Mr. Chaim Hirsch (Hermann) Kahn, one of the oldest Jews in Oslo, rubbed his eyes in disbelief last week. “I have been living here for the last 70 years and never believed that in my lifetime I would witness what I saw today.”
Life experience taught the Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor to keep a low profile. Especially in places like Norway where, as is true in many Scandinavian countries, Jews have not found a comfort level allowing them open expressions of their identity. To dance with a Torah in the streets of Oslo seemed more than farfetched.
It’s a vibe that Rabbi Shaul and Esther Wilhelm have been working hard to change, and when they got word that a new Torah would be donated to their city’s Chabad House, they saw opportunity. The Chabad representatives would invite the community to celebrate it with all the pomp and circumstance typical of Torah dedication ceremonies in the U.S. For Oslo’s very small Jewish community, the event was happy evidence that, thanks to the bold efforts of their Chabad representatives, positive change is astir.
On August 30th, as locals looked on in anticipation, the scribe filled in the last letters of the Torah. Carried under the traditional chuppah canopy, the new Torah was hoisted up as 250 Jews brandishing flags and balloons danced down Oslo’s main street to lively Jewish music.
The procession marched past Parliament’s Storting building and ended outside the Grand Hotel, where Rabbi Wilhelm reflected on the dramatic turn of events: 70 years earlier, he noted, ships deporting Jews to Auschwitz left from the harbor at the Oslo Fjord that lies only a few minutes away from the Grand Hotel.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized the importance of being comfortable in one’s own skin and showing no fear. We took this message to heart and displayed our Jewish pride boldly, showing that we can live as Jews no matter where we are,” declared Rabbi Wilhelm.
One donor, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed a similar sentiment. “It was the biggest kiddush Hashem I’ve ever seen,” he shared. “It really changed the community. Ever since the war, people have been afraid to express Yiddishkeit in Oslo. Now, to see Jewish people walking the street so proud and fearless . . . it’s an amazing thing.”
The event was followed by an elegant sit-down dinner for 450 at the Grand Hotel’s ballroom, where the annual Nobel Peace Prize banquet takes place. Rabbi Wilhelm supervised the koshering of the hotel’s kitchens for the occasion, and a team of chefs was flown in from New York.
Capping the drama, the Wilhelms announced the purchase of a new property for the Chabad House. The dedication of a Torah scroll, a fitting introduction to the establishment of Oslo’s new Chabad House, seemed to beckon better times for the city’s Jewish community.
this article does not to justice to this event or to the amazing work of the shluchim. the amazing generosity of reb binyonim, his family, friends & associates is also beyond belief. to dance on the streets of oslo with 400 Jews, locals, visitors alike, was an uplifting experience for all who particpated. to watch the tears of the local Jews when the Wilhelm’s announced the purchase of the Chabad House was heartwarming. and to just watch the love of local Jews to the Wilhelm’s and to anyone who came to visit, to see that no one has forgotten the… Read more »
beautiful mazel tov it should go from strength to strength happiness and successful . and go Avraham fried you rock man
no words! unbeleivable!!!!!!!!!
bringing moshiach!!!
go shaul, esther, moussia, shajna, mendel, and chavi!!!!!!!!!!
love ya’ll 🙂
Who catered??
The amazing work of the shluchim in Oslo is yet to be recognised among lubavitch worldwide. In this northern city, with its immense trials in gashmiyus -no kosher food, ban on slaughter, very late summer nights – and in ruchniyus, with tremendous opposition to the holy work they do, yet rabbi Shaul & Esther Wilhelm stand strong for 12 years in lighting the fire of yiddishkeit. A small city would usually produce small results, but they manage to bring out hundreds of local Jews to their many events during the year. Each event has so much food & jewish pride… Read more »
Shaul so Awsome
Yanky R
Gives me goosebumps, Mazeltov, A Good G’Benchted Year, Moshiach Now!
To make everything perfect, Moshiach!
Avraham Fried, the best singer I’ve ever had the pleasure to hear!!
I have visited Oslo and witnessed the extraordinary Shlichus work of the Wilhelm’s first hand. These pictures are simply UNBELIEVABLE! It’s like a dream… That this should happen in Oslo is simply incomprehensible… What a tremendous Yasher Koach to the Choshuva Balei Batim who enabled this epic and historic Kiddush Hashem, that will have many long lasting fruits, and that certainly boosted the moral of Yiddishkeit, Chabad and the Shluchim in ways that could otherwise not have been possible! May you all be blessed from Hashem measure for measure for all the Brachos bestowed upon R’ Binyomin and the Oslo… Read more »
My father
and
my brother!!!!
go them!
Mazal Tov! Shaul and Esther
Your years of hard work and total dedication have richly paid off
May you go from strength to strength in good health
Moshiach Times, K’siva V’Chasima Tova L’Shana Tova U’Mesuka, Hatzlacha Rabba! Beautiful, Wonderful, Yasher Choach!!!
Mazel Tov on the new Torah and the new Chabad House.
A Truly wondrous sight of proud and happy Jews In Norway – May it be followed by the coming of Moshiach Now!