Austrian Jews: Are They Ashkenazi Or Sephardic?

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Answer: Austrian Jews have a long history in the country, dating back to the 3rd century CE. Over the centuries, the community's political status has fluctuated, with periods of prosperity and equality interspersed with times of pogroms, deportations, mass murder, and antisemitism. Before World War II, Austrian Jews played a significant role in the country's economic and cultural life, particularly in Vienna, which was a hub for Jewish culture, Zionism, and education. The Jewish population in Austria reached almost 200,000 in the 1920s, but this number decreased drastically due to emigration and the horrors of the Holocaust. Today, the Austrian Jewish community is rebuilding, with a current population of around 10,000-15,000, mostly in Vienna.Austrian Jews have a long history in the country, dating back to the 3rd century CE. Over the centuries, the community's political status has fluctuated, with periods of prosperity and equality interspersed with times of pogroms, deportations, mass murder, and antisemitism. Before World War II, Austrian Jews played a significant role in the country's economic and cultural life, particularly in Vienna, which was a hub for Jewish culture, Zionism, and education. The Jewish population in Austria reached almost 200,000 in the 1920s, but this number decreased drastically due to emigration and the horrors of the Holocaust. Today, the Austrian Jewish community is rebuilding, with a current population of around 10,000-15,000, mostly in Vienna.

Austrian Jews in the 20th century

Austrian Jews have a long history in the country, dating back to the 3rd century CE. However, the 20th century was a particularly eventful period for this community, marked by both prosperity and tragedy.

The Early 20th Century

In the early 20th century, the Jewish community in Austria was thriving, especially in Vienna, where they made up 10% of the city's population. They had a strong presence in various fields, including commerce, academia, and the arts. Notable figures during this period included Sigmund Freud, Karl Kraus, Arthur Schnitzler, and Gustav Mahler.

World War I and the Interwar Period

During World War I, about 300,000 Jewish men served in the Austrian military, demonstrating their loyalty to the empire. However, the post-war years saw a rise in antisemitism and the collapse of the Habsburg Empire, leading to a brain drain of Austrian Jews. The Social Democratic Party, which included many assimilated Jews in its leadership, was the only major political force accepting Jews as members. Despite this, an antisemitic mayor, Karl Lueger, was elected in Vienna and served from 1897 to 1910.

The Rise of Nazism and World War II

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938 (the "Anschluss") marked a turning point for Austrian Jews. They were subjected to persecution, violence, and expropriation of their property. The Nazis instituted anti-Jewish measures, and the Central Office for Jewish Emigration under Adolf Eichmann was responsible for handling emigration, making the process extremely difficult for those trying to flee. The "Night of Broken Glass" (Kristallnacht) in November 1938 saw the looting and burning of synagogues and Jewish businesses, and the arrest and murder of many Jews.

The Holocaust resulted in the deportation and murder of more than 65,000 Austrian Jews. Those who remained endured concentration camps, forced labour, and other horrors. By the end of the war in 1945, only about 5,000 Jews were left in Austria.

Post-World War II

After World War II, the Jewish community in Austria began to rebuild, but it was much smaller than before. The Kultusgemeinde, the remaining Jewish community, faced challenges in restitution and compensation for the crimes committed during the Nazi regime. Antisemitism persisted, and it was mostly the elderly and those with a more difficult time settling abroad who returned to Austria. Efforts were made by various organizations, including the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, to aid in rehabilitation, reconstruction, and refugee assistance.

By the 1950s, immigration from the Soviet Union brought Russian Jews to Austria, and the fall of the Iron Curtain led to a renewed influx of Jewish people from the former Soviet Union. Today, the Austrian Jewish population is estimated to be around 10,000-15,000, with the majority living in Vienna.

The Holocaust and its effects on Austrian Jews

Austrian Jews have a long history in the country, dating back to the 3rd century CE. By the 1930s, they had become a flourishing community, with leading figures in various fields, including the sciences, arts, business, and industry. However, the Holocaust had a devastating impact on this community, and its effects are still felt today.

The Holocaust in Austria was a period of systematic persecution, plunder, and extermination of Jews by German and Austrian Nazis from 1938 to 1945. The persecution began immediately after the German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, in March 1938. This annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, with German troops being greeted by cheering crowds. The annexation was then retroactively approved in a plebiscite, which was manipulated to show that about 99% of Austrians supported the union with Germany.

Once the annexation was complete, German racial laws were enacted in Austria, and Jews were disenfranchised. All Jewish organizations and newspapers were closed, and their leaders imprisoned. Jews were banned from public transport and subjected to public humiliation, such as being forced to wash sidewalks and public toilets. During Kristallnacht in November 1938, synagogues were desecrated and destroyed, and Jewish homes and businesses were looted.

The Central Office for Jewish Emigration was established under Adolf Eichmann, with the goal of organizing and accelerating the mass emigration of Jews from Austria. Many Jews fled the country, including celebrities like Sigmund Freud and Imre Kalman. However, emigration became increasingly difficult, with Jews being forced to pay high taxes and leave most of their possessions behind.

For those who remained, the situation became increasingly dire. In October 1939, the deportation of Austrian Jews to Poland began. They were sent to concentration camps, including the main camp in Austria, Mauthausen, and to death camps in other parts of Nazi-occupied Europe. By 1942, the Viennese Jewish community was officially liquidated, and only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria. The deportations continued until March 1945, and by the end of the war, only about 5,000 Jews were left in the country.

The Holocaust had a devastating impact on the Austrian Jewish community, with an estimated 60,000-65,000 Austrian Jews losing their lives. The community was decimated, and those who survived faced challenges in reclaiming their property and receiving compensation. In the postwar years, anti-Semitism remained prevalent in Austria, and it was only in the 1980s that critical study of the Holocaust entered the mainstream of Austrian historiography. Today, the Austrian Jewish community is rebuilding, but it is much smaller than it was before the Holocaust.

Jewish life in Vienna

The Early Years

Vienna has been a centre of Jewish life for centuries, with evidence of a Jewish presence dating back to the 12th century. The first named Jewish individual in Vienna was Schlom, who served as the mintmaster and financial advisor to Duke Leopold V in the late 12th century. The Jewish community in Vienna had a synagogue and owned houses in the city during this period. However, in 1196, Schlom and 15 other Jews were murdered by Christians from the Third Crusade.

Medieval Period

During the Medieval period, the Jewish community in Vienna continued to grow and establish itself. In the 14th century, Jews comprised about five percent of the city's population. They had a synagogue, hospitals, and a slaughterhouse. The Judenplatz in the centre of Vienna was the site of one of the largest synagogues in Europe at the time. However, increasing anti-Jewish sentiment led to persecutions and expulsions in the 15th century. In 1420, the Wiener Gesera (the Vienna Decree) resulted in the annihilation of the city's Jewish community, with many Jews expelled, tortured, or forcibly baptised.

Renaissance and Early Modern Era

During the Renaissance and Early Modern era, the Jewish community in Vienna experienced both growth and persecution. In the 16th century, a small number of Jewish families continued to live in the city, despite facing threats of expulsion. In the 17th century, a second wave of Jewish immigrants arrived from Ukraine, fleeing pogroms and persecution. Emperor Ferdinand II confined these Jews to a ghetto, which became known as Leopoldstadt. The community thrived, with two synagogues and various communal institutions. However, in the late 17th century, increasing anti-Semitic sentiment led to the expulsion of Jews from Vienna once again.

18th Century

In the 18th century, Vienna became a centre of Jewish diplomatic efforts and philanthropy. Prominent Court Jews, such as Samuel Oppenheimer and Samson Wertheimer, played a significant role in the city's Jewish community. During this period, Vienna also became a centre of the Haskalah, a movement towards secular enlightenment. Jewish merchants, traders, and businessmen contributed to the city's economic life.

19th Century

The 19th century was a period of cultural and intellectual flourishing for the Jewish community in Vienna. Many influential Jews, including Sigmund Freud, Theodor Herzl, Gustav Mahler, and Arthur Schnitzler, lived and worked in the city. The Jewish population grew significantly, and they were granted civil rights and religious autonomy. Vienna became a centre of Zionist politics, with figures like Theodor Herzl and Max Nordau advocating for a Jewish homeland.

World War I and Interwar Period

During and after World War I, the Jewish community in Vienna faced both challenges and opportunities. The outbreak of the war led to an influx of Jewish refugees into the city, and the fall of the Habsburg Monarchy in 1918 allowed Jews to move freely throughout Austria-Hungary. However, antisemitism became more pronounced during this period, and Jewish quarters faced increasing attacks and discrimination.

World War II and the Holocaust

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, marked a devastating turning point for the Jewish community in Vienna. Jewish-owned stores and apartments were pillaged, and Jews were harassed and deprived of their civil liberties. The Kristallnacht pogrom in November 1938 saw the destruction of synagogues and Jewish businesses, and the arrest and deportation of thousands of Jews. During World War II, the majority of Viennese Jews who remained were killed or sent to concentration camps.

Post-World War II to Present

After World War II, the Jewish community in Vienna slowly began to rebuild. However, anti-Semitic sentiments persisted in Austrian society for many years. Today, the Jewish community in Vienna comprises about 7,000 members, with a variety of institutions, synagogues, schools, and cultural offerings. Efforts have been made to acknowledge and address the city's history of antisemitism and the role of Austrians in the Holocaust. Memorials and museums, such as the Judenplatz Memorial and the Jewish Museum of the City of Vienna, serve as reminders of the past and educate visitors about Jewish history and culture.

Austrian Jewish demographics

Historical Demographics

The presence of Jews in Austria dates back to at least the 3rd century CE, with the discovery of a Jewish amulet in a grave in Halbturn as the earliest evidence. The first documented synagogue in Austria was constructed in 1204, and the Jewish community began to flourish in the 13th century. However, this prosperity was short-lived, as the Jewish community became a target of increasing tensions, jealousy, and hostility from the Christian majority and the Catholic Church.

During the Middle Ages, Austrian Jews faced waves of persecution, massacres, and expulsions. In 1420, all Austrian Jews were arrested, with 270 burned at the stake and the rest expelled, their property confiscated. This marked a low point in the status of the Jewish community. Despite some periods of relative peace and tolerance, anti-Jewish decrees, confiscations, and restrictions continued over the centuries.

In the 19th century, the Jewish community in Austria, particularly in Vienna, experienced significant growth. By 1880, there were 72,588 Jews in Vienna, increasing to 175,318 in 1910. This growth was facilitated by the constitutional rights obtained by Jews between 1848 and 1867, granting them the freedom to reside, own property, and enter professions. By 1910, there were approximately 1,313,698 Jews living in the Austrian half of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, with Vienna having the third-largest urban Jewish population in Europe.

Post-World War II Demographics

Following World War II, the Jewish community in Austria was decimated, with only 5,000 Jews remaining in the country by the end of the war. The Holocaust had a devastating impact, with an estimated 65,500 Austrian Jews murdered, and thousands more fleeing the country.

In the aftermath of the war, the Jewish community began to slowly rebuild. By 1948, the Jewish community in Austria, known as the Kultusgemeinde, doubled in size to around 8,000 members. This growth was supported by the return of some Austrian Jews who had fled, as well as the arrival of Holocaust survivors and refugees from Eastern Europe.

Contemporary Demographics

According to the 2001 Austrian Census and various studies, the current Jewish population in Austria is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000. The majority of Austrian Jews reside in Vienna, with smaller communities in cities such as Graz, Salzburg, Baden, Bad Gastein, Innsbruck, and Linz. The community is diverse, including Holocaust survivors, returning expatriates, refugees from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and Iranian Jews.

The Austrian Jewish community is represented by various organizations, such as the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities (Bundesverband der Israelitischen Kultusgemeinden Österreichs) and the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (IKG) in Vienna, which has nearly 8,000 members. The community enjoys a rich cultural life, with synagogues, kosher restaurants, schools, youth organizations, and a variety of cultural events and festivals.

While anti-Semitism and far-right extremism remain concerns in contemporary Austria, the government has taken steps to acknowledge its role in the Holocaust, provide compensation to survivors, and promote Holocaust education and the fight against anti-Semitism.

Austrian Jewish history

Early History

The first Jews in Austria are believed to have arrived following the Roman occupation of Judea, with the earliest surviving evidence of their presence being a 3rd-century CE amulet discovered in a Jewish infant's grave in Halbturn. During the 12th century, the Jewish settlement in Vienna grew with the arrival of Jewish settlers from Bavaria and the Rhineland.

Prosperity and Equality

At the start of the 13th century, the Jewish community in Austria began to flourish, thanks to a declaration by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, who recognised Jews as a separate ethnic and religious group. This bill of rights encouraged Jewish immigration and granted them certain autonomous rights, such as the right to judge themselves and collect taxes.

Persecution and Antisemitism

However, this prosperity was not to last. In the following centuries, the Jewish community in Austria experienced waves of persecution and antisemitism. In the 15th century, for example, a Jewish man from Upper Austria was falsely accused of desecrating the sacramental bread, leading to the imprisonment and burning of 210 Jewish men, women, and children. During this period, Jews were also subjected to mass deportations, confiscation of assets, and economic limitations.

The Holocaust

The situation for Austrian Jews became even more dire with the rise of Nazism in neighbouring Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria and annexed the country, an event known as the "Anschluss". The Nazis quickly instituted anti-Jewish measures, expropriating Jewish property and expelling Jews from all aspects of cultural, economic, and social life. The Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938 were particularly brutal in Austria, with synagogues being looted and burned, Jewish businesses vandalised, and thousands of Jews arrested and deported to concentration camps. By December 1939, the Jewish population in Vienna had been reduced to just 57,000 due to emigration.

During World War II, the Nazis began systematically deporting Jews from Austria to ghettos and concentration camps in occupied Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. By November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria, mostly those married to non-Jews. The Holocaust drastically reduced the Jewish community in Austria, and by 1945, only about 5,000 Jews were left in the country.

Postwar Period

After the Holocaust, the Jewish community in Austria struggled to rebuild, with only a handful of Jewish institutions and organisations remaining. The Austrian government was slow to address restitution and compensation matters, and anti-Semitic sentiments continued to persist. However, the Jewish community gradually recovered, and by the 1950s, a wave of immigration from the Soviet Union brought Russian Jews to the country. Today, the Jewish population in Austria is estimated to be around 10,000-15,000, with the majority living in Vienna.

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