply because of their Jewish identity in the streets of Amsterdam, exactly 86 years after Kristallnacht. Alongside the immediate support from the State of Israel, the Jewish Agency is in contact with the leaders of the Jewish community in the Netherlands to ensure increased security for the community and strengthen its resilience. We will expand the program to strengthen communities and increase their resilience, to ensure that every Jew, anywhere in the world, will never feel alone.”

“This shocking event is yet another reminder of the challenges facing communities in Europe and the US in recent months, alongside the fight against manifestations of hatred on campuses," Setton added. "Through its thousands of emissaries and representatives, the Jewish Agency fights against hate and works to strengthen communities. This is our commitment to support the communities that embrace us here in Israel and help build the country and society, especially in the past year.”

The Jewish Agency’s JReady resilience network has been in touch with community representatives and will continue to support community members with professionals specializing in resilience. Additionally, the Jewish Agency’s Terror Victims Fund will provide supplementary grants to Israelis recognized by the state as victims of terrorist acts, the agency announced.