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September 5, 2025
Shai Abramson is and will remain the guest cantor at yearly Chanukah Concert in Amsterdam Concertgebouw

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A recent statement  issued by the Concertgebouw regarding the participation of guest cantor Shai Abramson in the upcoming B’nai B’rith Chanukah Concert this December have caused unnecessary controversy. We believe it is important to offer clarification.

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On Monday, 1 September 2025, the management of the Concertgebouw requested changes to the concert program, specifically asking that Cantor Abramson be replaced due to his association with the Israeli Defense Forces. We made clear during that discussion that we saw no grounds to alter our program.

 

A binding agreement for the annual Chanukah Concert has been in place between the Concertgebouw and our foundation for many months. The inclusion of Cantor Abramson was confirmed long ago. He is not a newcomer to the Concertgebouw, having performed there previously, including in 2022. The late timing of this request and the public statement that followed are, therefore, deeply troubling.

 

The Concertgebouw’s unilateral decision to publicize this issue without consultation has been damaging. It has unfairly cast negative attention on the concert and mischaracterized Cantor Abramson, He is an independent artist, invited by the State of Israel to sing at national memorial ceremonies. Labeling him as an IDF representative fosters unwarranted negative sentiment toward Israel, the Jewish community in the Netherlands and visitors to the concert, purposely turning this great musical experience into a political event.

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We deeply regret this action and the harm it has caused.

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