Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

For at least two hundred years, the Norwegians have found it very difficult to feel any kind of compassion for the Jewish people. Yes, Norway’s disdain for Israel and Jews in general has a long history. Here are a few little-known details that may surprise many of our blog readers. When Norway first declared its independence, the country’s constitution blatantly exclaimed, ““Jøder ere fremdeles udelukkede fra Adgang til Riget.” Translation: Jews are still excluded from admission to the Kingdom).” Well, by 1851 the ban was rescinded but later reinstated by the infamous Nazi sympathizer and collaborator Vidkun Quisling in 1942, but later rescinded in 1945.

Anti-Semitism cannot be so easily erased from a culture and society that has gotten use to using the verb “Jew” for anyone that acts dishonestly. However, the deeper you examine Norwegian society, you will also find that from the 8^th to the 10^th grades, 33% of the Jewish students experience bullying from their Norwegian neighbors. As one report reads, “Last month’s publication of a study ordered by the Oslo municipality on racism and anti-Semitism among students of the 8^th through 10^th grades in the town’s schools came as a shock. The study found that 33 percent of the Jewish students regularly experience bullying at school. According to the definition used, this means that at least two or three incidents of verbal or physical abuse target these Jewish students per month . . .

After Jews, the next most pestered group was Buddhists, with 10 percent experiencing bullying; “Others” were at 7 percent and Muslims at slightly over 5 percent. Fifty-one percent of all students believe that the term “Jew” is used pejoratively, 41percent had heard ethnic jokes about Jews and 35 percent heard insulting comments. Close to 5 percent had been present when the Holocaust was denied in class. Only 25 percent of the students never witnessed anything negative about Jews in school.”[1]

Norway certainly finds itself morally challenged and their contempt toward the Jew is consistent with their national animus toward the Jewish people in general, and especially toward the State of Israel. While erasing old anti-Semitic slurs is a reasonable first step toward normalcy, eradicating ancient canards against the Jews is a lot harder to confront and eliminate. When you hate one ethnic or religious group, hatred will spread like a contagion toward other peoples and faiths. In short, hatred attacks the heart and soul of the human family.

Earlier this past year, on March 29, the internationally renowned lawyer, Harvard law professor, who also happens to be a staunch supporter of Israel Alan M. Dershowitz, decided to publish an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about his recent experience in Norway.

Dershowitz had hoped he could talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but to his surprise was not allowed to mention even the name “Israel,” in any of his talks. So, Norway’s universities turned down Dershowitz’s proposed talks.

Why? The University of Oslo offered no reason for its decision; the University of Trondheim’s excuse was that the topic was “controversial.” Of course, why would any university want to discuss a controversial topic or debate, whether in medical ethics, political thought?

By the way, if you are wearing an Israeli flag on a piece of jewelry when entering the Norwegian Parliament, you can count on the security guards to ask you to remove your flag pin. The ghost of Vidkun Quisling must be smiling.

Frankly speaking, Norway is a very bigoted country that needs to do a lot of soul searching. It is a land of Quislings, which still proudly displays its animus toward Jews and Israel.

Perhaps the time has come to take the Nobel Peace Prize away from Oslo. Paris, New York, and even Jerusalem would be a far better choice.