40 år i selskab med dansk jødisk historie

Abstract

40 years ago, The Society for Danish Jewish History was established by a group of people interested in Danish Jewish history and culture. This article describes its foundation as well as the first meetings and activities, and mentions the people involved. Arne Notkin and Bent Blüdnikow initiated the establishment of the society by contacting others whom they thought might share their interest in Danish Jewish history. The response was positive; in April 1980 a founding meeting was held and a committee was elected. In the first period, the society published a journal called Dansk Jødisk Historie, and over the years Bent Blüdnikow, Merete Næsbye Christensen, Karsten Christensen, and Jan Schwarz edited it among others. The journal included historical articles revolving around Jewish life and culture in Denmark. Later, this journal was renamed Rambam published once a year. The society also published books and held lectures and seminars. Furthermore, it ensured the preservation of archival material of the Danish Jewish congregation. One of the society’s main projects was the 300-year anniversary of the congregation. An anthology titled Indenfor murene. Jødisk liv i Danmark 1684-1984 was published, including contributions by Bent Blüdnikow and Harald Jørgensen, Merete Næsbye Christensen and Britta Syskind, Niels Birger Wamberg, Lorenz Rerup, Jens Christian Manniche, Per Boje, Jørgen Hæstrup, and Bent Melchior.