Norway has been one of the last countries in Europe to lack such a museum in its capital. Trondheim has had a local Jewish Museum, but there was little display of Jewish history and culture in Oslo apart from small exhibits at the Norwegian Folk Museum and those at the Holocaust Center that opened a few years ago on Bygdøy.
Now an old synagogue at Calmeyers Gate 15B has been restored and reopened to tell the story of Jews in Norway since the first immigrated more than 150 years ago.
"In other countries, Jewish culture is a natural part of the country's culture," said the new museum's leader Sidsel Levin. "That hasn't been the case in Norway."
Norway's government ministers for defense and culture joined the crown prince at the opening, which also was attended by Israel's ambassador to Norway. The museum's debut exhibit describes how Norwegian Jews have influenced both cultural life in Norway and the struggle against German occupation during World War II.
