Iceland Gets Its First Jewish Center in History

The sign went up on one of Reykjavik’s main streets, and people stopped to stare. For a community that had spent decades gathering in living rooms and hotel ballrooms, the sight of a Jewish center sign — on a striking green-and-white three-story building in the heart of Iceland’s capital — was a turning point.

“It was very emotional for people,” said Rabbi Avraham Feldman of Chabad of Iceland. “Just seeing that sign.”

On July 7, more than a hundred guests — community members, dignitaries, and rabbis from across Nordic countries — gathered for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Beit Shvidler Jewish Center of Iceland, the first permanent Jewish institution in the country’s history.

The celebration began on the sidewalk, where guests cut the ribbon at the building’s entrance. Among those who addressed the guests was acting U.S. Ambassador Joanie Simon, along with local community members. Jón Gnarr, the former Mayor of Reykjavik and now a member of parliament, also spoke. “Many Jewish residents in Iceland have reported feeling hesitant to self-identify,” he said. “That’s why education and dialogue are key.” He described the center as “a living bridge, connecting cultures, dispelling ignorance, and fostering dialogue.”

Jews have lived in Iceland for more than a century. But until now, there had never been a permanent physical space to show for it. Rabbi Avraham and Mushky Feldman arrived in 2018 as Chabad representatives — the country’s first permanent rabbi and rebbetzin — and for eight years they held every Shabbat dinner, holiday event, and program in temporary spaces.

The path to a permanent home had its own turns. In early 2022, the Feldmans purchased a building and spent more than two years on plans and permits. But just as construction was set to begin, a second property — more than three times the size — became available. At 9,000 square feet, it was the kind of space they had only dreamed of: room for a sanctuary, a social hall, a Judaica and kosher shop, and a permanent exhibit called the Gallery of Jewish Life in Iceland — historical photos, documents, and stories tracing a hundred years of Jewish presence on the island.

The $3.8 million project was made possible by the generosity of key donors, among them Eugene Shvidler, Isaac and Tovah Cohen, George and Pamela Rohr, the Shmuel Isaac and Miriam Popack Foundation, and Dovid and Rivka Feldman.

The opening drew recognition from every level of Icelandic government. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir called the center “an important milestone for the Jewish community and for Icelandic society.” Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Speaker of Iceland’s parliament, wrote that “for the first time, the Jewish community in Iceland has a place of its own in which to gather, to learn, and to celebrate.” And Reykjavik Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir sent a letter on behalf of the city, writing that Reykjavik “supports freedom and human rights, regardless of culture and religion.”

Iceland recognized Judaism as an official religion in 2021, a milestone Rabbi Feldman helped bring about. The recognition gave the community formal standing — but for many, he said, it was personal. “It makes people feel like their Jewish identity is recognized here.”

Now the community has something more than recognition. It has a home — with a sign on the street to prove it.

“A community is not a building,” Rabbi Feldman told the crowd. “A community is the people who fill that building with life. Together, we are writing the Icelandic chapter in the story of the Jewish people.”