Kosher and Jewish Life in Malmo

Malmö is the former Danish province of Scania's largest city, and today the third largest city of Sweden. The municipality has a population of around 305,000 in the municipalty, and around 650,000 in the metropolitan area. It's a port city located in the province of Skåne (Scania) on the southern tip of the country. Founded in 1272 as a fortified port 20 km from Lund. Malmö was for centuries the second largest Danish city while Scania was under Danish rule. It served as a hanseatic port and a very lucrative trade area. Malmö dominated the south as the largest market hub until Copenhagen grew larger during the 16th century. In 1658, as a result of many years of war, Denmark ceded the city to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde. Today about one third of the Malmö population are from various other countries, making the city the most cosmopolitan in Sweden. This has contributed to a rich cultural life and many exotic and fine food opportunities. The ship building company of Kockums used to be the city's biggest employer, but today the industrial city of old has been replaced by vast areas of middle-class suburban housing and modern eco-friendly neighbourhoods.