Dear Norwegian and Israeli friends, Rabbi Michael Melchior, Professor Emeritus Yehuda Bauer, distinguished guests from Norway.
And dear Hildegunn: thank you for inviting me to address this important seminar. It follows the opening of the exhibition in this museum, Wergeland’s Legacy, jewish life in Norway from 1851 to 1945, and deals with the situation in Norway after the horrific events of the Second World War and the Holocaust.
A historic decision was made by the Norwegian Parliament in 1999 when it voted unanimously to grant economic restitution to the Jewish citizens who were victims of the Nazi occupation of Norway during WWII. The settlement came late. More than 50 years after the war ended few survivors were left. But it was nevertheless a vital action, not only for economic reasons. The Government expressly recognized that the compensation was based on moral considerations and an acceptance of responsibility of errors of the past.
In addition to the individual compensation to the victims and their descendants, NOK 250 million was set aside as collective compensation. Out of this, 150 million was transferred to the Mosaic community in Norway, to secure Jewish culture and future in Norway. 60 million was set aside for Jewish institutions and projects outside Norway and 40 million was set aside for the establishment of the Center for the Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities.
The History of the Holocaust – or Shoah in Hebrew – tells of the horrendous consequences of anti-Semitism in the recent past. Today we are reminded that we all have a duty to prevent anti-Semitism from ever regaining a foothold – either in Norway or in any other country.
The ideas that led to the Holocaust have not disappeared. They find expression in new ways and in new places. We all have an obligation to fight anti-Semitism, racism and all ideologies that exclude groups of people and spread hatred.
The Norwegian Government is very serious in its efforts to combat anti-semitism and other forms of racism or religious intolerance. We currently hold the chairmanship of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, the ITF. We approach this task with humility, and with a keen awareness of the challenges ahead. In the ITF we have an important tool for helping ourselves and others by reaching out to peoples’ minds, both individually and collectively, through cooperation with schools, museums, memorials and research institutions.
The restitution process and the ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism are but two aspects of the relationship between Norway and its Jewish Minority. The relationship is multi-faceted and rich in so many ways. I sincerely hope that this seminar will contribute to a better understanding of Jewish life in Norway today, the overwhelmingly positive aspects of which unfortunately are rarely heard of in Israel.
I would like to say on a personal note. We must acknowledge that a formal restitution process can never fully repair the suffering experienced and damage done to the jewish minority, be it in Norway or in the many other countries where grave injustice occurred. The issue is of course not only material. The issue is also emotions and trauma, trauma that was experienced during the war and the Shoah, and trauma that stems from years of discrimination. This gives rise to frustrations and legitimate complaints.
I believe the playwright Henrik Ibsen pointed the way when he famously stated “the minority is always right”. If we consider the ultimate consequence of this notion, it can perhaps by some be seen as an inflammatory statement by, but to me it reflects a basic truth. It will never suffice that we base ourselves solely on the notion of equal rights for minorities. Integration, security and non-discrimination requires the majority to walk the extra mile, to make the additional effort. Governments needs to take this into account, as I belive the Norwegian Government does. Perhaps not in a perfect manner, perhaps not to the satisfaction of all, but there should be no doubt that the effort is serious, genuine and sustained.
Let me end by stressing three basic points: Firstly, Norway was among the first nations to deal with the issue of restitution and to reach, I believe, a satifactory result. Secondly, the outcome was broadly welcomed by jewish organisations in Norway and abroad. Both then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the World Jewish Congress said that Norway’s treatment of the restitution issue should be seen as an example for other countries to follow. I add that the then Prime Minister of Norway, MR. Kjell-Magne Bondevik, was awarded the American Raoul Wallenberg Prize, as a result of the personal efforts he deployed in the matter. Thirdly, the Norwegian Government walked the extra mile and adopted the recommendation of the minority version of the report of the restitution committee, a version that was clearly more forthcoming to the jewish community. This decision was met with strong support in the parliament and in public opinion.
I am convinced that the sensitive and difficult restitution process in the various countries concerned needs further debate. That certainly is true also for my country. I therfore strongly welcome this seminar, so fittingly held in Israel. I wish all participants the best of luck.