Preserving Orthodox Judaism in Denmark for Over a Century
“We are obliged to both the living and the dead… to make them understand that our ancestors were just beginners, and… grasp that they are continuers in the chain of generations.”
Rabbi Wolli Jacobson, second rabbi of Machsike Hadas
Early Jewish Life in Denmark (1622–1800s)
Jewish settlement in Denmark begins in the early 1600s, when King Christian IV invited Sephardic Jews to settle and help rebuild the economy.
By the late 17th century, small numbers of Ashkenazi Jews also began arriving in Copenhagen, many fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe.
In 1684 the Crown formally recognised the community, Det Mosaiske Trossamfund (The Mosaic Faith Society), granting the right to hold services. A cemetery followed in 1693.
Despite periodic restrictions, Jews slowly gained greater civil rights, culminating in the 1814 “Jewish Letter of Freedom,” which granted equality with other Danish citizens.
Throughout this period, the community followed the Nusach Altona, rooted in the Eastern Ashkenazi tradition (minhag Polin).
Immigration and Change (1880–1916)
Large-scale Jewish immigration from Russia and Eastern Europe began at the end of the 19th century. Several thousand Jews passed through or settled in Copenhagen—many escaping pogroms, war, and poverty.
They were culturally and religiously different from the established community: poorer, Yiddish-speaking, traditionally observant, and seeking the kind of communal life they had known back home.
Yet they found little acceptance in the existing synagogue on Krystalgade, and few opportunities to practise Orthodox Judaism as they knew it.
Why Machsike Hadas Was Founded
Three key developments led to the creation of Machsike Hadas:
- New immigrants seeking a traditional Orthodox community similar to those in Eastern Europe.
- Dissatisfaction with the leadership of Det Mosaiske Trossamfund, which was seen as increasingly irreligious and passive toward assimilation.
- The dismissal of Rabbi Dr. Tobias Lewenstein, a respected figure who upheld strict halachic standards. Many rallied around him.
Out of these tensions, a new community was born.
A New Orthodox Community (1913)
In 1913, a group of around sixty men and women—most of them recent immigrants—founded Machsike Hadas, formally registered as The Association for the Preservation of Orthodox Jewry in Denmark. Its mission was clear:
- To build a community centred on Torah learning, authentic Jewish practice, and warm, daily religious life.
- To create a place where young and old alike could live Judaism “as a living tradition,” in continuity with generations before them.
For many immigrants, Machsike Hadas became a spiritual home that closely resembled the synagogues of their childhood.
Since its founding, Machsike Hadas has been an integral part of Copenhagen’s Jewish life—shaping, preserving, and strengthening Orthodox practice for more than a century.
Its original members were a true kibbutz galuyot—an ingathering of exiles—who rebuilt their lives and community after upheaval in Europe. Through their dedication, Machsike Hadas left an indelible mark on the development of Danish Jewry and keeps on welcoming new friends and members.
Learn more
This page provides only a brief overview.
To explore the full story, including personal histories, archival material, and detailed research, you are warmly invited to contact the synagogue to order the book:
The History of Machsike Hadas – The Association for the Protection of Orthodox Jewry in Denmark by Yitzchak Isaak & Tuvia Torben Samson.