Berkley Center

In early October, I printed my absentee ballot in Copenhagen just before leaving to travel through Eastern Europe and voted in my first presidential election by sending a thick envelope from somewhere in Vienna, hoping it would reach my state’s election office. Although I always imagined and wished my first voting experience would be in a poll in America, it was fascinating to watch the election coverage of the candidates in Denmark.

It was no surprise to me that Danes support Obama; in fact, a recent Gallup poll taken just before the election showed that less than 4 percent of Danes would vote for Romney. Their support of Obama falls in line with the liberal attitudes that mark Danish society: here, Danes have universal healthcare, receive free university education (they even get a monthly stipend—students are paid to go to school!), support a woman’s right to choose, and allow same-sex marriages.

Danes see these important issues as central to their society and believe that Obama’s philosophy is most closely aligned with their own beliefs. Even more, Democrats have historically been favored in the European Union. I quickly learned the global implications of an American president; I am glad I had the opportunity to witness such a historic event as an American in Europe.

From the conversations I’ve engaged in with Danes, many have expressed their intrigue in the role of religion and religious practices that were at the forefront of the presidential campaigns. In Denmark, religion is rarely discussed publicly, if at all. Perhaps this stems from the fact that it is such a homogeneous society, so everyone basically shares the same religious beliefs. Most Danes consider themselves Evangelical Lutherans, although they rarely attend church during the year except for major holidays. Interestingly, the Danish Constitution declares the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark as the state church, but further includes a section about freedom of religion, which fosters an ability for a diverse set of religious beliefs to take root.

I consider myself lucky to be living in a city with enough of a Jewish population for there to be an active and lively Chabad House as well as a traditional Orthodox synagogue and congregation, both of which I have been able to immerse myself. I certainly missed being away from my family during the Jewish High Holidays, but to be able to attend services in the Great Synagogue and enjoy a traditional Yom Tov meal was an incredible experience that made this year’s celebration memorable.

I was surprised and impressed by how many Jews attended services here in Copenhagen. Even at Georgetown, I have always been on a quest to find the right balance of Jewish life for me, so it wasn’t new to me to seek out similar opportunities in Denmark. Yet what I discovered was a rich Jewish life steeped in history and tradition that blends Jewish and Danish customs. We sang the same songs, and dipped the apples in honey on Rosh Hashannah, but intermixed a little Danish with the Yiddish and Hebrew along the way. Now, even as the days get dark by 4 p.m., I love this holiday season because of all the decorations and warm candles. I have a feeling Hanukkah will be extra hygge—the Danish concept of coziness and comfort—this year, and I may not want to leave so I can spend more holidays in Denmark.