4 The Jewish minority in Norway

Jews are both a religious and cultural minority and one of five national minorities in Norway. 21 As a national minority, Jews are protected by the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. The national minority policy is based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

The Norwegian Jewish minority currently consists of around 1,500 people. This corresponds to around 0.03 per cent of the population. When the Constitution of Norway was adopted in 1814, it contained a clause in Article 2 which banned Jews from entering the country. 22 This constitutional provision was repealed in 1851. Immigration from Eastern Europe, primarily from Tsarist Russia in the 19 ^th century, led to the formation of Jewish communities in Oslo and Trondheim. In 1940, there were about 2,100 Jews living in Norway. The Holocaust had a devastating impact on Jews in Norway. More than one-third were brutally murdered.

The Jewish population in Norway today is diverse in terms of ethnic origin, degree of religiosity and relationship to traditions. Many Jews in Norway associate their Jewish identity as much with culture, tradition and history as with religion. The fact that there are few Jews in Norway may present some challenges related to observing Jewish holidays and in some cases to complying with religious rules. This is perhaps especially true for those who live outside of the Oslo and Trondheim regions.

There are two Jewish communities in Norway, the Jewish Community of Trondheim (established in 1905) and the Jewish Community of Oslo (established in 1892). In 2023, the two communities had a total of 755 registered members. These two communities have been the pillars of organised Jewish life in Norway since 1945. There is a synagogue in each of the cities. The congregations have both religious and secular members. There is also a small Orthodox Jewish group in Oslo, which is not registered as a faith community, as well as a Jewish organisation in Bergen. There are also Norwegian Jews who are not affiliated with any congregation or Jewish organisation.

An important activity in the two congregations in Oslo and Trondheim is to provide children and young people with education about Judaism and Jewish culture. The Jewish Community of Oslo runs both a kindergarten and a retirement and nursing home.

Jews have traditionally kept a relatively low profile in Norwegian society in terms of practising their religion and preserving their traditions. Today, Norway is a country with religious, cultural and ethnic diversity, and Jewish voices and Jewish culture have also become more visible. The Jewish Cultural Festival Trondheim and the Days of Jewish Culture in Oslo contribute to showcasing the diversity of Jewish cultural expressions. There are also communities in several cities that organise debates in collaboration with houses of literature and libraries. The two faith communities, the Jewish museums in Oslo and Trondheim and individuals belonging to the Jewish minority have all contributed to increased visibility.

The Jewish Community of Oslo participates in the annual Contact Forum for national minorities and central authorities, together with other national minority organisations. 23 The Jewish Community of Oslo and the Jewish Community of Trondheim are also in contact with the authorities regarding relevant matters. This is in accordance with the authorities’ national minorities policy and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which Norway ratified in 1999.