Book Presentation: Houses of Eternity. The Restoration of the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria

Content

The destruction of the Jewish cemeteries was part of the Nazi campaign to completely eradicate Jewish life in Austria. As “houses of eternity”, Jewish cemeteries are not only places of burial, as they were originally intended to be; they are also important sites of cultural heritage that preserve the history, traditions and legacy of Jewish communities down through the generations.

The anthology “Houses of Eternity”, published by the National Fund, sheds light on the restoration of these historically significant cultural sites, which was made possible by the Cemeteries Fund, and their subsequent upkeep. The authors provide insights into the cemeteries’ history and share their personal experiences of the restoration processes, providing a compelling reminder of the societal relevance of this undertaking.

The 2024 edition of the “Visitors’ Guide to the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria” will also be presented at the book launch.

Programmme

Welcome

Wolfgang Sobotka
President of the National Council
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism and the Fund for the Restoration of the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria

Introduction

Claudia Prutscher
Vice President of the Jewish Community

Presentation

Judith Pfeffer
Deputy Secretary General of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism ad int.

Panel Discussion: Jewish Cemeteries as Cultural Heritage

Brigitte Mang
Professor of Garden Monument Conservation, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Saxony-Anhalt

Ariel Muzicant
Honorary President of the Jewish Community
President of the European Jewish Congress

Gerhard Rennhofer
Landscape architect

Heinz G. Schratt
Chairman of the Committee for the Preservation of the Jewish Cemetery Klosterneuburg

Wolfgang Zehetner
Architect, master cathedral builder

Sylvia Preinsperger (Moderator)
Federal Monuments Office, Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of the Fund for the Restoration of Jewish Cemeteries in Austria

Moderator

Judith Pfeffer
Deputy Secretary General of the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism ad int.

Reception

Time: 22 February 2024 at 5pm

Place: Austrian Parliament, Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Vienna, Elise Richter Saal | Lokal 2