Shul! – The Old Town’s synagogue

From December 9th 2026

At Själagårdsgatan 19, where the Jewish Museum is housed, a synagogue once stood. Jewish life unfolded here through worship, holiday celebrations, education, and major life events. The synagogue served as a centre of Jewish life in the city and across the country. For nearly a century, from 1795 to 1870, the Jews of Stockholm gathered here to take part in community life and to seek guidance and support from the rabbi. Community leaders worked to solve everyday challenges and improve the conditions for Jews across Sweden.

The exhibition’s title, Shul, is a common name for synagogues in Yiddish – a language that many Jews have brought with them to Sweden over the centuries. The word literally means “school.” Since synagogues have always been places for learning, shul became the everyday term for synagogue, and it is still used today.

The people who prayed, lived, and worked here were pioneers of Jewish life in Sweden. This exhibition tells their story and the story of their Old Town shul.

Image: BankerWessel