About Sweden
Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. Its principal cities, eastern capital Stockholm and southwestern Gothenburg and Malmö, are all coastal. Stockholm is built on 14 islands. It has more than 50 bridges, as well as the medieval old town, Gamla Stan, royal palaces and museums such as open-air Skansen. Germanic peoples have inhabited Sweden since prehistoric times, emerging into history as the Geats/Götar and Swedes/Svear and constituting the sea peoples known as the Norsemen. It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the list of Swedish monarchs is drawn from the first kings known to have ruled both Svealand (Sweden) and Götaland (Gothia) as one province, beginning with Eric the Victorious. During the 17th century Sweden emerged as a European great power. In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Most of Sweden has a temperate climate, despite its northern latitude, with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. Sweden is mostly visited by tourists from neighbouring countries such as Denmark, Norway and Finland; Sweden's tourist sites include the Vasa Museum, the Millesgarden, and the World Heritage Site Drottningholm Palace Theatre; other tourist attractions include Sweden's art, literature, modernism and music (e.g., ABBA). Many tourists visit Sweden during summer when the temperatures are higher.
Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Sweden
The dominance of anti-Jewish hostility propagated by the Lutheran Church prevented Jews from settling in Sweden until the late 18th century. From the moment of emancipation, when Swedish Jewry numbered perhaps 1,000 people, the community's size grew steadily to 3,000 in 1880 and to 7,000 in 1933. The community tended to favor the liberal model of religious practice pioneered by the German Reform movement. From 1933 to 1939, 3,000 Jews were admitted into Sweden, and another 1,000 were allowed to use Sweden as a point of transit. By 1942, when the murderous nature of Nazi policies was revealed, and Germany's military fortunes deteriorated, the Swedish government had a dramatic change of heart and welcomed refugees. The absorption of thousands of wartime refugees greatly influenced the Swedish Jewish community. As a result, Swedish Jewry is particularly active in international Jewish welfare organizations and in supporting development projects in Israel. The community boasts local affiliates of organizations such as WIZO, the General Organization of Jewish Women, Hobonim and Bnei Akiva. There is also an organization of Jewish students. Since 1999, the community has been recognized as one of the official National Minorities in the country. Yiddish is an officially recognized, non-territorial minority language, and an estimated 3,000 mainly Polish-born Swedish Jews still speak the language. Stockhom has three synagogues (two Orthodox, one Conservative) and two rabbis. Synagogues also operate in Gothenburg (one Orthodox, one Conservative) and Malmo (Orthodox). The country’s Great Synagogue (Conservative) seats 900 people and was built in 1870 in a pseudo “oriental” style. Because of the law prohibiting shechita, all kosher meat is imported. Stockholm boasts several kosher shops and a bakery.
