Jewish community thriving in the 'Land of Fire and Ice'

Is there a Jewish presence in the remote country of Iceland? For most people, the answer will invariably be that they have no idea and then are surprised to learn that the island nation is in fact home to a small but thriving Jewish community.

Located just south of the Arctic Circle and known as the "Land of Fire and Ice" due to the presence of large glaciers and some of the world's most active volcanoes, Iceland's capital of Reykjavík is home to 300 Jews in a country of 354,000 people.

The history of the now permanent Jewish community is very recent. Despite the fact the Icelandic government...