Jewish Community of Iceland

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Historical photos

Gyðinga Saga The Gyðinga saga - the Saga of the Jews - was written in Iceland in the 13th century. It is a translation of the First Book of Maccabees and fragments from the writings of Flavius Josephus. This saga offers a glimpse into how medieval Icelanders encountered Jewish history and tradition.	The First Tall Building In 1912, Fritz Nathan, a Danish Jewish merchant, settled in Iceland and co-founded the trading company Nathan & Olsen. In 1917, he built Reykjavík’s first tall building at Austurstræti 16, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson. It was also the first building in the city to be lit by electricity. Photo credit: 1912.is	Iceland's Music Culture Granted rare refuge in Iceland after escaping Nazi Germany in the 1930s, Jewish musicians Robert Abraham and Heinz Edelstein played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s early classical music scene. Their impact on Iceland’s musical culture was lasting and profound. Photo credit: musik.is	Yom Kippur 1940 On Yom Kippur 1940 a service was held in the Gúttó building in Reykjavik with Jewish refugees and British soldiers. Photo credit: Wikipedia	Rosh Hashana 1941 Jewish American and British servicemen gathered at the old technical training school for Rosh Hashanah services in 1941. Photo credit: National Museum of American Jewish Military History
Prayer Books These are some of the prayer books that were used for the High Holiday services in Iceland in the early 1940s.	Jewish Graves Old Jewish graves can be found in the regular cemeteries in Iceland. This grave is of Helene Lea Mann who passed away in 1945. Photo credit: jewishphotolibrary.com	Hymie Steinberg Pilot Officer Hymie Steinberg served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. On 19 December 1944, while on an anti-submarine patrol mission, Steinberg's aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain near Reykjavik.	Funeral The funeral of Hymie Steinberg and his fellow crew members, who perished in a plane crash during an anti-submarine patrol mission on 19 December 1944, held at Fossvogur Cemetery. Photo credit: Canadian Virtual War Memorial	The Holocaust During the Holocaust, Iceland maintained restrictive immigration policies and largely denied entry to Jewish refugees, with only a few exceptions. Click here to read about the research and exhibit by artist Erik DeLuca.
Tree Planting In the 1980s, the Iceland–Israel Association established this grove in Heiðmörk. The plot was later adopted by the Jewish Community and it has become an annual tradition to plant trees on this plot.	Jewish Gatherings In the 1980s, Jews in Iceland would gather in various spaces in Reykjavik to celebrate holidays or life cycle events.	Printed in Iceland The Tanya - a foundational work of Jewish mysticism and philosophy by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi - was printed in Iceland in 1984 to help make its timeless teachings accessible to all.	Jewish Community In 2018, Jewish Community Iceland - Beit Tovah Chabad was established under the leadership of Rabbi Avraham and Mushky Feldman.	Public Menorah In 2018, a public menorah was lit up on Laugavegur, making it the first public celebration of Judaism in Iceland. This event has become an annual celebration and includes the participation of dignitaries, city and government officials. Photo credit: Gabriel Rutenberg
Holocaust Memorial In January 2020, the annual Holocaust Memorial Event was established in cooperation with the University of Iceland, the Polish Embassy, the German embassy and the US Embassy. Photo credit: The Embassy of Poland	The Torah of Iceland In February 2020, the Torah of Iceland was completed and celebrated. The final lines were written in Reykjavik, after which the inauguration continued with a procession on Laugavegur. Photo credit: Gabriel Rutenberg	Official Recognition In 2021, the Jewish Community received officical recognition from the state. Photo credit: Gabriel Rutenberg	The Jewish Center In 2024, a building was purchased for the Jewish Center of Iceland.

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