Book presentation "Escape to Palestine/Life in Israel" on 2 September 2025
The National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism and the House of Austrian History warmly invite you to the presentation of Volume 8 of the book series "Lives Remembered. Life Stories of Victims of National Socialism", published by the National Fund, with a focus on "Escape to Palestine/Life in Israel".
Time: Tuesday, 2 September 2025, 6:30 p.m.
Place: House of Austrian History, Neue Burg, Heldenplatz, 1010 Vienna
The publication contains 20 (auto)biographical texts by Jews from Austria who were persecuted during the Nazi era and who, taking a variety of escape routes – both legal and illegal – made their way to what was then the British Mandate of Palestine or emigrated to the newly established State of Israel.
Guest articles written by historians and a psychotherapist provide a deeper insight into the contexts in which the life stories are embedded, shed light on the history of the collection and its origins, and cover a broad historical spectrum – from the development of the region from the late 19th century, through the period of persecution and flight, to the present-day realities of the descendants of the Holocaust survivors.
The stories brought together in this publication originated from two different sources – the collection of the National Fund and the collection held by the Institute for Jewish History in Austria. This two-volume edition also contains a wealth of historical and contemporary photographs, documents and graphics retracing the escape and exile routes.
Programme
Welcome
Monika Sommer Director, House of Austrian History
Introductory remarks
Hannah Lessing Managing Director, National Fund
Book presentation
Renate S. Meissner Former Scientific Director of the National Fund and editor of the book series "Lives Remembered"
On the collection of life stories
Martha Keil Scientific Director of the Institute for Jewish History in Austria and the Former Synagoge in St. Pölten
Panel discussion "Escape to Palestine/Life in Israel"
Kurt Meir Figdor (contemporary eyewitness, Israel) Yuval Yaary (descendant, Israel/Austria/Poland) Helga Embacher (Historian, Austria)
Moderator
Tim Cupal (ORF)
Musical accompaniment
Shira Karmon (Israel/Austria)
Reception
Following the book presentation, there will be a reception with bread and wine.
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