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.

Wednesday March 4, Part I.

Sweden & Norway: A Story of Two Borders

For a long time, the North was a closed door for Jews. In this session, we’ll look at the "Conditional Acceptance" era, when Swedish and Norwegian kings hand-picked which Jewish families were "useful" enough to stay. We then move into the 1940s, where the geography of the Holocaust took a dramatic turn.

We will explore:

The Royal Invitations: Why Sweden and Norway remained "closed shops" longer than almost anywhere in Europe, and how a few hand-picked families finally broke the seal.

The Norwegian Tragedy: A gripping look at the chilling efficiency of the Oslo police compared to the quiet heroism of local fishermen who turned their boats into lifeboats overnight.

Neutrality’s Price: The delicate, often uncomfortable dance of a Swedish government trading with the Reich while secretly opening its doors to those with nowhere else to run.

Thursday March 5, Part II.

Finland: The Brotherhood of Paradox.

Finland remains the great mystery on the Jewish map of Europe. It presents a historical reality that almost defies logic: a community that fought in the trenches alongside the German army to defend their country, while their own government flatly refused to hand them over to Berlin.

Our Part II highlights:

The Field Synagogue: The surreal image of Jewish soldiers chanting prayers in a tent on the front lines, with the German Wehrmacht stationed just a few hundred yards away.

Mannerheim’s Ultimatum: The moment the Finnish leadership looked Himmler in the eye and gave the famous, defiant answer that saved a community.
Life at the Edge: What it means to build a Jewish home under the Midnight Sun today, and why these small northern outposts are a powerful testament to our national resilience.

Beyond the postcards and the history books, we will explore what it truly meant to remain Jewish in the North of Europe. It is a story not just of the past, but of the courage that defines our heritage in the most unexpected places. And about Jewish life which continues to exist even in the most unexpected places.