Jews and Judaism in Norway today

This address was given as part of a podium discussion on Judaism in Norway today held at the Jewish Museum in Oslo on 4 March 2018. Other participants in the panel were Rabbi Lynn Feinberg (Jewish Renewal movement), Rabbi Joav Melchior (Orthodox movement, current rabbi of Det Mosaiske Trossamfund in Oslo), Rabbi Shaul Wilhelm (Chabad shaliach in Oslo) and Professor Catherine Hezser (SOAS, London, and University of Oslo) as chair. The comments argue that Judaism in Norway is diverse and relatively unknown, with a majority of Jews in Norway probably being uncounted in current population estimates. As such there is no single experience of Norwegian Jewish identity.

RECONSTRUCTING A COLLECTIVE: ZIONISM AND RACE BETWEEN NATIONAL SOCIALISM AND JEWISH RENEWAL

Since the Nazi seizure of power in Germany in 1933, German Zionists initiated a public debate about the racial meaning of Judaism. Drawing on scientific racial, sociological, and anthropological definitions that emerged within Zionism since the late nineteenth century, these Zionists tried to counter Nazi accusations against Jews. However, as the Nazi propaganda against Judaism became widespread, aggressive, and dehumanizing, Zionists responded by traversing the academic outlines of racial categories, and popularized a constructive racial image of Jews, thus hoping to rehabilitate their status and consolidate Jewish identity.

Conception of “spiritual eldering” of Z. Schachter-Shalomi

The publication of Angelova A. «Conception of “spiritual eldering” of Z. Schachter-Shalomi» is devoted to research gerontosophy ideas of one of the leaders of the World Jewish renewal movement. The organic combination of orthodox Judaism, Kabbalah and Hasidism, as well as Christian, Eastern and Sufi mysticism engendered very actual doctrine of “spiritual eldering” to the modern world. Promoting, translating texts of Jewish thinker and reformer Z. Schachter in Ukraine and neighbour countries will help to improve difficult gerontological situation of today´s world, to go beyond negative stereotypes of perception of old age and aging.

The Schachter-Shalomi Collection Anchors Post-Holocaust American Judaism Archive at University of Colorado

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Jewish Renewal, was a visionary teacher and leader who developed tools for transformation and helped a generation of Jewish Americans rekindle their faith. This article describes the acquisition, assessment, digitization and public access dimensions of the Schachter-Shalomi Collection housed at the University of Colorado, Boulder archives.