Jewish News

Austrian Press Agency (APA) (05/19/2005)



Vienna - The Israeli Ambassador to Austria, Dan Ashbel, has appealed to Austria and the European Union (EU) for more patience in regards to events in the Middle East. "If patience and understanding are maintained, then the relationship between Israel and the EU will improve," said the ambassador during a discussion in Vienna. He emphasized that, following the collapse of the East Bloc, Austria shared borders with countries that wanted to become democracies. "We are not in this situation." The bordering Arabic countries, such as Jordan, Syria and Egypt, are not democratic and, therefore, a common basis for discussion is entirely lacking.

The EU must decide whether it wants only stability in the Middle East or also democracy, said Ashbel. The ambassador remarked critically that within the framework of the EU Mediterranean Partnership the EU has failed to treat all the Arabic nations equally. In order to avoid being criticized as imperialistic, the EU again and again tended to give in, for example in such issues as equality between the sexes.

The ambassador expressed Israel’s interest in maintaining a close relationship with the EU: "Israel and the EU should come together as closely as possible." However, he dismissed the idea of Israel’s establishing membership with the EU. Joining the EU would only strengthen the maxim of Arabic policy that Israel doesn’t really care about integrating into the Middle East region. "We should continue to try working together with the countries in the region."

The Israeli ambassador observes the development of Israeli-Palestinian relations with "careful optimism." Current discussions in Israel of plans to withdraw from Gaza and parts of the West Bank have "not been easy." Ashbel pointed out that the areas of the West Bank, from which Israel intends to withdraw, are even larger than that of the Gaza Strip. Originally, withdrawal was a decision made by Israel. He hopes, however, that the Palestinians will bear responsibility for this decision in the future. First comes the plan of the withdrawal, "then we will see how things develop." The question as to drawing a border is planned for the last phase of the peace process.

The ambassador claimed that he has followed this year’s commemoration events with great interest. "It is a fact that Austria is coming to terms with its past." On the other hand, there are still negative references toward Jews being made, such as those by parliamentary members, Siegfried Kampl and John Gudenus.

Austrians and Jews are historically bound together, in positive as well as negative aspects, said Ashbel. "We cannot cover up the graves; we can, however, build bridges." One important consideration has been the demand for economic relations. "One of my greatest tasks here as ambassador will be to open economic doors."

As a positive sign, Ashbel also mentioned the presence of State Secretary Frank Morak at the reopening of the Herzl Museum in Israel. This project has largely been financed with money from Austrian public sources.

Regarding the results of a recent survey whereby only 18 percent of all Austrians find Jews "likeable," Ashbel claimed that the question, itself, was wrong. "My concern is that such questions are still being asked by people in the 21st century. Such questions categorize people only in terms of the group." Every single person, however, is an individual in his own right.

Austrian Press Agency (APA) (05/24/05)

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Burns congratulates Secretary General Kyrle

Washington - An agreement to end the long, drawn-out legal dispute conducted in the United States over six paintings by Gustav Klimt and to submit the dispute to arbitration in Austria is seen as very positive by Austria and the U.S. government, said the Austrian Ambassador to the U.S., Eva Nowotny. During the visit of the Secretary General of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Johannes Kyrle to Washington, D.C., U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, congratulated him on this decision.

"It is a positive development also from the standpoint of the U.S. government," assured Ambassador Nowotny. The lawsuit has not weakened relations with the United States because during proceedings before the U.S. Supreme Court in the dispute over jurisdiction, the U.S. took a stand on the side of Austria as "amicus curiae," reminded Ms. Nowotny. Now the "open-ended issue," to which the diplomats at the Austrian Embassy have dedicated a lot of their time, has come to a close. Both parties, the claimant Maria Altmann and the defendant, the Republic of Austria, have agreed to binding arbitration.

The deadlines have been clearly determined: The 3rd arbitrator must be appointed by May 31, and the proceedings must be concluded before the arbitration panel by August 31. The decision will be made by November 1, by the three arbitrators, Attorney Andreas Nödl, Professor Walter Rechberger and the third person yet to be appointed. The costs of arbitration will be covered by Austria, and the decision made according to Austrian law.

The six valuable paintings by Gustav Klimt originally belonged to Ferdinand Bloch of the Bloch-Bauer family. His niece, Maria Altmann, claimed their return from the Republic of Austria. In June of 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled for the jurisdiction of the U.S. courts. Maria Altmann, eighty-nine years of age, lives in California since having fled the Nazis. She also welcomes the agreement.

Der Standard (06/22/05)

A group of Viennese simply wanted to know what happened in their house shortly after 1938

One day a group of elderly people happened to take up conversation with an older lady, says Alix Paulus. And suddenly the world became very small. That was two years ago in Ascona. The older lady came from New York; the group of elderly people from Luxemburg. But all of them knew the Servitengasse in Vienna.

The group from Luxemburg knew the street because their son, who is the husband of Alix Paulus, lives here. The woman from New York knew the street because her late husband, New Yorker art book publisher Paul Steiner, grew up here, lived here and - also as the assistant of Egon Friedell, worked here. That was until he had to flee back then after 1938.

But that a Paul Steiner once lived in the Servitengasse is something no one in Vienna seems to remember, said Mrs. Steiner because there are those who don’t wish to remember and there are those who were never told. And because there are large memorials and plates bearing inscriptions of famous people, but there are no traces of "normal" neighbors who happened to disappear.

The lady from New York, originally from Germany, was not aware of the fact that Alix Paulus, her husband Martin Kneip, and their neighbors, Barbara Kintaert and Peter Koppe, had just finished researching this matter. While chatting with each other, the question arose at some point how the Anschluß, expulsion and extermination of all who weren’t "Aryan" played out in house number six in the Servitengasse.

The evening soon passed but questions remained. Together with the historian, Birgit Johler, the group began to research what took place. Out of the twenty-eight people living in the house, fourteen simply "disappeared," after 1938.

Twenty-six Individual Fates
Thus, the stories and fates of twenty-six expulsions and murders were meticulously recorded without any big scene, media glitz or self-adulation.

And still, we were not satisfied with research alone, explained the house historians. In March, they held a benefit evening at the Jewish Museum with the purpose of financing a memorial plaque for the house (how it was possible to get it even approved is another very long story!). Finally, explained the author Doron Rabinovici, one of the worst curses of Judaism is to wish upon someone: "Yours shall not be remembered." The plaque will be mounted in September, explains Alix Paulus, in defiance of the curse of having been forgotten.

With the ongoing search for those expelled from their own house, new questions arose as to the disappearance of those in neighboring houses who were forced to leave the Servitengasse. The search took on the objective of finding names, stories, faces and outcomes. In short, it was about human beings.

In the meantime, the community living in house number six is no longer alone, says Alix Paulus. Students from the film academy have expressed interest in contributing to the project. Official and quasi official groups are speaking about support and assistance. Also there are questions coming in daily from schools as to how one might help.

In New York, Marianne Steiner calmly and unnoticeably follows all the efforts being made in the matter. At the beginning of spring she wrote a letter to Der Standard. It sounded like the sighing of a person from whom a heavy burden was being lifted: "Nothing like this has been done in Austria, not like in Germany." But Paul Steiner, she wrote, would be one of the people whose home was once in the Servitengasse and who would be remembered.

servitengasse1938@gmx.at

Original Text Service (OTS) (05/20/05)

Ceremonial Act with Israeli President Katzav, Speaker of the Knesset Rivlin and Austrian State Secretary Morak

Jerusalem - "The new Theodor Herzl Museum should serve for all of us as a reminder and a mandate at the same time. It is a reminder not to forget our common historical roots, but above all, never to forget our history’s tragic mistakes. It is a mandate to remain alert to all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia, and to keep the vision alive to build together a better future in peace and happiness for all mankind," said State Secretary Franz Morak, at the opening of the new Herzl Museum at Herzlberg in Jerusalem in the presence of the Israeli President, Katzav, and the Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin. President Katzav greeted State Secretary Morak in his speech as "friend" and thanked him for Austria’s commitment and support, which he valued highly.

The enlargement and remodelling of the Herzl Museum has come about, among others, due to the support of the Republic of Austria. During the course of the festive opening with President Katzav and the Knesset Speaker Rivlin, State Secretary Morak laid a wreath on the grave of Theodor Herzl as well as on that of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The opening of the new museum took place on the birth date of Theodor Herzl. A decision made by the Knesset last year has officially designated May 20 as Herzl Day.

State Secretary Morak spoke about the life and work of Theodor Herzl, "who was a child of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, shaped by the short prime of Jewish life in Austria during the late 19th century." Herzl, however, experienced at the same time how "the fatal seeds of nationalism began to bear fruit and Austria’s multicultural character disappeared more and more into the background as the ugly baggage of anti-Semitism raised its head with evermore clearer contours," continued Morak. "The exhibition reveals in a comprehensive and impressive way to what extent the young Theodor Herzl, a journalist for the Monarchy’s most renowned daily newspaper, Neue Freie Presse, was anchored in Viennese society and how much it formed him," said Morak.

In his last will, Theodor Herzl wrote that he would like to be buried next to his father until "the Jewish people can bring my remains to Eretz in Israel," quoted Morak.

Between the two world wars, many Austrians left for Israel in the tracks of Theodor Herzl. There were the enthusiastic Zionists, such as the legendary Jerusalem Mayor and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation, Teddy Kollek. Others went to Israel as refugees and were literally able in the last minute to escape extermination by the National Socialists, among whom were also many Austrians. Theodor Herzl, who like Sigmund Freud lived in the Berggasse, contrasted "the evil dream of the anti-Semites with the good dream of the Jewish nation in many of his books and writings" said Morak.

"Only after the horrific experiences of the Shoa did this pleasant dream become a reality. Both dreams, the good one of a home for all Jews, as well as the bad one of anti-Semitism are vividly depicted in the exhibition which was exceedingly well conceived by the younger generation of the 21st century," concluded the State Secretary. He thanked those responsible for the initiative taken in creating the new museum, particularly the Jerusalem Foundation. Morak closed his speech with a quotation by Stefan Zweig, who at the death of Theodor Herzl in 1904 wrote: "Vienna was suddenly made aware of the fact that this was not a mere author or mediocre poet who had died but one of those creators of ideas such as emerge only at the rarest moments in the history of countries and peoples."

Salzburger Nachrichten (04/23/2005)

In Search of the Jewish Philosopher David Oppenheim

For anyone who enjoys reading personal memoirs, this book is invaluable. That is, if one has patience because one needs it when reading the meticulously-researched book by Peter Singer, Pushing Time Away: My Grandfather and the Tragedy of Jewish Vienna. Just short of three hundred pages, Singer, one of the great American philosophers of bioethics in our time, describes the life of his grandfather, David Oppenheim, and his wife, Amalie.

Based upon a great number of letters to his wife, Amalie, as well as upon philosophical papers, Singer explores his family’s past with the thoroughness of an investigator, taking us back to Vienna before World War I.

For Peter Singer, David Oppenheim was a man he never knew. The classical scholar perished in a Nazi concentration camp in Theresienstadt. At the time, David Oppenheim was already an old man and suffered from diabetes. His wife, Amalie, survived and later wrote that her husband’s greatest comfort was knowing before his death that his two daughters, Kora and Doris, had escaped and started a new family in a new country, Australia.

Singer wrote: "Perhaps he was also able to find comfort in the stoic philosophy of Seneca and other philosophers of antiquity, which he loved..." This remark describes the real motivation of the modern-day philosopher, Peter Singer; namely, discovering something about the life of his grandfather.

David Oppenheim was a scholar of the classics from a distinguished, liberal Jewish family, who loved the philosophers of antiquity and admired Goethe and Schiller. He spoke fluent Latin and Ancient Greek and was a member of Sigmund Freud’s circle, "Mittwoch-Gesellschaft." Singer attempts to discover the precursors of his own thoughts in his grandfather’s works. He notices that both he and his grandfather want to understand the inner essence of man, "the secret of the human soul."

This journey of philosophical discovery lays bare interesting details of the rise of Psychoanalysis while depicting the life of Jewish Vienna between the Fin de Siècle and Nazi occupation.

The book about the extraordinary life of a liberal Jew married to a religious Jewess, has, apart from the tragic, also something comforting: Tolerance, then as today, is one of the noblest feelings of which humans are capable..

"What binds us pushes time away," he wrote to his beloved wife, Amalie.
MORAWEC, BARBARA Peter Singer: Mein Großvater, 296 pages, Europa Verlag, 2005.