A new study has found that many Jews in Norway feel increasingly isolated, insecure, and pressured to hide their Jewish identity, with many describing the period since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, as a turning point in their lives, reports The Jerusalem Post.
The report, produced by the Centre for Holocaust and Minority Studies, is based on interviews with nearly 100 Norwegian Jews conducted between November 2025 and May 2026. It provides a detailed picture of how antisemitism, social exclusion, and public hostility have affected members of the country’s small Jewish community.
Many participants said that before October 7, they had generally felt comfortable being Jewish in Norway. Since then, however, they have experienced a growing sense of alienation and vulnerability.
Several respondents described feeling abandoned by friends and colleagues in the aftermath of the Hamas massacre. One interviewee recalled being devastated by reports of the attack and seeking support from friends, only to be met with indifference and comments suggesting that such violence was simply part of the conflict in the Middle East.
Others said that friends they had known for years never contacted them after the attack, despite knowing that they had family or personal connections to Israel and the Jewish community.
The report also documents antisemitism experienced by children and young people. Some parents reported that Jewish pupils faced exclusion and hostility in schools, while one respondent described a teacher sharing images online in which a Star of David was transformed into a swastika. According to the report, the teacher’s behaviour was not reported because the student feared possible repercussions at school.
One university student recalled introducing himself as Jewish during orientation week and being told by another student, “If I were Palestinian, I would beat you up.”
Many interviewees said these experiences had led them to conceal their Jewish identity in public. Some no longer wear Star of David jewellery, avoid speaking Hebrew outside the home, or choose not to tell new acquaintances that they are Jewish.
Parents described deliberately changing the subject when their children discussed Jewish identity in public places, while others said they had become cautious about openly expressing any connection to Judaism or Israel.
The emotional impact has been significant. Respondents spoke of anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion, and prolonged anger. Several described living in a constant state of tension, feeling that Jews and Israelis were routinely portrayed in a negative light across public discourse.
One parent said that immediately after October 7, he inspected and secured his home, gathered items that could be used for self-defence, and began thinking seriously about how to protect his family.
A recurring theme throughout the report was the fear that history could repeat itself. Nearly all participants were descendants of Holocaust survivors, and many said family memories of persecution had become newly relevant.
Several respondents spoke openly about discussing whether it remained safe to stay in Norway. While many said they remained committed to Norwegian society and had no immediate plans to leave, others expressed concern about the long-term future of Jewish life in the country.
One interviewee said they feared it might only be a matter of time before Norway’s Jewish community gradually disappeared altogether.
The findings have prompted concern among Norwegian officials. Bjørnar Skjæran said the report provides important evidence of how Jews themselves are experiencing antisemitism and social exclusion.
He described it as deeply troubling that Jewish citizens feel insecure and isolated, particularly Jewish children, and called for stronger efforts to combat antisemitism across Norwegian society.
Ester Nafstad, co-founder of the Nordic Jewish organisation Kos & Kaos, said the report confirms concerns that many Norwegian Jews have been raising for years.
She argued that the problem extends beyond direct threats or overt antisemitism and includes the wider impact of political polarisation, social hostility, and public discourse on everyday Jewish life.
Nafstad also suggested that Norway’s response to antisemitism has not fully kept pace with changing realities. While traditional approaches have focused on Holocaust education, security, and religious institutions, she believes greater attention must now be given to issues such as identity, social participation, online radicalisation, and the broader public climate.
The report paints a picture of a community that increasingly feels under pressure to withdraw from public visibility, raising concerns about the future of Jewish life in a country long regarded as a safe and tolerant society.
Photo credit: NTB/Ole Berg-Rusten/via REUTERS
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