Jødisk museum Trondheim

The Jewish Centre in Trondheim houses the only Jewish museum in Norway. It sits at Arkitekt Christies gate 1, inside the synagogue building, and tells the story of a small but significant community in the city. The museum opened in 1997 as a gift to Trondheim for the city's 1,000th anniversary.

What is the Jewish Centre in Trondheim?

It combines a living religious community with a compact museum. Trondheim's synagogue is one of only two in Norway, and having the exhibition under the same roof means the history here is not just something behind glass. The building still serves worshippers, and visitors step into a place with a long local tradition.

The museum opened in 1997. It was offered to the city as a present for its millennium celebrations, which says a lot about how closely the Jewish community feels tied to Trondheim and how much it wanted its story to become part of the story of every resident.

What can you see?

The exhibition is intimate and relies heavily on photographs and the stories of individual people. It traces the beginnings of Jewish life in Trondheim, the arrival of families from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century, everyday community life, and the tragedy of the German occupation during the Second World War.

One story stands out: that of Cissi Klein. She was a thirteen-year-old schoolgirl arrested in Trondheim in 1942. Photographs in the exhibition recount how she was taken straight from her school desk by the Norwegian police and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her fate has become one of the most moving symbols in Norway of the Holocaust and of how deeply it struck ordinary families.

The Cissi Klein memorial

A memorial to the girl stands near the synagogue. Every year on 6 October, the anniversary of her arrest, Norwegian schoolchildren lay flowers there. If you are in Trondheim at that time, you can witness this local ceremony yourself. It is a quiet, powerful moment that stays with you.

Who is it for?

• anyone interested in the history of the Second World War in Scandinavia,
• families with teenagers who want to discuss the Holocaust through a concrete, human example,
• travellers looking for something in Trondheim beyond Nidaros Cathedral and the colourful waterfront houses,
• visitors curious about Jewish culture and heritage in Norway.

A visit usually takes little time, but it is worth leaving a few minutes for silence and reflection. The museum is small, so do not expect large halls or multimedia installations. The strength of this place lies in the stories of individual people.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Jewish Centre in Trondheim? At Arkitekt Christies gate 1, in the synagogue building in the city centre.

Is it the only Jewish museum in Norway? Yes, it is the only museum of its kind in the country.

When did the museum open? In 1997, as a gift to the city for its 1,000th anniversary.

Who was Cissi Klein? A thirteen-year-old Jewish girl from Trondheim who was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her story is one of the main threads of the exhibition.

Should I check opening hours before visiting? Yes. The museum is run alongside a religious community, so visiting hours may be limited. It is best to ask ahead before you go.