Raphael Evers

Raphael Evers (born May 8, 1954) is an Orthodox rabbi, the Rabbi of Düsseldorf.

Evers was born in Amsterdam, and grew up in Amsterdam-West. He is the son of Dutch Jewish parents, Hans Evers and Bloeme Evers-Emden (1926-2016). His mother was deported from Westerbork to Auschwitz in September 1944 on the same train as Anne Frank, whom she had known in Amsterdam. Evers-Emden survived the war, and later published four books detailing her research on Dutch Jewish children hidden during the war.

Evers has been connected as a rabbi to the Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap (Dutch Israelite Religious Community) (NIK) since 1990. He is also the dean of the Nederlands Israëlitisch Seminarium (Dutch Israelite Seminary), where Dutch rabbis and Jewish teachers are trained. Evers finished two studies—Psychology and Fiscal Law—and received rabbinical ordination in 1989 from several distinguished rabbinical authorities. He is known for his encyclopedic knowledge on almost all facets of Judaism.

Evers is secretary of the Nederlands College voor Rabbinale Zaken (Dutch College for Rabbinical Affairs), and secretary on the board of the Bijbels Museum (Biblical Museum) in Amsterdam. He is also a member of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), and of the Joods Marokkaans Netwerk Amsterdam (Jewish Moroccan Network Amsterdam). Because of his work for, and in name of, the Dutch Jewish community, Evers was given a place in the Golden Book of Moroccan Judaism; he was also honored for his 25-year jubilee at the Nederlands Israëlitisch Seminarium.

After the murder of Theo van Gogh on November 2, 2004, Evers presented, alongside representatives of Christian and Muslim communities, a Samenlevingscontract (Cohabitation Agreement) to the President of the Dutch House of Representatives.

He has also spoken out on the increasing anti-Semitism displayed by Dutch Muslim residents of Moroccan and Turkish descent, allowing himself and his mother to be filmed on the subject by French television. In 2010, his son, Bentzion Evers, told the press that he is planning to move to Israel because of anti-Semitism, and that his father also plans to leave Holland after his retirement. Five of Evers' children have already left the country.

Evers has produced several publications on Jewish topics.

• Tsedaka het bijbelse tiende (on giving charity)
• Kaddiesj: Theoretische en praktische aspecten van het Kaddiesj-gebed (lit.: "Kaddish: Theoretical and practical aspects of the Kaddish prayer")
• Aan tafel bij de rabbijn (lit.: "Sharing meals with the rabbi"—on eating and drinking from a Biblical perspective)
• Talmoedisch denken (lit.: "Talmudic thinking"—on how to interpret the rules of the Talmud)
• Oude wijn in nieuwe zakken (lit.: "Old wine in new jugs"—on current events in the Jewish community)
• Tijd van leven (lit.: "Time of living"—on the 24-hour economy)
• Op het leven! (lit.: "On life!"—on medical-ethical topics out of a Jewish perspective)
• Geen bloemen, wel bezoek (lit.: "No flowers, although there are visitors"—on death and mourning)
• De Echte Tora (lit.: "The Real Torah"—on the history of the Talmud)
• Moge uw ziel gebundeld worden
• De sja'atnez wijzer (verboden combinaties van wol en linnen): een moderne gids voor de diniem van sja'atnez voor de praktijk (on the laws of shaatnez)

Evers has also written Hebrew-language books and articles concerning rabbinical topics. He also writes articles on a regular basis for newspapers and magazines, as well as study material used in Dutch schools. He is a frequent spokesman for the Jewish point of view on radio and television, and during debates and lectures.