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Discover Jewish Stockholm Home of Raoul Wallenberg Sweden's Jewish community holds a very unique place in the continental European diaspora. During the mid-20th century, Sweden was one of the only European countries to actually witness a growth in their Jewish population. During the Second World War there was no systematic persecution by the neutral Swedish government, and, in fact, the country gave asylum to thousands of Jewish refugees from Denmark and most notably, from Hungary. The Jewish community in Stockholm was founded in 1774 and has continued to exist relatively undisturbed throughout the generations.  Perhaps Sweden is best known in Jewish history because of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish humanitarian and diplomat working in Budapest during the Holocaust. By issuing protective passports to Jews, Wallenberg single-handedly saved 10,000s of lives. He is remembered in downtown Stockholm near the Great Synagogue in a moving memorial in the shape of a huge stone ball—reminding us to be ever vigilant against anti-Semitism--that it can always get ‘rolling’ again.  In Stockholm too you will find the Great Synagogue whose interior attempts to copy an Assyrian temple and where the organ looks like an open Torah scroll! Take a stroll through the picturesque Old Town, the Gamla Stan, where the first synagogue was situated. Catch a glimpse of the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. Stockholm is home to “Paideia”, the famous European Institute for Jewish Studies, which trains scholars from the world over. Did you know that Yiddish is an official minority language of Sweden? Courses are given at the The Jewish Community Centre that is found in the Judaica House (Judaicahuset). The Jewish day school is nearby. The city boasts as well a small but excellent Jewish museum with permanent and changing exhibits.  Jewish Swedes have a long and accomplished history interwoven with the history of Sweden itself, best symbolized perhaps by the chanukkiah in the Great Synagogue. If you look carefully you will see it has the letter ‘G’ carved into the base, for the 18th century King Gustav of Sweden. And where else but Sweden can one fine a synagogue where the beams look like parts of a Viking ship!? Tour Options 3 hour walking tour of Jewish Stockholm 4 hour walking tour of Jewish Stockholm 6 hour walking tour with taxi rides, Jewish and general Stockholm Package for cruise ship passengers (Scandinavian cruises) Please see the "Discover Europe" section of our website for further tour options in Stockholm.
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