View source for Beit Ha'Chidush

{{Short description|Synagogue in Amsterdam, Netherlands}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name                  = Beit Ha'Chidush
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| caption               = The Uilenburg Synagogue, the place of worship for the congregation
| religious_affiliation = [[Reform Judaism]]
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| leadership            = {{ill|Tamarah Benima|nl|vertical-align=sup}}
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| functional_status     = Active
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| location              = Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 91, [[Amsterdam-Centrum|Central Amsterdam]], [[Amsterdam]], [[North Holland]]
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| country               = [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]]
| map_type              = Netherlands Amsterdam Central
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| map_caption           = Location of the Uilenburg Synagogue, place of worship for the congregation, in [[Amsterdam]]
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| architecture_style    = [[Louis Quinze|Louis XV style]]
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| established           = 1995 {{small|(as a congregation)}}
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| year_completed        = 1766 {{small|(as Uilenburg Synagogue)}}
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| website               = {{url|beithachidush.nl}} {{in lang|nl}}
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'''Beit Ha'Chidush''' (meaning ''House of Renewal'' in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]), abbreviated as '''BHC''' is a [[Reform Judaism|Progressive]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation, located in [[Amsterdam]], in the [[North Holland]] region of [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]]. The congregation was founded in 1995 by predominately expatriate Jews with secular and religious backgrounds who wanted to create a welcoming, inspiring and renewed Jewish congregation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.levisson.nl/content/view/167/290/ |title=Beit Ha'Chidush: a community consisting of Jews with at least one Jewish parent |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525234604/http://www.levisson.nl/content/view/167/290/ |archive-date=25 May 2009 |publisher=Levisson Institute |date= |access-date=22 April 2009 }}</ref>

Since 1997, the congregation has worshiped from the '''Uilenburg Synagogue''',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beithachidush.nl/english |title=About us |work=Beit Ha'Chidush |date=n.d. |access-date=25 August 2024 }}</ref> a [[synagogue]] located at Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 91, in [[Amsterdam-Centrum|Central Amsterdam]]. The synagogue was completed in the [[Louis Quinze|Louis XV style]] in 1766 and used by another congregation up until [[World War II]]. After a period of [[profane use]] by the Municipality of Amsterdam, the synagogue was transferred to the Uilenburgersjoel Foundation, for use by a variety of Jewish organisations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uilenburgersjoel.nl/the-uilenburger-synagogue/ |title=The Uilenburger synagogue |work=Uilenburgersjoel |publisher= |date=n.d. |access-date=25 August 2024 }}</ref>

== Overview == 
[[File:Tamarah Benima.jpg|thumbnail|right|Rabbi Tamarah Benima]] 
BHC is an independent modern and progressive community where anyone with a Jewish background, either paternal or maternal, is welcome. People with a non-Jewish partner are more than welcome to attend the services together with their partner. BHC is a community based on equality and inclusiveness and welcomes individuals of all genders and sexual orientations.

There are typically three [[Shabbat]] services each month: two on Friday evenings and one on Saturday morning, as well as services on [[Jewish holidays|Holidays]]. Since 1997 BHC uses the Uilenburger Synagogue (1766) for services. Once a month a tish is organized for members, this is a shabbat dinner with the rabbi at the home of one of the members. Beit Ha'Chidush organises since 2004 a yearly Pride Shabbat,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://glbtjews.org/portfolio-posts/beit-hachidush-of-amsterdam/|title = Beit Ha'Chidush of Amsterdam}}</ref> a festive service on the first Friday night of August (unless 1 August falls on a Saturday, in that case its on the last Friday of July).

BHC organizes Jewish education for children (Ledor Wador), as well as shiurim (lessons) on Jewish topics for adults.

BHC is a democratic organization with elected board members and general assemblies. All important decisions are submitted to the members at the general assemblies which occur at least twice a year. BHC is also participatory: Members are encouraged to actively take part in all activities and also develop their own initiatives.

As of June 2015, the [[rabbi]] is {{ill|Tamarah Benima|nl|vertical-align=sup}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jonet.nl/tamarah-benima-nieuwe-rabbijn-beit-hachidush/|title=Tamarah Benima nieuwe rabbijn Beit Ha'Chidush|date=26 June 2015|publisher=|language=Dutch|accessdate=29 October 2015}}</ref>

==History==
In 1995, a number of both secular as well as religious Jews, unsatisfied with the present Jewish congregations, made the move of starting their own congregation, different from the existing Jewish organisations. The first [[shabbat]] service of Beit Ha'Chidush was soon to be held on 1 December 1995. A [https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1997/10/13/vernieuwing-in-oude-synagoge-7371428-a829619 short interview with the founders] was published in the newspaper NRC in 1997. Several rabbis ('Flying rabbis') - mostly from progressive Jewish communities overseas - were in charge of the services. This changed on 1 May 2005, when German-born [[Elisa Klapheck]] became the community's first own rabbi; she is the first female rabbi in Dutch Jewish history. She led the congregation from 2005 until her departure in 2009 to [[Frankfurt]]. Since then Clary Rooda (at the time rabbi in training) and rabbi [[Hannah Nathans]] have led the services at Beit Ha'Chidush.{{fact|date=August 2024}}
 
The community currently has some 70 active members, 50 'friends' and another 100 persons who visit services and activities on occasion. A new [[Torah]] was welcomed in the community on 23 May 2007. A new [[Torah ark|Aron Kodesh]] (the ark that contains the Torah scrolls) was installed in January 2017.  There are currently plans under way within the community to work together with the [[Verbond voor Liberaal-Religieuze Joden in Nederland|NVPJ]] on issues like [[Jewish burial]] and the [[circumcision]] of [[giur|gerim]].<ref>[http://www.trouw.nl/deverdieping/religie_filosofie/article723803.ece/De_stem_van_God_spreekt_over_het_IJ The voice of God speaks over the IJ] [[Trouw]]. ''Accessed 7 June'' {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

==Affiliation==
Beit Ha'Chidush draws from traditional and modern Jewish sources. Inspiration is found in the [[Torah]], the [[Talmud]] and other classical sources as well as in today's renewal thinkers and groups in Europe, Israel and the United States. Beit Ha'Chidush has strong ties to [[Jewish Renewal]] and [[Reconstructionist Judaism]] in the [[United States]], [[Liberal Judaism (United Kingdom)|Liberal Judaism]] in the [[United Kingdom]], and to Humanistic Judaism. Since its establishment in 1995 Beit Ha’Chidush has been supported by many progressive rabbis in Europe and the United States. It is an associate member of Liberal Judaism and cooperates with the Dutch Union for Progressive Judaism.<ref>https://www.verbond.eu/en</ref> A large part of the BHC community hails from outside the Netherlands. The founding members of Beit Ha'Chidush were very much in favor of establishing a new community which was more diverse, open and renewed in comparison to the already existing Jewish communities in the Netherlands.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

BHC is a supporter of the Queer Shabbaton event, an annual weekend for [[LGBT|LGBTQI+]] Jews from all over the world that was held in 2005 and 2006 during the Amsterdam [[Gay Pride]].<ref>[http://www.trouw.nl/deverdieping/religie_filosofie/article6535.ece/Sabatsdienst+ware+bevrijding Article on Queer Shabbaton] [[Trouw]]. ''Accessed 22 April'' {{in lang|nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.joods.nl/2005/07/queer-shabbaton/|title='Queer shabbaton' &#124; Joods.nl Nieuws|date=22 July 2005}}</ref> The events took place at the Uilenburger Synagogue. Since 2004 there is also an annual Pride [[shabbat]] service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joods.nl/2004/08/roze-sjoeldienst-en-stonewall-shabbat-seder-in-beit-hachidush/|title=Roze sjoeldienst en Stonewall Shabbat Seder in Beit Ha'Chidush &#124; Joods.nl Nieuws|date=2 August 2004}}</ref> In 2010 BHC participated in the Gay Pride with its own boat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnw.org/archive/first-jewish-boat-gay-pride-parade|title = This content no longer exists}}</ref> Here you can find a nice picture of the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photography-jewish-boat-image15499687|title = Jewish boat editorial photography. Image of event, amstel - 15499687}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|Netherlands|Judaism}}}}
* [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands]]
* [[:Category:Synagogues in the Netherlands|List of synagogues in the Netherlands]]

==References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Uilenburg Synagoge}}
* {{official website|http://www.beithachidush.nl}} {{in lang|nl}}
* [[:nl:Beit Ha%27Chidush|Beit Ha'Chidush]] at [[Wikipedia]] {{in lang|nl}}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.uilenburgersjoel.nl/the-uilenburger-synagogue/ |title=The Uilenburger synagogue |work=Uilenburgersjoel |publisher= |date=n.d. |access-date=25 August 2024 }}

{{Synagogues in the Netherlands}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beit Ha'chidush}}
[[Category:1995 establishments in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:18th-century synagogues in the Netherlands|Uilenburger Synagogue]]<!-- Uilenburger Synagogue -->
[[Category:Jewish Dutch history]]
[[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1995]]
[[Category:Rococo architecture|Uilenburger Synagogue]]<!-- Uilenburger Synagogue -->
[[Category:Synagogues in Amsterdam|Uilenburger Synagogue]]<!-- Uilenburger Synagogue -->
[[Category:Reform synagogues in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Secular Jewish culture in Europe]]
[[Category:Synagogues completed in 1766|Uilenburger Synagogue]]<!-- Uilenburger Synagogue -->