About Nefesh Foundation

Mission statement
The Nefesh Foundation was set up on 25 November 1997 by a few ambitious volunteers in an effort to present a picture of the multifarious aspects of present-day Jewish life. Nefesh uses television and film as influential media to develop audiovisual projects that examine the Jewish role in multicultural Dutch society. The foundation focuses on today’s society through the lens of the Jewish notion of the unification of contradictions.

What brings us together?

About Nefesh Foundation
There is a rich Jewish tradition in the Netherlands in general and Amsterdam in particular, largely thanks to Jewish citizens who have played a major role in Dutch politics, finances and culture. The Jews are the oldest minority in the Netherlands. You cannot understand Dutch history without understanding the intellectual, economic and cultural contribution of its Jews. The Nefesh Foundation explores their heritage and presents their current vivid and creative Jewish culture. Nefesh uses television and film to develop audiovisual projects that examine Jewish culture within the cultural diversity typical of today’s multicultural society.

In recent years, the Nefesh Foundation has successfully produced widely acclaimed local broadcasts on Nefesh TV. The programming of Nefesh TV became an important way to spread knowledge and insight into the numerous facets of Jewish life and culture in the Netherlands and in Amsterdam.

The Nefesh Foundation devotes ample attention to the relations between minority groups and the majority stream in our multiform society. The focus is on Jewish culture and related topics.

Important subjects and aims include:

• Challenging biased preconceptions, anti-Semitism and racism
• Covering topics and events in the Jewish world in relation to other cultural and ethnic groups
• Examining the influence of Jewish culture and history on Amsterdam and Dutch culture
• Preserving the memories of the Shoah (the Holocaust)
• Highlighting documentaries on exceptional Jewish communities
• Portraying multifarious Jewish institutions, organizations and movements
• Focusing on Jewish art and culture and enabling young Jewish artists to present their ideas and work
• Reporting on Israeli society, art and culture to correct the distorted picture the media generally present due to the political situation, e.g. “The Other Face of Israel” series.

This post is also available in: Dutch