Copenhagen – the capital of Denmark – is one of Scandinavia’s most sophisticated cities, and is a top European destination for luxury breaks. Copenhagen also has an interesting and unusual Jewish history. Denmark was almost unique in launching a successful evacuation of its Jewish citizens in World War Two and saving Danish Jews from the Nazis.
Private Jewish tours to Copenhagen with Gil Travel include wonderfully atmospheric walking tours of key Jewish heritage sites such as the Great Synagogue, the old cemetery, and a detailed guided tour of the Danish Jewish Museum. Copenhagen isn’t a particularly well-known destination for American Jews, but 400 years of Jewish history in Denmark has produced a unique story that is definitely worth exploring.
Jewish tours in Denmark combine luxury accommodations and fine kosher dining with a rich cultural and historical experience and a chance to meet some of Europe’s friendliest and liveliest people. Read on for a quick guide to Jewish heritage in Copenhagen and some top tips on how to plan the perfect customized itinerary for your tour.
Discover Copenhagen’s Jewish Past
Denmark’s 6,000 strong Jewish community traces its modern origins back to the 1620s, but it’s likely that the deeper Jewish history in Denmark goes back a thousand years. Perhaps surprisingly, the first Jews to settle in Denmark in the 17 century were Sephardim. The Ashkenazi Jews from neighboring countries were initially forbidden entry.
Danish Jews were never forced to live in ghettos and (after a few centuries of limited self-governance) steadily integrated into mainstream economic and national life. Copenhagen doesn’t have a distinct Jewish quarter like Le Marais in Paris or the Kazimierz in Krakow. The city’s Jewish community traditionally centered around the Great Synagogue on Krystalgade Street, not far from the city center.
In the early 1900s, approximately 3,000 Jewish refugees arrived in Denmark from Russia and Eastern Europe. They brought new ideas and modern outlooks that created a new cultural energy, including the establishment of Yiddish newspapers and a new theatre. When Denmark was conquered by the Nazis in 1940, King Christian X and the government worked tirelessly behind the scenes to protect Danish Jews.
The Germans planned the mass deportation of Danish Jewry in 1943, intending to murder them in the camps. The Danes preempted the Nazis and evacuated 7,550 Jews to safety in Sweden by sea. The huge majority of Danish Jews were spared the Holocaust and survived the war. Denmark was one of the few European nations to emerge from that terribleperiod with an honorable record for protecting its Jewish population.
Three Important Jewish Heritage Sites in Copenhagen
Private Jewish tours of Copenhagen are usually built around visits to three of the major heritage sites. These give a great insight into the city’s unique Jewish history and heritage and are fascinating places to explore. Gil Travel can arrange for exclusive guided tours that offer a far deeper understanding of Danish Jewish history and culture and aren’t constrained by time pressures or the need to cater to ordinary tourist groups. Most Danes speak excellent English and it’s possible to arrange lectures by local historians or even a chance to visit archives.
The Great Synagogue of Copenhagen
The Great Synagogue of Copenhagen was completed in 1833 and its exterior follows a simple and beautifully proportioned neoclassical design, almost to the point of being functional and unassuming. The interior of the synagogue is more ornate with gilded white columns and other Egyptian Revival designs, including a geometrically decorated ceiling and a fine cornice over the ark.
The building is an interesting mixture of Scandinavian and Eastern designs and provides the community with a beautiful and spacious place to hold services. Most Danish Jews are basically secular, but many will still visit the synagogue for holidays and special occasions.
The Old Jewish Cemetery
Copenhagen’s old Jewish cemetery is also known as the Great Northern Cemetery and is located in the district of Nørrebro. It’s one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Northern Europewith graves dating back to the 1690s. The cemetery passed out of use in the late 19th century, but its 5,500 graves are a who’s who of centuries of Jewish heritage in Copenhagen.
The dead include Chief Rabbi Abraham Wolff who translated the Torah into Danish and Copenhagen’s most influential merchants, artisans, artists, industrialists, financiers, and educators. Perhaps, in some ways, the most interesting graves belong to the thousands of ordinary Jews who lived quietly and contributed modestly to the life of the community. If you have Danish Jewish ancestors, Gil Travel may be able to help you research your family history and identify modern locations with a historical family connection.
The Danish Jewish Museum
The Danish Jewish Museum is a real delight. It’s situated in a specially renovated area of the Danish Royal Library (boat house) and houses artifacts, documents and objects of cultural significance from 400 years of Jewish history in Denmark. The museum was designed by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind and its winding internal corridorsform the Hebrew letters of the word ‘mitzvah’. The building design incorporates a number of religiously themed planes named Exodus, Wilderness, The Giving of the Law, and The Promised Land. The Danish Jewish Museum is arguably the world’s most sophisticated and unconventional museum and is an amazing place to visit.
Embrace a Wider Jewish Cultural Experience
Copenhagen is a thriving cosmopolitan city and there’s always a lot going on. Gil Travel can help you to plan a personal itinerary that includes visits to Jewish cultural centers and opportunities to connect with Danish Jews and attend local events. Gil Travel can also advise you about kosher dining options and help you to track down some elusive Danish-Jewish cuisine. In fact, Danish-Jewish cuisine isn’t that hard to find, but it never really developed as a truly distinctive national style.
One famous Jewish treat that’s popular with all Danes is Joedekager (Jewish cookie). The delicious butter cookies, topped with nuts and cinnamon originated with Sephardi Jews who traveled northwards via Holland and were first baked in Denmark in the 18th century. Denmark produces two excellent Jewish staples that American Jews will immediately feel at home with; herring and beef. There is also some seriously good rye bread (used to make smørrebrød open sandwiches), seafood ,and pastries.
Planning Your Tailored Jewish Heritage Tour in Copenhagen
Denmark is cold in the winter, but late spring, summer, and early fall can bring beautiful weather. Copenhagen is actually a popular choice for winter city breaks, but it gets dark early and the cold weather isn’t ideal if you plan to explore the city’s old neighborhoods and historical sites on foot. If you want to arrange customized guided walking tours and enjoy long and pleasant sunny evenings, a summer visit is the way ahead. As a rule of thumb, any time between Pesach/Shavuot and Rosh Hashanah is usually good and you may be able to celebrate the holidays with the local Jewish community.
Gil Travel has years of experience when it comes to arranging luxury private Jewish tours to Copenhagen. Denmark has a high quality of life across the board and Copenhagen is noted for its world-class hotels and gourmet restaurants. The Danish concept of luxury tends to be a little more discreet and understated than some flashier and more ostentatious cultures, but you’ll be impressed by their exceptionally high service standards.
Why Visit Copenhagen for Jewish Heritage Travel?
Denmark is a small country and when you explore Jewish heritage in Copenhagen it’s easy to adapt your itinerary to include Jewish tours to other sites in Denmark. One popular destination is the small fishing town of Gilleleje on the Danish Riviera. Gilleleje was a key site in the Rosh Hashanah rescue of Danish Jews in 1943. Local fishermen ferried Jews across the sea to neutral Sweden, saving them from deportation to the death camps. Another settlement connected to the rescue is the town of Nivå where 600 Jews hid in a brick factory kiln, before escaping over the marshes to waiting fishing boats.
Denmark is an amazing destination for US Jews who want to explore a top-quality European destination and see how an occupied country acted boldly and decisively to defy the Nazis and protect its Jewish population from the Holocaust. Gil Travel will arrange chauffeured private transport and a guided tour of the fishing towns and villages and the modern memorials to the great rescue.
Travel between European and Scandinavian countries is easy and Jewish tours in Denmark can include trips and excursions to neighbouring countries. Gil Travel is expert at creating flexible Jewish heritage tours that meet your sense of adventure and desire to explore Jewish history and culture. Talk to us today about exploring Denmark’s 400 year old Jewish heritage and creating a custom itinerary for a private Jewish tour of Copenhagen.
