The Jewish Council publishes Het Joodsche Weekblad

On 11 April 1941, the Jewish Council published the first issue of Het Joodsche Weekblad. The magazine had been around for some time, but from this point on, it was edited by the Jewish Council. The weekly magazine was a tool for the Council to reach as many Jewish Dutch people as possible.

The Jewish Council had been established on 13 February 1941 at the insistence of the Nazis. The Germans wanted all of the Amsterdam Jews to be represented by the same body. Shortly before, there had been major riots between Jews, Dutch Nazis, and the German police. From then on, the Jewish Council was expected to keep the Jewish community in line. In October 1941, the Jewish Council was given a national role.

The anti-Jewish measures were announced in Het Joodsche Weekblad, and the Council had to implement some of them. In May 1942, the Council had to distribute the yellow ‘Stars of David’ and from July 1942 onwards, they made lists of the people who were to be deported. The Jewish Council also handled the registration of the Jewish prisoners in Westerbork.

In September 1943, when there were almost no Dutch Jewish people left, the leaders of the Jewish Council were deported as well and the Jewish Council ceased to exist, as did Het Joodsche Weekblad.