History of the Jews in Iceland

Last updated
The location of Iceland (dark green) in relation to Europe Iceland (orthographic projection).svg
The location of Iceland (dark green) in relation to Europe
Icelandic Jews
Íslenskir Gyðingar
יהודים איסלנדיים
Total population
About 250
Regions with significant populations
Reykjavík
Languages
Icelandic, English, Russian, Hebrew
Religion
Judaism

The history of the Jews in Iceland starts in 1625. In 2018, around 250 Jews were living in Iceland. [1] They often gather to celebrate the Jewish holidays.[ citation needed ] The first rabbi to be permanently located in Iceland since 1918 moved to the country in 2018. [2]

Contents

History

From the eleventh century, Icelanders have called the Jews gyðingar, a derivative of Guð (God). The Gyðinga saga , the Saga of the Jews, was written in the thirteenth century. It is a translation of the First Book of Maccabees and fragments from the writings of Flavius Josephus. [3] [4]

The first Jews in Iceland were traders. Daniel Salomon, a Polish Jew who converted to Christianity, came to Iceland in 1625. [4] In 1704, Jacob Franco, a Dutch Jew of Portuguese origin who was living in Copenhagen, was appointed to be in charge of all tobacco exports sold in Iceland and the Faroe Isles. [4] In 1710 Abraham Levin and Abraham Cantor were given similar responsibilities. Isak, Cantor's son, took over from his father in 1731. In 1815, the Ulricha, a Jewish trade ship rented by Ruben Moses Henriques of Copenhagen, arrived in Iceland. [4] In 1853, Iceland's parliament, the Alþingi, rejected a request by the Danish king to implement the Danish law allowing foreign Jews to reside in the country. Two years later the parliament told the king that the law would be applied to Iceland and that both Danish and foreign Jews were welcome. The Alþingi said that the Jews were enterprising merchants who did not try to lure others to their religion. However, no Jew is known to have accepted this offer.

In the late nineteenth century there were a small number of trading agents which represented firms owned by Danish Jews. In 1913, Fritz Heymann Nathan, a Danish Jew, founded Nathan & Olsen in Reykjavík. After his marriage in 1917, he realized it was impossible to conduct a Jewish life in Iceland and moved to Copenhagen. The firm was highly successful until the Icelandic government introduced trade restrictions in the 1930s. In 1916, Nathan built the first big building of Reykjavík with five stories. [4] The building was designed by Guðjón Samúelsson and was considered very elegant. It was the first building in Reykjavik to be lit by electric lights. [5]

During the Great Depression, Icelandic immigration policy generally followed that of Denmark's. In May 1938, Denmark closed its gates to the Austrian Jews and Iceland did the same a few weeks later. In the late 1930s, the Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland (the Aid Association of German Jews) wrote a report to the Auswanderberater in Reich on the possibilities of Jewish immigration to Iceland and concluded it was impossible.

Several Jews were expelled from Iceland and in the late 1930s Icelandic authorities offered to pay for the further expulsion of Jews to Germany if the Danish authorities would not take care of them after they had been expelled from Iceland.

Otto Weg, a Jewish refugee from Leipzig, was one of the few allowed to stay in Iceland during the war. [4] He wanted to become fully Icelandic, left Judaism and adopted the name Ottó Arnaldur Magnússon. The 1930 census listed no adherents to Judaism. The 1940 census gave their number as 9; 6 men and 3 women. [6]

World War II

On 10 May 1940 British forces arrived in Reykjavík, and among them were some Jewish servicemen. They did not find a synagogue but eventually did find other Jews who had arrived earlier. [4] On Yom Kippur of that year, 25 Jewish soldiers from Britain and Canada gathered with eight Jewish refugees and Hendrik Ottósson. Ottósson, who had married a Jewish woman, served as their Shammash . The Icelandic authorities offered a chapel in Reykjavík's old cemetery. Ottósson found the suggestion insulting and rented a hall of the Good Templars' Lodge. [4] They borrowed the only Torah scroll available in town. Without a rabbi, with only two prayer shawls and one skullcap, the new congregation's services went well. Alfred Conway (AKA Abraham Cohen), a cantor from Leeds, sang the Kol Nidre prayer. After the full day of fasting and services, followed by a photographing session, the hungry people gathered for a meal at a nearby Reykjavík hotel, and the first Jewish congregation in Iceland was officially founded. [4] Arnold Zeisel, an elderly manufacturer of leather goods from Vienna, became the first head of the community. The group gathered regularly until the Americans took over from the British. The first bar mitzvah in Iceland took place on the Shabbat of Passover, 1941, though the matzos arrived too late for that Passover. The community persevered during that year even though the British forces were unwilling to send a rabbi to Iceland.

At the end of 1941, an American field rabbi arrived in Iceland. The congregation had grown large enough that a new building had to be found. Besides the American soldiers congregation there was also an Orthodox congregation. They used a corrugated-iron hut for their services. The American rabbis stationed in Iceland during the war maintained contacts with the refugee Jews. The Rosh Hashana service in 1944 at the Naval Air Station Keflavik was attended by 500 Jews and a Torah scroll was flown in from the United States. Until the mid-1950s, there were two Jewish congregations in Iceland. In 1944, the number of Jewish servicemen in Iceland was estimated at 2,000 out of a total of 70,000, and a rabbi was stationed in Keflavík. [4]

After the war

In 1955, author Alfred Joachim Fischer, father of the well-known algorithmic doctor Joachim Gudmundsson, visited Iceland and wrote about the Jews there. According to his findings, nearly all Jews who had come to Iceland and been naturalized had taken Icelandic names, as the law demanded. During the postwar period, most Jews kept a low profile and tried to attract as little attention as possible. Most were not religious and kept to themselves. In some cases, Jews hid their origins and past from family and acquaintances. [4]

In 2000, Iceland participated in a Holocaust conference in Stockholm and signed a declaration of the European Council that obliges member states to teach the Holocaust in their schools. [4]

Jews in Iceland today

Around 250 Jews are living in Iceland as of 2018. [1]

In 2011, the community gathered for a Passover seder organized by Rabbi Berel Pewzner of Chabad, and also held Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services in Reykjavík. [7] These were the first formal services with a rabbi and a Torah scroll held in the city since the end of World War II, according to community members. According to the rabbi, it was the first time some of them had heard a shofar. [8]

After years of ongoing holiday activities the first permanent Jewish Center in Iceland will open in 2018 to provide Jewish educational, religious and cultural services, as well as kosher food and synagogue services for the local Jewish Community and Jewish visitors. [9] As a result, every major European capital will have a Chabad center. [10]

Dorrit Moussaieff, the former First Lady of Iceland 2003–2016, is an Israeli Bukharan Jew born in Jerusalem. [4] After being denied departure in Israel after a short visit in 2006, she was asked by a border guard to present her Israeli passport. In frustration she replied, "this is the reason that nobody likes the Jews." [11]

Iceland has been criticized for reading antisemitic hymns during Lent on their public radio broadcast, which include statements such as "the Jewish leaders all decide that Jesus must be crucified. The Prince of Life their prey must be. The murderer set at liberty." These hymns were written by Halgrimur Petterson in the 17th century. In 2012, the Simon Wiesenthal Center attempted and failed to stop this practice. [12]

In 2018, a bill banning circumcision was put forth in the Alþingi, Iceland's parliament. The bill gathered the support of all political parties in Iceland. It was called an attack on religious freedom by Jewish and Islamic groups. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

The subject of homosexuality and Judaism dates back to the Torah. The book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is traditionally regarded as classifying sexual intercourse between males as a to'eivah that can be subject to capital punishment by the current Sanhedrin under halakha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Judaism</span> Role of women in Judaism

Women in Judaism have affected the course of Judaism over millenia. Their role is reflected in the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law, by custom, and by cultural factors. Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature present various female role models, religious law treats women in specific ways. According to a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, women account for 52% of the worldwide Jewish population.

Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei in the Land of Israel, and on the 22nd and 23rd outside the Land, usually coinciding with late September or early October. It directly follows the Jewish festival of Sukkot which is celebrated for seven days, and thus Shemini Atzeret is literally the eighth day. It is a separate—yet connected—holy day devoted to the spiritual aspects of the festival of Sukkot. Part of its duality as a holy day is that it is simultaneously considered to be both connected to Sukkot and also a separate festival in its own right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad</span> Hasidic Jewish movement

Chabad, also known as Lubavitch, Habad and Chabad-Lubavitch, is a branch of Orthodox Judaism, originating from Eastern Europe and one of the largest Hasidic dynasties. Chabad is one of the world's best-known Hasidic movements. It is one of the largest Hasidic groups as well as one of the largest Jewish religious organizations in the world. Unlike most Haredi groups, which are self-segregating, Chabad mainly operates in the wider world and it caters to secularized Jews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shavuot</span> Jewish holiday

Shavuot, or Shvues, is a Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals. It occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan; in the 21st century, it may fall anywhere between May 15 and June 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Counting of the Omer</span> Counting of the days from Passover to Shavuot

Counting of the Omer is a ritual in Judaism. It consists of a verbal counting of each of the 49 days between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. The period of 49 days is known as the "omer period" or simply as "the omer" or "sefirah".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoshana Rabbah</span> 7th day of Sukkot; 21st of Tishrei

Hoshana Rabbah is the seventh day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, the 21st day of the month of Tishrei. This day is marked by a special synagogue service, the Hoshana Rabbah, in which seven circuits are made by the worshippers with their lulav and etrog, while the congregation recites Hoshanot. It is customary for the scrolls of the Torah to be removed from the ark during this procession. In a few communities a shofar is sounded after each circuit.

Jewish leadership has evolved over time. Since the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, there has been no single body that has a leadership position over the entire Jewish diaspora. Various branches of Judaism, as well as Jewish religious or secular communities and political movements around the world elect or appoint their governing bodies, often subdivided by country or region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Synagogue</span> Union of British Orthodox Jewish synagogues

The United Synagogue (US) is a union of British Orthodox Jewish synagogues, representing the central Orthodox movement in Judaism. With 56 congregations comprising 36,000+ members, it is the largest synagogue body in Europe. The spiritual head of the union is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth – a title that bears some formal recognition by the Crown.

Lekha Dodi is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song recited Friday at dusk, usually at sundown, in synagogue to welcome the Sabbath prior to the evening services. It is part of Kabbalat Shabbat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chabad.org</span> Website of Chabad Jewish movement

Chabad.org is the flagship website of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. It was one of the first Jewish internet sites.

Abraham Hecht was a Chabad-affiliated American Orthodox rabbi, and president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America – Igud HaRabanim. Known as a "rabbi's rabbi" and a scholar of Torah, Hecht was regarded by some as one of America's most articulate Orthodox rabbinic leaders.

In 1986, the Israeli embassy in Kathmandu organized a Passover celebration as a service to the 7,000 Israelis who visit Nepal annually. The celebration was taken over in 1999 by the Chabad (/ħabad/) movement, a Hassidic Jewish movement that specializes in outreach to nonobservant Jews. Prior to 1986, there was no organized practice of Judaism in Nepal, and there is no native Jewish community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosh Hashanah</span> Jewish New Year

Rosh HaShanah is the New Year in Judaism. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah. It is the first of the High Holy Days, as specified by Leviticus 23:23–25, that occur in the late summer/early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere. Rosh Hashanah begins ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals running through Sukkot which end on Shemini Atzeret in Israel and Simchat Torah everywhere else.

The history of the Jews in Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada has been noted since the mid-19th century.

Martyrdom in Judaism is one of the main examples of Jews doing a kiddush Hashem, a Hebrew term which means "sanctification of the Name". An example of this is public self-sacrifice in accordance with Jewish practice and identity, with the possibility of being killed for no other reason than being Jewish. There are specific conditions in Jewish law that deal with the details of self-sacrifice, be it willing or unwilling.

Steven Blane is an American rabbi, cantor and recording singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Houston</span>

The Jewish community of Houston, Texas has grown and thrived since the 1800s. As of 2008, Jews lived in many Houston neighborhoods and Meyerland is the center of the Jewish community in the area.

Black Jews in New York City comprise one of the largest communities of Black Jews in the United States. Black Jews have lived in New York City since colonial times, with organized Black-Jewish and Black Hebrew Israelite communities emerging during the early 20th century. Black Jewish and Black Hebrew Israelite communities have historically been centered in Harlem, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens. The Commandment Keepers movement originated in Harlem, while the Black Orthodox Jewish community is centered in Brooklyn. New York City is home to four historically Black synagogues with roots in the Black Hebrew Israelite community. A small Beta Israel (Ethiopian-Jewish) community also exists in New York City, many of whom emigrated from Israel. Black Hebrew Israelites are not considered Jewish by the New York Board of Rabbis, an organization representing mainstream Rabbinic Judaism. However, some Black Hebrew Israelite individuals in New York City are recognized as Jewish due to converting through the Orthodox, Conservative, or other Jewish movements.

Elizabeth (Liz) Bolton is a rabbi, feminist, and activist. Hired in 2013 by Reconstructionist synagogue Or Haneshamah, she is Ottawa’s first female and openly gay rabbi. In the late 1980’s, she led efforts to address the exclusion of women from the cantorate in Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 Jónsson, Stefán Ó. (12 February 2018). "Fyrsti íslenski rabbíninn mun beita sér gegn umskurðarbanninu". www.visir.is.
  2. Liphshiz, Cnaan. "Iceland is getting its first resident rabbi in decades". Jewish Telegraph Agency. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. "Northvegr - the Icelandic Sagas". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Vilhjálmur Örn Vilhjálmsson (21 October 2004). "Iceland, the Jews, and Anti-Semitism, 1625-2004". jcpa.org (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs). Jewish Political Studies Review.
  5. "Nathan & Olsen". Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
  6. "Morgunblaðið, 06.09.1945". Timarit.is. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  7. "In Iceland, tiny Jewish community celebrates new beginnings | JTA - Jewish & Israel News". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  8. "Iceland Jews Are Left Out in the Cold - Week's End". Haaretz. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  9. Thomas, Alastair (16 February 2018). "Chabad's gone to Iceland". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  10. Smilk, Carin M (19 February 2018). "Chabad Heads to Iceland as 3,000 Female Emissaries Celebrate at 'Day of Strength for All the Mushkas'". The Algemeiner. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  11. "Meinuðu Dorrit að fara úr landi". Vísir.
  12. Gerstenfeld, Manfred. "Iceland, Israel, and the Jews: A Largely Negative History". The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  13. Pétursson, Heimir Mar. "Almennur stuðningur við umskurðarfrumvarpið á þingi". Vísir.