Program for Liberation Day, May 8th

Commemoration and panel debate

On May 8, 2025, it will be 80 years since the German occupiers capitulated and Norway was liberated. This day marks the end of a horrific history that hit the Jews particularly hard. We are participating in two events on this day: a commemoration at the Jewish cemetery at 1 p.m., and a lecture and panel debate at the House of Literature at 6 p.m.

The Jewish Museum Trondheim will be open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission.

The commemoration is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

The event at the House of Literature costs 75 kroner per person. Tickets can be purchased here: https://litteraturhusetitrondh...

Program at the commemoration

The Jewish community in Trondheim, the Jewish Museum Trondheim and the Jewish Cultural Festival Trondheim invite you to a commemoration at the Jewish cemetery at Lademoen, at 1 p.m. on May 8. Everyone who wishes to participate is most welcome.

There will be speeches by:

Kent Ranum, Mayor

Hanna Geiran, Minister of National Antiquities

Kaddish (memorial prayer) by Ralph Buchmann, former director of the Jewish Community in Trondheim

Program at the House of Literature

The USA has had a president who despises democratic rules. In Europe, far-right parties, which openly flirt with fascism and hatred of minorities, are receiving support from large groups of voters. We are forced to ask the unthinkable question: Could it happen again? Could fascism once again become an existential threat to our democracy and minorities? How do we combat the authoritarian forces that are emerging - before it is too late?

The Jewish Community in Trondheim, the Jewish Museum Trondheim, in collaboration with the House of Literature in Trondheim, invite you to a lecture and debate on the occasion of Liberation Day on May 8.

On the program:

18:00: The fight against fascism - then and now.

Lecture by Jonas Bals, historian and author of the books “Our Struggles” and “The Struggle Continues”. He will talk about the fight against fascism and lessons that are relevant today. The lecture is based on the history of the Jewish family Claes, who lived in Bal's own neighborhood.

18:30: Hidden Jewish Lives.

Lecture and conversation with Joanna Rubin Dranger, winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2023. She will talk about her latest book, “Hidden Jewish Lives.”

19:00 – 20:30: Panel discussion: Can it happen again?

How could fascism and Nazism gain such strong support in the last century? What danger signs do we see in our own time. How should we work to ensure that it never happens again?

In the panel:

Jon Reitan, historian at NTNU

Ingjerd Veiden Brakstad, historian at the Falstad Center.

Jonas Bals, historian and author.

Joanna Rubin Dranger, author.

The conversation is led by Jo Røed Skårderud, journalist at Klassekampen and program worker at the House of Literature in Trondheim.

Read more about the event and find tickets here.