Research and Innovation
We conduct active research in collaboration with NTNU to preserve and digitize our extensive collections.
Kunnskapsdeling
We actively share knowledge and invite dialogue about Jewish history and culture.
Innovative Prosjekter
Our innovative projects contribute to increased understanding and engagement.
Sustainable Initiatives
We are dedicated to sustainable initiatives for knowledge, dialogue and diversity.
Fremtidsrettet Forskning
Our research and innovation ensure that we are a center of excellence for Jewish history and culture.
In 1925, the synagogue at Arkitekt Christies gate 1b opened its doors for the first time – but the history of the synagogues in Trondheim begins long before that. From the time the first Jewish immigrants arrived in the city around 1880, a congregation, a cemetery and a need for a permanent place of worship were gradually established. Before a permanent synagogue building was built, religious gatherings were held in private homes and rented premises.
Through this exhibition work, we highlight the role of synagogues in Trondheim's history – from early gathering places and congregation building, via architectural establishment and reconstruction after the war, to today's vibrant cultural arena. The exhibition examines how the functions, use and symbolism surrounding the synagogue have developed over time, and how this journey reflects developments in the Jewish community. It is about identity, resilience and community – and about a house of worship that has always been more than walls and mortar.
This is what we stand for
As a museum for a national minority, we strive for quality, accessibility, collaboration and continuous innovation in everything we do. We shall be relevant, timely, inclusive and respectful in all aspects of our work. These values guide us in fulfilling our mandate in a meaningful and sustainable way.
The synagogue is more than a building – it is a heartbeat through generations, a space where faith, tradition and belonging come to life.
The synagogue through 100 years
How has the function of the synagogue in the Nordenfjeld region changed over time?
Through the exhibition The Synagogue through 100 Years, we follow the development from the meeting rooms in St. Jørgensveita, via the dramatic seizure during the war, the secret synagogue in the Methodist Church, and up to the reconstruction and revitalization of the synagogue after the Holocaust. It provides a unique insight into how the architecture, use and symbolic value of the synagogue have changed – in step with the society and congregation it houses.
The exhibition also looks back at the times of crisis in the 1970s and 80s, when both the membership base and the building stock were threatened, and towards the strong turning point in the 1990s with reconstruction, the establishment of the Jewish Museum and a gradual renewal of both faith and community.
Today, the synagogue stands as a cultural and social gathering point for a multicultural Jewish community. From a modest room in an attic to a national cultural monument and vibrant arena for faith life and dialogue – this story shows how a building can reflect both struggle and continuity, grief and celebration.
