The Second World War and the re-establishment of the community

In 1940 Nazi German forces occupied Norway. Norwegian newspapers and media were full of anti-Semitic propaganda and the Norwegian government was taken over by a small group of Nazis led by Vidkun Quisling. Two years later, in 1942, Norway's remaining 750 Jews were deported to Auschwitz. Of these, only 25 survived. The remainder of the Norwegian Jewry had previously managed to escape to Sweden, where they lived as refugees until the end of the war. Over 100 Jews served in the Free Norwegian Forces, mostly stationed in Britain.

After the end of the war, in 1945, when some of the refugees returned, the Jewish community in Oslo was re-established. They found the synagogue in Oslo unharmed, miraculously. It had been used as a storage place for Nazi-literature and confiscated Jewish belongings during the war. Even the Torah Scrolls were still there, unharmed. The synagogue could, therefore, be used again as soon as it was cleaned up. The new rabbi of the community was Rabbi Zalman Aronzon. However, the level of activity, at the time, was much lower than before the war and there were long periods without a rabbi, limited teaching capability and little spiritual leadership. In 1947 the Norwegian government permitted the immigration of several hundred Jewish refugees, mostly from Hungary. In 1960, a community centre was built right beside the synagogue.

In the late 1970's a serious revival of the community began, with the appointment of a new young rabbi, Michael Melchior, and a new leadership. The rabbi made many changes in the education system. In addition to intensifying the intellectual challenge of study, Rabbi Melchior set out to build upon the principle that "Jewish culture should not merely be learnt but also lived". The "classroom-education" was extended to include obligatory weekend-seminars and camps, which would let the children actually experience what they were learning. Since then, many institutions have been established: a kindergarten, well-attended synagogue services, Cheider (afternoon supplementary Judaic classes) for all school children, a seniors' center, a supply of kosher food imported from Israel, France, and the US, study-circles as well as other cultural and religious events. During the last 25-30 years organisations such as WIZO, B'nei Akiva (being the only active Jewish youth organisation, in Norway, today), Maccabi Sports Club, B'nei Brith and Keren Kajemet L'Israel have become popular among the Norwegian Jews.

Due to the small number of Jews in Norway, the leadership saw that it was essential to maintain unity and that there should therefore only be one congregation in Oslo (about 850 members) and a smaller community in Trondheim (about 100 members). The policy of the community is to follow Orthodox laws, teachings and traditions. This form is used in the synagogue, classes etc., and for all events taking place within the community. In order for this to work in practice, there is no coercion of members in regard to their own degree of observance, as long as regulations are followed within the confines and institutions of the community.

Part of the revival of the Jewish community, during the last 20 years, has been the introduction of cantors from Israel, whose duties include leading synagogue services and teaching. These people come for a couple of years, with their families, and then return to Israel. This arrangement insures an infusion of the latest ideas from the Jewish world, especially Israel. During the last decade this has been achieved through a successful association with WUJS (World Union of Jewish Students) project Arevim. Most of the members Jewish Community in Oslo have very strong ties with the State of Israel and the Community encourages a Zionistic ideology.