History and Demography
There are 900 Jews in Helsinki, the capital, and another 200 in Turku. Jewish settlement in Finland is of relatively recent origin, dating back to 1825. The first Jews to settle in the country were Russian Army conscripts - the so-called Cantonists who served in Russian-ruled Finland and who were permitted to remain there upon completion of their military service. These Jews were later joined by others from Russia, Poland and Lithuania. Jews living in Finland were subject to many restrictions, including obligatory registration. These were abolished once the country became independent in 1917. In the late 1930’sadmission was granted to about 250 Jewish refugees from Central Europe, and in recent years a number of Jews from the former Soviet Union, Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe found sanctuary in the country.
Finnish Jewry was spared the horrors of the Holocaust, in part due to the resolute stand of the Finnish authorities who refused to surrender Finnish Jews to the Germans.
When Himmler demanded that Finnish Jews be turned over to the Germans, Prime Minister Rangell is reported to have said that the Jews of Finland were decent people and loyal citizens whose sons fought in the army like other Finns.
Community
The Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland is the leading communal body. The community’s outstanding priority is the preservation of the Jewish heritage, including stemming the tide of assimilation. Most Finnish-Jewish youth are sent to Israel as teenagers in order to bolster their sense of Jewish identity. The community maintains a home for the aged. Finnish Jews have been active in reaching out to their Jewish neighbors across the Baltic, particularly in Estonia.
While anti-Semitism has not been a serious problem in Finland, there have been a number of isolated incidents that have raised concern. These include the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, swastika daubings and threatening telephone calls to members of the Jewish community.
Communal Life
There are synagogues in Helsinki and Turku. Services are conducted according to Orthodox practice. Most Finnish Jews, however, are less observant in their private lives. Kosher food is available and there is a kosher butcher. There is a Jewish day school in Helsinki, in which 100 students are enrolled from grades one to nine, and a Jewish kindergarten. The community also operates a Talmud Torah.
Israel
Formal relations were established between Israel and Finland in 1948. Aliya - Since 1948, 723 Finnish Jews have immigrated to Israel.
Sites
The leading sites in Helsinki are the synagogue, the adjacent community center and the Jewish cemetery where a section is devoted to the Jews who fell in the Finnish Army in the Russo-Finnish and Continuation Wars.
Contact
Central Council of Jewish Communities in Finland
Suomen Juutalaisten Seurakuntien Keskusneuvosto ry
PRESIDENT : Rony SMOLAR
Malminkatu 26
00100 Helsinki 10
Tel. 358 - 0 694 1303
Fax. 358 0 694 8916
Email : srk@jchelsinki.fi
Embassy
Vironkatu 51
00170 Helsinki 71
Tel. 358 - 0 1356 177
Fax. 358 0 1356 959