When we think of Scandinavia, we may picture pristine design, the quiet of the fjords, and a world of smoked salmon, minimalist cafes, and ABBA songs. It’s a region that feels comfortable, stable, and picture-perfect.

But behind the smoked fish and the modern design lies a Jewish history that rarely makes it into the cruise ship brochures. It is a story of "late arrivals" - the Jewish families who had to navigate rigid Lutheran kingdoms, proving their worth to societies that had lived without Jews for centuries.

This two-part series looks past the polished surface of the Nordic model. We’ll explore how these nations became a sanctuary for some and a trap for others, and why Jewish fate looked so radically different across three neighboring borders.