History of the Jews in Austria

The history of the Jews in Austria begins after the exodus of Jews from Judea under Roman occupation. Jews have lived in Austria since the 3rd century CE. Over many years, their situation changed a lot. Sometimes they were safe and had equal rights, but at other times they faced unfair treatment, pogroms, and deportations to very hard places.

The Holocaust caused a big drop in the number of Jews living in Austria. By the 2001 census, only 8,140 Jews were left. By 2020, the number grew to about 10,300 Jews, and including those with at least one Jewish grandparent, the total was around 33,000.

Antiquity

Jews have lived in Austria since at least the 3rd century CE. In 2008, archeologists found a special gold scroll with a Jewish prayer called the Shema Yisrael in the grave of a baby in Halbturn. This is the oldest proof we have that Jews were in Austria today.

Many believe the first Jews came to Austria after the Roman legions. These soldiers came back after fighting in the First Jewish–Roman War and may have brought some Jewish prisoners with them.

The Middle Ages

A document from the 10th century shows that Jewish and Christian merchants along the Danube had equal rights, suggesting there were Jews in Vienna at that time, though proof is not certain.

By the 12th century, Jewish communities were known for sure, with two synagogues in Vienna. More Jewish families moved in from Bavaria and the Rhineland. In the 1200s, the Jewish community grew because the Holy Roman Emperor said Jews were a special group with their own rules. In 1244, he gave Jews a list of rights. They could not do many jobs or go to school, but they could sell things and work in money lending. This brought more Jews to the area and gave them some protection.

However, not everyone liked the Jewish community. Some Christians and the Catholic Church felt jealous or hostile. When the House of Habsburg took control in 1282, life became harder for Jews. They were not allowed to own land, farm, or do most jobs, so many worked in commerce and money lending.

In the 1400s, things got worse. The ruler canceled debts owed to Jewish lenders and took away their money. In 1420, a Jewish man from Upper Austria was wrongly accused of a serious crime, and later Jews were blamed for supporting enemies during wars. In 1421, many Jews were forced to leave Austria, and some were sadly hurt during this time.

Later, in 1469, a new ruler named Frederick III allowed Jews to return and live more peacefully. But in 1496, another ruler, Maximilian I, again forced Jews to leave Styria. He also ordered that many Jewish books be destroyed, keeping only the Bible.

The rise of religious fanaticism of the Society of Jesus

During the time of kings like Maximilian II, Rudolf II, and Matthias, some strict religious groups became very powerful. This made life harder for Jewish people in Austria. Even though later kings like Ferdinand II tried to be fair, they still made Jewish families pay very high taxes.

At one point, Jewish families were not allowed to live in many places, including the city of Vienna, though they were able to return after some years. There were also special rules, like only allowing the first-born child in a family to marry, which made it hard for Jewish families to grow. Despite these challenges, some Jewish people were able to help advise the king on money matters.

Modern period

Between 1848 and 1938, Jews in Austria enjoyed a time of growth and equal rights under Emperor Franz Joseph I. He treated Jews fairly, allowing them to take part in society and culture. Jewish people contributed greatly to areas like law, writing, music, and medicine.

Unfortunately, this period ended when Austria was taken over by Germany in 1938. Many Jews tried to leave, but it was very hard. The government took away their rights and treated them very badly. During this difficult time, some people helped Jews escape, like a Chinese official who risked his job to give out travel permits.

After World War II, some Jewish people who survived stayed in Austria and began to rebuild their community. Memorials were created to remember those who were lost during the hard times.

Contemporary situation

Since the Holocaust, the Jewish community in Austria has grown again, though it is smaller than before. In the 1950s, many Jewish people from the Soviet Union moved to Austria.

Today, about 12,000 to 15,000 Jewish people live in Austria, mostly in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. Vienna has many Jewish places, like synagogues, a Jewish museum, and schools.

The Austrian government has worked to help Jewish people affected by past hardships. They have created programs to support survivors and return items that were taken. However, some unfair treatment still happens in certain places.

In 2020, Austria changed its rules to help families of people affected during difficult times to regain their citizenship.

Notable people

Further information: List of Austrian Jews

Austria has been home to many famous and talented people over the years. Some well-known names include:

• Kurt Adler, a chorus master and conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
• Peter Altenberg, a writer and poet
• John Banner, an actor best known for playing Sergeant Schultz
• Otto Bauer, a politician and founder of Austromarxism, and Foreign Minister of Austria
• Ignaz Brüll, a composer and pianist
• Carl Djerassi, a pharmaceutical chemist
• Hanns Eisler, a composer
• Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist who created logotherapy
• Sigmund Freud, a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis
• Fritz Grünbaum, a cabaret artist
• Elfriede Jelinek, an actress and Nobel Prize winner
• Eric Kandel, a neuroscientist and Nobel Prize winner
• Karl Koller, an ophthalmologist
• Erich Wolfgang Korngold, a composer and conductor
• Bruno Kreisky, a politician and Austrian Chancellor
• Fritz Kreisler, a violinist and composer
• Gustav Mahler, a famous composer
• Ludwig von Mises, an economist
• Otto Neurath, a philosopher, sociologist, and political economist
• Joseph Roth, a journalist and novelist
• Arthur Schnitzler, an author
• Arnold Schoenberg, a composer
• Ludwig Wittgenstein, a philosopher

These individuals have made important contributions in many different fields.