The World Jewish Congress (WJC) announced the opening of its Nordic regional office on Thursday. “Sweden is a trusted partner in our shared fight against antisemitism, and we look forward to our continued cooperation,” it tweeted.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson attended the opening of the office on April 20, which he said marked “a return to history,” since the WJC Swedish section “also became a hub for Danish and Norwegian Jews in exile” during World War II.
Kristersson said he and his government won’t remain silent “in the face of shrinking freedom for Swedish Jews” and that they will work with the WJC on combating antisemitism. They will also strengthen Jewish life in Sweden, he stated.
“The World Jewish Congress has had a strong connection to Sweden, dating back to when our Swedish Section worked to provide safe haven to Holocaust survivors in the 1940s,” said Ronald S. Lauder, president of WJC.
