| Ben Zyskowicz • Ruben Stiller • Mauritz Stiller |
| Total population |
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| about 1,500[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Helsinki (80% of the Finnish Jewish community), Turku (13%), Tampere (3%)[1] |
| Languages |
| Religion |
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Judaism |
| Related ethnic groups |
Finnish Jews are Jews who are citizens of Finland. The country is home to approximately 1,500 Jews, who mostly live in Helsinki.[1] Jews came to Finland as traders and merchants from Europe.
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The first Jew said to have settled on Finnish soil was Jacob Weikam, later Veikkanen, in 1782, in the town of Hamina which was at that point under Russian rule. During that time, most of Finland was included in the Kingdom of Sweden. In Sweden, Jews were allowed to reside in a few towns in the, all of them outside the territory that is now modern-day Finland. In 1809 Finland became part of the Russian Empire, as an autonomous Grand Duchy but Swedish laws remained in force, meaning Jews were still unable to settle in Finnish territory.[2]
Despite the legal difficulties, during the period of Finnish autonomy (1809–1917) Russian Jews established themselves in Finland as tradesmen and craftsmen. As Jews were in principle prohibited from dwelling in Finland, almost all these Jews were retired soldiers from the Imperial Russian army. Being cantonists, forced into the Russian army in childhood, they were required to serve at least 25 years. After their term expired, they had, however, the right to remain in Finland regardless of Finnish ban on Jewish settlement, a right forcefully defended by the Russian military authorities. It was only after Finland declared its independence, in 1917, that Jews were granted full rights as Finnish citizens.
Finland's involvement in World War II began during the Winter War, a Soviet Union invasion prior to Operation Barbarossa. Finnish Jews were among those made refugees after the Red Army conquered Karelia.[3] Finnish national anger at the outcome of that war led to Finland's involvement in the Continuation War (1941–1944)—while Germany launched Barbarossa, Finland resumed hostilities simultaneously. This resulted in a democratically-ruled Finland fighting alongside Nazi Germany. Because it was not a totalitarian state dominated by the Nazi party, Finnish Jews were not subject to the mass persecution and genocide of the rest of Europe. As they were never invaded by Germany, Finland's Jews did not meet the same fate as Russia's, with the genocide perpetrated by or under the cover of the occupying Wehrmacht. The Finnish Far Right did not pursue an agenda of mass persecution of the Jews, possibly because of the influence of Lutheran leaders of the movement. Approximately 300 Finnish Jews fought in the Continuation War. As Finland's forces had substantial German Army forces in support of their operations, the Finnish front was almost certainly unique in having a field synagogue operate in the presence of Nazi troops.[4][5]
Approximately five hundred Jewish refugees arrived in Finland, though about three hundred and fifty moved on to other countries. About 40 of the remaining Jewish refugees were sent for work service in Salla in Lapland in March 1942. The refugees were moved to Kemijärvi in June and eventually to Suursaari island in the Gulf of Finland. It was believed that there they would not be able to have easy contact with influential Finnish Jews .
In November 1942, eight[6] foreign Jewish refugees were handed over to Nazi Germany,[7] a fact for which Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen issued an official apology in 2000.[8] No further foreign Jewish refugees were deported from Finland after protests by the Lutheran ministers, the Archbishop and The Social Democratic Party.
Also around 1942 an exchange of Soviet POWs took place between Finland and Germany. Approximately 2,600 - 2,800 Soviet prisoners of war of various nationalities then held by Finland were exchanged for 2100 Soviet POWs of Finnic nationalities (Finnish, Karelian, Ingrian, or Estonian) held by Germany, who might have volunteered in the Finnish army. About 2000 of the POW handed over by Finland joined the Wehrmacht. Among the rest there were about 500 people (mainly Soviet political officers) who were considered politically dangerous in Finland. This latter group most likely perished in concentration camps or were executed. Based on the a list of names, there were 47 Jews among the extradited, though they were not extradited based on religion.[9]
Later in the war, Germany's ambassador to Helsinki Wipert von Blücher concluded in a report to Hitler that Finns would not endanger its citizens of Jewish origin in any situation.[10] According to historian Henrik Meinander, this was realistically accepted by Hitler.[10]
Yad Vashem records that 22 Jews of Finland died in the Shoah, although all of them died fighting for the Finnish army. Two Jewish officers of the Finnish army and one female Lotta Svärd member were awarded German Iron Crosses, but they would not accept them.[11]
28 Finnish Jews, mostly Finnish Army veterans, fought in Israel's War of Independence.[3]
The number of Jews in Finland in 2010 is approximately 1,500, of whom 1200 live in Helsinki, about 200 in Turku, and about 50 in Tampere.[1] The Jews are well integrated into Finnish society and are represented in nearly all sectors. Most of the Finnish Jews are corporate employees or self-employed professionals.[1]
Most Finnish Jews speak Swedish or Finnish as their mother tongue. Yiddish, German, Russian and Hebrew are also spoken in the community. The Jews, just like Finland's other traditional minorities, as well as immigrant groups, are represented on the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations (ETNO).
There are two synagogues: one in Helsinki and one in Turku as well as a Chabad Lubavitch rabbi based in Helsinki.
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