Entry 1
A page from “History of Viking Scandinavia” Published 1998
The first Jews in Scandinavia
The sources are scant about the first Jews in the Norse Realms. Oral tradition referenced in writings by Tsaphonim rabbis claim that the first permanent Jewish settlement was in Jutland fleeing from the Carolingian Empire.15 The date of this settlement is disputed between historians with dates as early as the sixth century proposed16, however, the most likely candidate based on the list of Rabbis on the Jutland Beis Din, the earliest one, is the late 7th and early 8th centuries. The first synagogue is found in Jelling and the records of the synagogue date it to the 4570s in the Hebrew calendar, 810s in the Piusian calendar.17 Around the same time a synagogue was built in the city of Roskilde,18 which supports a dual settlement of both cities by merchants bringing their families. It seems that these small communities which numbered in the hundreds by 83019 expanded quickly. By 850 the Jelling community had expanded to 5000 through immigration mostly but also massive birth rates from the relative wealth of the community.20 By this time Roskilde had 10,000 Jews.21 It is around this time that the first of the Jewish sagas, to differentiate them from the saga written by Norse Pagans and Christians, take place with three such family sagas.
The first is of the Cohen and is the largest, as it covers the exploits of all noteworthy Cohen in the north.21 It is the only one with stories that we can date to the time of the first Jews with the first such narrative about Rabbi Zechariah Ben Aharon, the founder of the Jutland Beis Din and the writer of several responsa and a commentary on the books of Joshua and Judges. Unfortunately, we have but fragments of the responsa but what we do have gives us a look into the concerns of the first Jews and paints a picture of tranquility between the Norse pagans and Jews. One such responsa confirms that any convert is of a new house or family.22 However, if their previous family wishes it they can indeed still be in the inheritance according to the laws of the land.23 The image painted by this ruling is that while we are not sure if it was a noble or a merchant, the upper class were attracted enough to Judaism to convert. Other responsa include the status of noachides, whether fish and vegetables can come from a gentile, and other responsa not relevant to the specific developing Tsaphonim.24
Rabbi Zechariah according to the sagas, fought Thor and defeated him ending the dominence over the gods over Jutland. The saga also has him fighting the demon Gabriel who mascaraed as the true angel Gabriel ending any attempt by the forces of Edom. 25 The sagas would later speak of both attempting to return, this time with Jesus and Odin, and their servants who the Raybesh fought, heralding in Ragnorak and ending the norse gods. Several saints were declared to have also been killed by the Raybesh with their relics being kept by Tsaphonim as trophies.26 The sagas also speak of the wisdom of Rabbi Zechariah, indeed the sagas say he defeated Thor and Gabriel not through brute strength but by trickery. It is from these sagas that we get a list of his responsa, of which we only have fragments of seven, numbering almost fifty. Beyond mythic exploits in the sagas we know little about this man that led the early Jewish community.
Letter to his sister from a Jewish merchant in Roskilde dated to the early 8th century:
Dearest sister,
You will be happy to know that your foolish brother has indeed found wealth in the north having followed a few of our brothers to find the source of amber. We joined around a hundred of our brethren in Roskilde where a synagogue is already operating. Our fortunes fare much better then in the Frankish Kingdom, the idolaters there are friendly and know not of the deeds that the Christians accuse us of and gladly work alongside us in trade. Already I have amassed a tidy sum from the trade of amber and other goods with the Franks. Using my knowledge of the Frankish tongue, though strangely foreign in the northern regions, I have set up many trading contacts and have for myself three ships crewed with both Jew and men of the nations, from which I draw a steady income. I urge you to tell your husband and journey up here and join me in my business. Invite the whole community, there is great fortune to be made here for the people of Israel.
Your brother
Yechiel
A section from a Jewish saga detailing with the Cohen in Scandanavia
Shimshon Son of Aharon “The mighty” was the mightiest of all the sons of Aharon. He stood among his brethren not as a scholar or priest like his brothers but as a warrior. He was born in the year 4621 4th of Tevet according to the calendar of the sons of Israel to Levi and Aila. He lived in Jutland traveling with his father as a merchant. When he came of age his father was attacked in Lothringa by Christians and killed. He swore vengeance against them and requested permission from the Jutland Beis Din to raid and pillage. Rabbi Avraham Ben Daniel, Chayim Ben Tzvi, and Shimon Ben Netanal ruled that the Christians were idolaters and as they had violated their oath with the sons of Israel, the oaths sworn to them by the sons of Israel didn’t apply. Hearing this Shimshon Son of Aharon and his brother Pincas Son of Aharon raised ten ships and set sail. They roamed the northern sea and seized much booty. Encouraged by their success they raised an even larger fleet and set sail on an invasion of Lothringia. Here Pincas led one half and Shimshon they other. Pincas raided Frisia slaying many Priests and even the Bishop there. Shimshon, however, met with an army led by Boniface. They fought for six days. On Friday Shimshon desired to wash himself for the coming sabbath. At the creek in his armor he met Boniface on the other side drinking. The two fought one on each side of the river. When the sun began to dip below the horizon, Shimson wished to pray the afternoon prayers, so he cried out to G-d to give him victory over Boniface. He tossed away his weapons so that he could not be credited with the victory for while his weapons were made by hand, his hands were made by G-d. G-d blessed him and he killed Saint Boniface.
Before sun dipped below the horizon, the battlefield was won and the Christian forces scattered before Shimson. He sabbathed there and all of his forces sabbathed there with him. The first day, he started marching back, taking with him the foreskin of Boniface as proof of his victory. The brothers after many more summers of raiding brought back much wealth and settled down. Pincas became a member of the Jutland Beis Din and married the daughter of Chayim Ben Tzvi, Abigail, and had three sons, Chayim, Avraham, and Eliyahu. All three owned much land and were wealthy. Shimshon married the daughter of Obidiah, Sarah, who fought with him in Lothringa. They had one son and seven daughters, the son being named Yehoshuah. He was named a Jarl by king Sigfred becoming the first of the sons of Aharon and Israel to be named as such.
Copy of the edict recognizing the authority of the Jutland Beis Din over the Jews of that region by king Sigfred issued in the year 4551 stored in the archives of the Danish Beis Din
In recognition of the deeds of Pincas and Jarl Shimshon Ben Aharon “The Mighty” and do to the request of both, I, king Sigfred of the Danes, recognize the authority of the Jutland Beis Din headquartered the city of Jelling over the Jutland, that administers justice to the sons of Israel. Any son of Israel or one dealing with them is required to face their justice in all matters save where the king wishes to intervene.
The first Jews in Scandinavia
The sources are scant about the first Jews in the Norse Realms. Oral tradition referenced in writings by Tsaphonim rabbis claim that the first permanent Jewish settlement was in Jutland fleeing from the Carolingian Empire.15 The date of this settlement is disputed between historians with dates as early as the sixth century proposed16, however, the most likely candidate based on the list of Rabbis on the Jutland Beis Din, the earliest one, is the late 7th and early 8th centuries. The first synagogue is found in Jelling and the records of the synagogue date it to the 4570s in the Hebrew calendar, 810s in the Piusian calendar.17 Around the same time a synagogue was built in the city of Roskilde,18 which supports a dual settlement of both cities by merchants bringing their families. It seems that these small communities which numbered in the hundreds by 83019 expanded quickly. By 850 the Jelling community had expanded to 5000 through immigration mostly but also massive birth rates from the relative wealth of the community.20 By this time Roskilde had 10,000 Jews.21 It is around this time that the first of the Jewish sagas, to differentiate them from the saga written by Norse Pagans and Christians, take place with three such family sagas.
The first is of the Cohen and is the largest, as it covers the exploits of all noteworthy Cohen in the north.21 It is the only one with stories that we can date to the time of the first Jews with the first such narrative about Rabbi Zechariah Ben Aharon, the founder of the Jutland Beis Din and the writer of several responsa and a commentary on the books of Joshua and Judges. Unfortunately, we have but fragments of the responsa but what we do have gives us a look into the concerns of the first Jews and paints a picture of tranquility between the Norse pagans and Jews. One such responsa confirms that any convert is of a new house or family.22 However, if their previous family wishes it they can indeed still be in the inheritance according to the laws of the land.23 The image painted by this ruling is that while we are not sure if it was a noble or a merchant, the upper class were attracted enough to Judaism to convert. Other responsa include the status of noachides, whether fish and vegetables can come from a gentile, and other responsa not relevant to the specific developing Tsaphonim.24
Rabbi Zechariah according to the sagas, fought Thor and defeated him ending the dominence over the gods over Jutland. The saga also has him fighting the demon Gabriel who mascaraed as the true angel Gabriel ending any attempt by the forces of Edom. 25 The sagas would later speak of both attempting to return, this time with Jesus and Odin, and their servants who the Raybesh fought, heralding in Ragnorak and ending the norse gods. Several saints were declared to have also been killed by the Raybesh with their relics being kept by Tsaphonim as trophies.26 The sagas also speak of the wisdom of Rabbi Zechariah, indeed the sagas say he defeated Thor and Gabriel not through brute strength but by trickery. It is from these sagas that we get a list of his responsa, of which we only have fragments of seven, numbering almost fifty. Beyond mythic exploits in the sagas we know little about this man that led the early Jewish community.
Letter to his sister from a Jewish merchant in Roskilde dated to the early 8th century:
Dearest sister,
You will be happy to know that your foolish brother has indeed found wealth in the north having followed a few of our brothers to find the source of amber. We joined around a hundred of our brethren in Roskilde where a synagogue is already operating. Our fortunes fare much better then in the Frankish Kingdom, the idolaters there are friendly and know not of the deeds that the Christians accuse us of and gladly work alongside us in trade. Already I have amassed a tidy sum from the trade of amber and other goods with the Franks. Using my knowledge of the Frankish tongue, though strangely foreign in the northern regions, I have set up many trading contacts and have for myself three ships crewed with both Jew and men of the nations, from which I draw a steady income. I urge you to tell your husband and journey up here and join me in my business. Invite the whole community, there is great fortune to be made here for the people of Israel.
Your brother
Yechiel
A section from a Jewish saga detailing with the Cohen in Scandanavia
Shimshon Son of Aharon “The mighty” was the mightiest of all the sons of Aharon. He stood among his brethren not as a scholar or priest like his brothers but as a warrior. He was born in the year 4621 4th of Tevet according to the calendar of the sons of Israel to Levi and Aila. He lived in Jutland traveling with his father as a merchant. When he came of age his father was attacked in Lothringa by Christians and killed. He swore vengeance against them and requested permission from the Jutland Beis Din to raid and pillage. Rabbi Avraham Ben Daniel, Chayim Ben Tzvi, and Shimon Ben Netanal ruled that the Christians were idolaters and as they had violated their oath with the sons of Israel, the oaths sworn to them by the sons of Israel didn’t apply. Hearing this Shimshon Son of Aharon and his brother Pincas Son of Aharon raised ten ships and set sail. They roamed the northern sea and seized much booty. Encouraged by their success they raised an even larger fleet and set sail on an invasion of Lothringia. Here Pincas led one half and Shimshon they other. Pincas raided Frisia slaying many Priests and even the Bishop there. Shimshon, however, met with an army led by Boniface. They fought for six days. On Friday Shimshon desired to wash himself for the coming sabbath. At the creek in his armor he met Boniface on the other side drinking. The two fought one on each side of the river. When the sun began to dip below the horizon, Shimson wished to pray the afternoon prayers, so he cried out to G-d to give him victory over Boniface. He tossed away his weapons so that he could not be credited with the victory for while his weapons were made by hand, his hands were made by G-d. G-d blessed him and he killed Saint Boniface.
Before sun dipped below the horizon, the battlefield was won and the Christian forces scattered before Shimson. He sabbathed there and all of his forces sabbathed there with him. The first day, he started marching back, taking with him the foreskin of Boniface as proof of his victory. The brothers after many more summers of raiding brought back much wealth and settled down. Pincas became a member of the Jutland Beis Din and married the daughter of Chayim Ben Tzvi, Abigail, and had three sons, Chayim, Avraham, and Eliyahu. All three owned much land and were wealthy. Shimshon married the daughter of Obidiah, Sarah, who fought with him in Lothringa. They had one son and seven daughters, the son being named Yehoshuah. He was named a Jarl by king Sigfred becoming the first of the sons of Aharon and Israel to be named as such.
Copy of the edict recognizing the authority of the Jutland Beis Din over the Jews of that region by king Sigfred issued in the year 4551 stored in the archives of the Danish Beis Din
In recognition of the deeds of Pincas and Jarl Shimshon Ben Aharon “The Mighty” and do to the request of both, I, king Sigfred of the Danes, recognize the authority of the Jutland Beis Din headquartered the city of Jelling over the Jutland, that administers justice to the sons of Israel. Any son of Israel or one dealing with them is required to face their justice in all matters save where the king wishes to intervene.
