Irene Shaland’s free Zoom lecture on April 29th

Stockholm Synagogue — stockholm synagogue

Please join us for Irene Shaland’s free Zoom lecture on April 29th

Virtual Event Hosted by New City Library, New York

Date and Time: April 29th at 7:00 PM EST, USA

Revisiting Scandinavia Post-October 7th

Join Irene Shaland, for a meaningful virtual journey through Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. While known for stunning fjords and modern design, these nations hold a wealth of compelling, often hidden, Jewish stories that resonate deeply with our shared heritage.

This is a chance to connect with the past and learn about the disturbing present: We will delve into the vibrant Jewish communities that once thrived in the region, examine the role each nation played during the Holocaust, and gain insight into contemporary Jewish life in Scandinavia. This exclusive presentation offers a unique and personal window into the rich tapestry of Scandinavia, seen through a distinctly Jewish lens.

This event is free, but registration is required: https://newcity.librarycalendar.com/event/rediscovering-scandinavia-post-october-7th-through-eyes-jewish-traveler-73744

About the Presenter

Irene Shaland is an internationally published art and travel writer and educator, with 7 books and over 30 magazine articles published in the US, Canada, and the UK. She is a contributing author and lecturer at academic institutions such as the Siegal College of Jewish Studies and Touro Law School in New York, and Center for Jewish History Research, as well as museums and cultural institutions, such as Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies, BZD, Qesher, and other communal organizations focusing on Jewish history.

Learn about Irene Shaland’s books on the subject: https://amzn.to/3DM6rDk

October 21, 2025October 21, 2025

Upcoming Virtual Lecture “Scandinavia through the Eyes of a Jewish Traveler”

From the windswept fjords of Norway to the quiet resilience of Danish Jewish communities, this journey from Scandinavia’s Jewish past to present invites those who cherish global Jewish heritage and thought-provoking history to uncover stories rarely told.

Title: “Scandinavia through the Eyes of a Jewish Traveler”

Presented by: Irene Shaland a Jewish historian and author of 7 books, including “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories: Tales of Jewish Diaspora, Persecution, the Holocaust and Rebirth in Europe, Africa and Asia”

Link to “The Dao of Being Jewish”: https://amzn.to/2T1u5kK

Event is hosted online by: BZD, Baltimore, MD, USA

Date and Time: Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST

Place: Online Zoom event

BZD Virtual Events are exclusively for BZD members (unless otherwise noted). Visit the BZD website for details:

https://bzdisrael.org/scandinavia-through-the-eyes-of-a-jewish-traveler/

BZD Phone: +410-484-4510

BZD email: office@bzdisrail.org

Event Description

Description provided by the BZD:

Join the BZD for a captivating journey through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark with internationally published author Irene Shaland. Known for their breathtaking landscapes, royal capitals, and striking modern design, these countries also hold rich and often little-known Jewish stories.

Together we’ll explore the Jewish communities that once thrived in Scandinavia, the role each nation played during the Holocaust, and what it means to live as a Jew in these societies today. From history to modern life, this presentation offers a unique window into Scandinavia through Jewish eyes.

Learn more about the presenter Irene Shaland: https://amzn.to/3DM6rDk

More about Irene Shaland: Irene Shaland

June 11, 2020December 8, 2020

Jewish Diaspora Book Review

Book cover The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories

We came across a recent review of Irene Shaland’s book “The Dao of Being Jewish and Other Stories: Tales of Jewish Diaspora, Persecution, the Holocaust and Rebirth in Europe, Africa and Asia” and want to share it with our readers.
Reviewed by Beverly Friend, Ph. D., Professor of English at Oakton Community College, Executive Director of the China Judaic Studies Association.

December 3, 2017December 9, 2020

How to Enjoy Denmark: Suggestions from a Globe-Trotter

Choosing Your Hotel in Denmark Capital Copenhagen

If you are going to take some one-day trips, you might want to stay, like we did, near the train station. I suggest a small gem of a hotel: Axel Guldsmeden. It is a masterpiece of organic sustainability in everything from their beds and showers to afternoon/evening teas.

February 22, 2015December 10, 2020

Denmark revisited: Hatred and violence in the Righteous among the Nations

Boat and Building in Nyhavn Copenhagen Denmark

Irene Shaland’s latest article “Denmark revisited: Hatred and violence in the ‘Righteous among the Nations” was published in Los Angeles Jewish Journal on February 18. Please follow the link to read it: http://bit.ly/17fPUTp

Read Irene’s Jewish stories from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

September 14, 2014December 7, 2020

Copenhagen Boat Cruise

Last May, we visited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Everything we encountered there looked beautiful; and in spite of the cold and rain, this beauty seemed almost surreal. This short video takes you on a boat cruise through the inner harbor and canals of beautiful Copenhagen. Denmark’s capital is one of the loveliest and greenest cities in Europe and is a great travel destination.

May 22, 2014December 10, 2020

Sharing first impressions from Scandinavia

We returned only a week ago from our trip to Scandinavia and have not yet started on either an article or picture gallery, but here is what we wanted to share. It was cold and often rainy (we are in the North of Europe!), but we had a terrific time every minute of our trip, rain or shine (well, it never did shine). We fell in love with this under-appreciated part of Europe. Scandinavian countries – Denmark, Sweden, and Norway – constitute arguably: the most cultural and sophisticated, most educated and prosperous (with the least income disparities), most highly taxed and socialistic (oh well…), least churchgoing and most unmarried – part of the West. People are the happiest we ever encountered, reserved, but very polite and helpful and after few minutes of conversation.