A museum focusing on Norway’s Jewish culture opened in Oslo. The museum, at the site of a former synagogue in the country’s capital, aims to educate visitors about Norway’s Jewish history since Jews began to immigrate there 150 years ago, according to the Norwegian news site Aftenposten.
The debut exhibit describes the Jewish influence on Norwegian culture as a whole and the community’s struggle during World War II against German occupation. Among those attending Monday’s opening ceremony were Crown Prince Haakon and the Norwegian defense and culture ministers.
Norway was among the last European countries to lack a Jewish museum in its capital, though Trandheim, in central Norway, has a Jewish museum. There have also been small exhibits about Jewish culture at the Norwegian Folk Museum and the Holocaust Center.
In other countries, museum head Sidsel Levin told Aftenpolten, “Jewish culture is a natural part of the country’s culture. That hasn’t been the case in Norway.” An estimated 1,500 Jews live in Norway.
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