Together with millions of Dutch people celebrating this week the coronation of Willem-Alexander as Holland’s new king, the nation’s Jews celebrated this historic day in their own way: with a special prayer and an ancient traditional blessing.
After 33 years on the throne, Queen Beatrix, 75, formally stood down from the throne at a brief ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on Tuesday. Earlier this year she said that it was time for "a new generation" to reign.
King Willem-Alexander is 46. He is the first Dutch king since Willem III in 1890.
The prayer which has been distributed among the Jewish communities of Holland in recent days, states, “May He Who grants salvation to kings and dominion to rulers; Whose Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; Who releases his servant David from the evil sword; Who places a path in the sea and a passageway in the mighty waters – may He bless, guard, protect, exalt, raise up and elevate the king Willem-Alexander, may his glory be magnified.”
The prayer was distributed in both Hebrew and Dutch. It will be recited by Holland’s Jews in their synagogues every Shabbat during the Shacharit morning services.
This prayer has been recited by the Jewish community for hundreds of years as they prayed for the welfare of each generation of the Royal House of Holland.
Holland’s rabbis have always adapted it to the prevailing circumstances, as they have in our times as well, under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Binyamin Jacobs.
In addition to mentioning the name of the king, the prayer for the welfare of King Willem-Alexander also refers to his wife, his daughters and his mother, the departing Queen Beatrix.
In the words of the prayer: “May He bless… his wife the queen, and their daughter, next in line to the throne, along with the rest of their daughters, and Princess Beatrix the mother of the king, and the entire royal family, may their glory be exalted.”
The prayer also includes a special petition for the Jewish community and its relationship with the royal family: “May the King of all kings, in His mercy, instill in the heart of the king and in the hearts of all his ministers and advisors a spirit ofintegrity and righteousness, that they may do that which is good for us and for all of Israel.”
On the eve of the coronation, a special traditional ceremony was held in the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. This ancient synagogue, which is lit only by candles, was lit on this day with orange candles, coordinating with the name and color of the Royal House of Orange-Nassau.
During the ceremony the head of the congregation took out 14 Torah scrolls, and a special prayer was said in honor of the coronation.
Three representative of the Jewish community participated in the national ceremony held on Tuesday at the Royal Palace, among them the Chief Rabbi Binyamin Jacobs and Rabbi Aryeh Ralbag, rabbi of Amsterdam.
Rabbi Jacobs, who is also a member of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe (RCE), related that the new king’s words filled him with optimism.
“I am certain,” he said, “that the warm relationship that prevailed between the outgoing Queen Beatrix and the Jewish community will continue under the reign of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, particularly in light of the fact that the king mentioned in his coronation speech that he intends to follow in the path established by his mother, whom he admires.”
The new king's popular Argentine-born wife became Queen Maxima and their eldest of three daughters, Catharina-Amalia, who attended the ceremony wearing a yellow dress, became Princess of Orange and first in line to the throne.
Around 29,000 Jews live in Holland out of a total population of 16,7 million.