<FINLAND,
(Finnish Suomi), republic in N. Europe.
[Swedish Finland without
Jews - Russian Finland without Jews - Cantonists staying
in Helsinki and Vyborg - local resistance with brutal
restrictions]
Until 1809 it was part of the kingdom of Sweden, where Jews
had been prohibited from settling within its borders. When
in 1809 Finland became a grand duchy in the Russian Empire,
Czar Alexander I declared that he would not change any of
the existing Swedish laws, and the prohibition on Jewish
(col. 1295)
settlement in Finland therefore continued.
The first Jews to settle in Finland were *Cantonists
[[children of Jews who served in Russian military]] who
served in the garrisons in Helsinki (in the Sveaborg fort)
and in Vyborg for 25 years, and were permitted when
discharged to remain in Finland. Every residence permit
issued to them, however, was bitterly opposed by the local
authorities. On failing to have the permit given by the
Russians withdrawn, the Finnish authorities endeavored to
undermine the position of the Jews by a series of severe
restrictions, limiting their places of residence, curtailing
their freedom of movement in the province, and limiting the
occupations open to them.
Jews were subject to constant control by the Finnish police,
who required them to renew their residence permits every
three months. They were permitted to deal in second-hand
clothes only and forbidden to leave their city of residence
or attend the fairs. The slightest violation of any of these
limitations served as a ground for expulsion from Finland.
Children were allowed to live with their parents only until
coming of age. Jews conscripted to the army and transferred
to Russia were were not allowed to return to Finland after
their discharge. For relief from these disabilities the Jews
could only turn to the military governor in St. Petersburg
who was responsible for the Jewish soldiers. (col. 1296)
[Long struggle for equal
rights: clergy against, land owners for the Jews -
parliament rejects new Jewish rights in 1872 - new trade
for Jews end of 1870s - the Finnish press denies all
Jewish rights in the 1880s]
The struggle for equal rights for Jews continued for many
decades and was taken up in the Finnish and Swedish press
and in debated in the Finnish
sejm (parliament). Opposition came mainly
from the clergy, while many landowners were sympathetic
toward the Jewish problem.
In 1872 two members of the
sejm, Leo Mechelin and Antti Puhakka,
called for the removal of some of these limitations on the
Jews as the "people of the Book" but the
sejm rejected the
proposal. Toward the late 1870s Jews began to deal in new
clothes with they produced or imported from factories in St.
Petersburg. The debate on Jewish emancipation continued in
the press during the 1880s. While the Swedish intelligentsia
demanded reforms, the reactionary Finnish press obstinately
opposed any change in the statutes of the Jews. The
anti-Semites Meurman and Kihlman were opposed by Prof.
Runenberg, son of the celebrated Finnish poet, by Bishop
Alopacus and by Barons Alfthan and Wrede.
[Law of residence in towns
since 1889 - Socialist movement since 1905 for Jewish
rights]
A law authorizing Jews to reside in the cities of Helsinki,
Turku, and Vyborg was enacted in 1889. At that time there
were 1,000 Jews resident in Finland.
At the beginning of the 20th century, mainly after the
Russian revolution of 1905, signs of sympathy toward Jews
were manifested by the nascent socialist movement in
Finland. However in 1908 the restrictions still remained in
force. The Danish-Jewish author George *Brandes, who went on
a lecture tour in Finland that year, stated ironically in an
interview with the Finnish press before he left:
"I have committed three serious sins here. As a Jews, I was
permitted to stay in your country for only three days,
however I have stayed here for four consecutive days; as a
Jews, I was permitted only to trade in rags, however here I
lectured on world literature; and as a Jew, it is forbidden
for me to marry here, but in spite of all this no one
prohibited me from courting in your country..."
[Racist Zionist congress in
Helsinki 1906 - Jewish rights in Finnish parliament in
1909 are delayed by the Russian government - full civil
rights only since 1917]
Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): Finland, vol. 6, col. 1297,
the interior of the Helsinki synagogue
In 1906 the third convention of Russian [[racist]] Zionists
met in Helsinki and adopted the *
Helsingfors
Program. In 1909 the liberal elements in the Finnish
parliament overcame the opposition of the extreme
conservatives and by a majority of 112 to 48 a law was
accepted abolishing the restrictions. However, the Russian
government delayed its ratification and the Jews did not
receive full civil rights until 1917 when Finland became
independent.
Between the two world wars the Jewish population increased
to 2,000 as a result of immigration from Russia during the
early period of the revolution. Many of the Jewish youth
studied in universities, and Jews entered the liberal
professions as physicians, lawyers, and engineers. Others
turned to industry and forestry, but the majority continued
in the textile and clothing business. With a few isolated
exceptions the Jews did not take part in internal (col.
1297)
party politics or join any political movement. The author
and Mizrachi leader Simon *Federbusch officiated as chief
rabbi of Finland from 1930 to 1940.
[WW II with Jews on the
Finnish side - 1 deportation of Jewish refugees from
Austria and the Baltic countries]
During the Finnish-Russian War of 1939-40, Jews fought
alongside the Finns. When Viipuri (Vyborg) was annexed to
the Soviet Union, the Jews (about 300 persons) evacuated the
city along with the Finns. During World War II (1941-44)
Finland fought on the German side against the Soviet Union,
but, despite strong German pressure, the Finnish
authorities, headed by Field Marshal Mannerheim refused to
enforce anti-Jewish legislation. 160 Jews who did not
possess Finnish nationality found refuge in neutral Sweden.
At one stage the Finns yielded and allowed the Gestapo to
deport 50 Jews from Finland who had arrived as refugees from
Austria and the Baltic countries before the Nazi invasion.
However, after dispatch of the first transport of 11 Jews,
who were murdered at their destination, Mannerheim and the
Finnish authorities refused to continue the operation. The
peace treaty between the Allies and Finland prohibited
racial discrimination and thereafter Jews again enjoyed full
civil rights.
[Post-war times: full civil
rights for Jews - Yiddish often spoken in Finland - mixed
marriages - emigration wave to Palestine]
The Jewish community in Finland has always been deeply
conscious of its Jewish traditions, and Yiddish is widely
used by the older generation. In 1968 the Jewish population
numbered 1,750 (approximately 1,330 in Helsinki, 350 in
Turku, and 50 in Tampere). Jewish kindergartens, elementary
and high schools, in existence in Helsinki for some 50
years, were attended by most Jewish children, including
those of mixed marriages. The rate of intermarriage was
high. Twenty-nine Jewish youths from Finland fought in the
Israel War of Independence, and over 100 Finnish Jews
settled in the State of [[racist Zionist Free Mason CIA
Herzl]] Israel, mostly in the agricultural sector.
[Y.GA.] (col. 1298)
Relations with [[racist
Zionist Free Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel
In 1948 formal relations were established between Finland
and [[racist Zionist Free Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel, first by
reciprocal appointment of honorary consuls. In February
1951, Israel appointed Abraham Nissan, its minister in
Sweden, as its nonresident minister in Helsinki. In 1953 a
regular Israel legation was established in Helsinki, headed
by a chargé d'affaires.
In 1960 with the expansion of political and cultural ties
between the two countries, a resident Israel minister was
appointed in Finland and a Finnish minister in [[racist
Zionist Free Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel. In 1962 both missions
were elevated to the ambassadorial level. At that time Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion visited Finland on the invitation
of its government, as part of his tour of Scandinavian
countries, and was warmly received by the public and
government officials.
Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): Finland, vol. 6, col. 1299,
a group of Finnish girls entering Jerusalem on the
last day of the Four-Day March, 1965. Courtesy Government
Press Office, Tel Aviv
In May 1967 the prime minister of Finland, Raphael Paasio,
reciprocated by an official visit to [[racist Zionist Free
Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel. In 1968 Foreign Minister Abba Eban
visited Helsinki on the invitation of the Finnish foreign
minister. (col. 1298)
The Six-Day War (1967) aroused great emotion in all sectors
of the Finnish people. There were numerous expressions of
support for and identification with [[racist Zionist Free
Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel as a small nation fighting against
great odds, reminiscent of the experience of the Finnish
nation. Internationally its neutral status and proximity to
the U.S.S.R. force a cautious approach on Finland; its
policy with regard to [[racist Zionist Free Mason CIA
Herzl]] Israel has been neutral but sympathetic.
Cultural ties have developed between Finland and [[racist
Zionist Free Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel. Several years ago a
movement was established, mainly religiously based, called
"Carmel", aimed at brining to Israel annually a group of
youngsters for a few month's training in the Hebrew language
and acquaintance with Israel life. Tourism from Finland to
[[racist Zionist Free Mason CIA Herzl]] Israel increased,
especially from 1968.
In 1954 a League for Finnish-Israel friendship was
established, with past Prime Minister K.A. Fagerholm as
president. Finland's trade with [[racist Zionist Free Mason
CIA Herzl]] Israel comprise paper, cellulose, and paper
products. In 1955 mutual trade reached $17,000,000. At the
beginning the balance was in Israel's favor but in recent
years the balance has shifted in favor of Finnish exports.
In 1969 Finnish exports to [[racist Zionist Free Mason CIA
Herzl]] Israel totaled $10,914,000 while Israel's exports to
Finland totaled $6,652,000.
[M.AVI.]
Encyclopaedia Judaica (1971): Finland, vol. 6, col. 1296,
map with the major centers of Jewish population in
Finland, 1970
