Norwegian comedy skit satirizes ‘Jewish clause’

Bit on public TV makes light of 1814 constitution, which banned Jews from Scandinavian state; station says joke was on drafters, not Jews

By JTA 19 February 2014, 12:40 am

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A skit on Norwegian public television made light of the country's 1814 constitution's clause banning Jews. (screen capture: NRK)

A comedy sketch on Norway public television satirized the banning of Jews by the county’s first constitution.

The sketch broadcast Sunday on NRK, the Norwegian government-owned radio and television broadcaster, was part of celebrations to mark the constitution’s 200th year. The clause banning Jews from entering Norway was part of the constitution enacted in 1814 and was lifted in 1851.

“It is shocking and embarrassing to create humor from this clause, which shut the Jews out of our country,” said Dagrun Eriksen, deputy chairman of the Christian Democratic Party, according to TheLocal.no. “The Jewish clause is part of our dark history. As a nation we must take responsibility for this and not make flippant skits out of it.”

Charlo Halvorsen, entertainment editor for NRK, told TheLocal that the sketch was meant to ridicule the founding fathers who wrote the Jewish clause, not Jews.