A Place for Religion

by Barbara Duras

Tradition, a rich culture and a strong sense of company is what the jewish community in Vienna stands for. Before world war II one out of ten Viennese people was Jewish and at the same time a member of one of the leading jewish communities in the world. Therefore the few 8000 registered viennese jews, presenting the current core of the religious community, tend to not forget about the shoah but focus on looking into the future, especially for the young generation and the increasing number of immigrating families. The creation of new schools and educational institutes, cultural conditions and sanctuaries consequently is realized. Particularly in the 2^nd district there are a lot of jewish institutions, kosher restaurants, shops and sports-clubs. Historically many jews where located in this part of the city, this is the reason why the Leopodstadt is also called "Matzo Island" . (Only few people know that for example the „Riesenrad“, one of Viennas emblems, has been financed by a jewish backer.)

To preserve the traditions and religious rites the educational support within the jewish community starts at the kindergarten. Kosher food, daily prayer and the adherence to official jewish feasts and periods of fasting are the core values of the jewish identity. At the modern „Zwi Perez Chajes school“ for example, the children start their educational program at the kindergarten and most of the students stay there until they achieve their general qualification for university entrance. The familial environment and the ideal infrastructure assures the best education possible. The vibrant, reborn jewish community also offers manifold initiatives including social and care facilities as well as various cultural- and sports events. Judaism itself is considered as a path and in modern context as a „lifestyle“ to purify body, mind and sole. Furthermore the jewish feasts are contemplated as special events to strenghten the sense of community and to preserve the old traditions which many jews like best about being religious.

Non jewish Vienna only knows little about Judaism. It has taken many decades to take responsibility for the crimes of the Nazis, but it is now doing so and anti-Semitism is distinguished to die out. Thus Vienna now is home to several Holocaust memorials. In the first district you can find an extraordinary memorial as well as a strongly recommended jewish museum. On Morzinplatz and Helmut-Zilk-Platz there are as well interesting sights constructed in memoriam of the departed jews of vienna. All around the famous Seitenstettengasse temple important sights of jewish life are to be found. In the Second district, the Leopoldstadt, one can find secret and concealed cemeteries and other details which provide an insight into the main phases of jewish history.

Nowadays jewish viennese life is flourishing which is also a sign for a sensible handling of the common history. The jewish community is growing further and therefore enriching the viennese multiculture. Never to forget that famous viennese jews like Schönberg, Schnitzler and Freud have contrib­uted significantly to Vienna’s international reputation as a city of intellectuals and artists. The jewish community today is obviously still following up to this issue.

Tips & Contacts

Sights: 

Jewish Museum and Holocaust-Memorial at Judenplatz

Judenplatz 8
1010 Wien
www.jmw.at 

Cenotaph
Morzinplatz
1010 Wien 

Memorial against war and facism

Helmut-Zilk-Platz
1010 Wien 

Temple of the jewish community

Seitenstettengasse 2
1010 Wien
Tel.: 01/53 504 

Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance (DÖW)

Altes Rathaus
Wipplingerstr. 6-8
1010 Wien
Tel.: 01/22 89 469/319

www.doew.at

Grocery Stores: 

Bakery Ohel Mosche with coffee shop
Lilienbrunngasse 18
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/214 56 17 

Supermarket Ohel Moshe
Hollandstraße 10
1020 Wien
Tel. 01/216 96 75 

Supermarket Rafael Malkov
Tempelgasse 6/ Ferdinandstraße 2
1020 Wien
Tel.:01/214 83 94 

Supermarket “Koscherland”
Kleine Sperlgasse 7
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/219 68 86 

Butcher's Shop Bernat Ainhorn
Große Stadtgutgasse 7
1020 Wien,
Tel.: 01/214 56 21 

Butcher's Shop Rebenwurzel
Große Mohrengasse 19
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/216 66 40 

Fischmonger's Rafael
Shop & Restaurant
Volkertmarkt 29
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/216 23 86

Restaurants:

Restaurant Alef Alef
Meat
Seitenstettengasse 4
1010 Wien
Tel.: 01/535 25 30

Restaurant Milk & Honey
Milk
Kleine Sperlgasse 7
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/212 81 69

Restaurant „Bahur Tov“
Taborstraße 19
1020 Wien
Tel. 0676/ 847 761 200

Restaurant Simchas
& Koscher Catering
Taborstrasse 47
1020 Wien
Tel.: 01/218 28 33
www.s-catering.at

last time modified: July 14, 2011, 12:10 a.m.