{"id":4231,"date":"2012-12-10T06:07:09","date_gmt":"2012-12-10T12:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=4231"},"modified":"2012-12-10T06:11:14","modified_gmt":"2012-12-10T12:11:14","slug":"dutch-jewish-broadcaster-to-be-shut-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/dutch-jewish-broadcaster-to-be-shut-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Dutch Jewish broadcaster to be shut down"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE HAGUE (JTA) — The Dutch government said it would stop funding the country\u2019s Jewish broadcasting network in 2016, possibly leading to its closure. The announcement came last week in a letter from Dutch Culture Minister Sander Dekker and drew angry reactions from well-known Dutch Jewish figures.<\/p>\n

Willem Koster, chairman of the Central Jewish Board, said in a statement that the decision \u201cmakes religious minorities voiceless and undermines their position in society in a serious manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Awraham Soetendorp, a Reform rabbi, said the impending closure \u201cshakes the feeling of inner safety\u201d of the Dutch Jewish community.<\/p>\n

The minister\u2019s letter said \u201csmall faith and philosophy broadcasters\u201d would no longer be eligible for subsidies, a decision that would affect the Jewish broadcaster de Joodse Omroep, the Roman-Catholic network and possibly a few others.<\/p>\n

The Dutch government has funded the Jewish network with subsidies of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.<\/p>\n

Christian networks may be able register with the government as corporations, which would allow them to charge membership fees and apply for separate arts and culture subsidires.<\/p>\n

The Jewish station, however, may lack the necessary 50,000 members to do so. The Netherlands has a Jewish population of 40,000 to 50,000.<\/p>\n

Established in 1973, de Joodse Omroep broadcasts on television and radio. It is one of Europe\u2019s only state-funded, national Jewish media.<\/p>\n

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