Newsletter December 2024

Dear Sir or Madam,

As 2024 draws to a close, an eventful year is drawing to a close, which has brought a number of innovations for and in the National Fund and the Fund for the Restoration of the Jewish Cemeteries in Austria. We take this opportunity to look back on the past year and look ahead to the coming year 2025.

The most recent amendment to the law has expanded the tasks of the National Fund with a view to the future - for example through the support of memorial service volunteers and an international exchange programme for school pupils.

Another important contribution to a diverse culture of remembrance is the establishment of a memorial centre for the Roma and Sinti ethnic groups.

The core of our work remains the support of the Austrian Holocaust survivors. With an extraordinary gesture payment to over 3,400 survivors worldwide, we were once again able to send a clear signal of Austria's recognition and historical responsibility this year.

In terms of project funding, our focus was on expanding the funding guidelines, in particular on educational projects and projects that deal with coming to terms with National Socialism, its consequences and the role of perpetrators. In the coming year, project funding will focus on combating Holocaust denial and distortion in online media - a highly topical and socially relevant issue.

The latest amendment to the law governing the Fund for the Restoration of Jewish Cemeteries enables us to intensify the restoration of the 66 Jewish cemeteries in Austria and to continue it for another 20 years.

We also have a new organisational structure: The National Fund Committee has been expanded to include four members with scientific expertise, and the Managing Board has now two Managing Directors.

Looking ahead to 2025, a special anniversary awaits us in autumn: the 30th anniversary of the National Fund.

Here you can find a detailed review and outlook 2024/2025.

With best wishes for the festive season and a more peaceful New Year!

Hannah Lessing, Judith Pfeffer and the team at the National Fund