With a little late, but still well before the next Date 21 April, now the report of the conversation with the country's IKG President Ariel Muzicant . The fact that it took so long, but is certainly due to the vast amount of information that could provide the Muzicant in this conversation.
About Muzicant
Muzicant started off the 6-day war in Israel when he was about 15 years old, interested in Judaism and address. The Holocaust, the Shoah was, in his family very well to talk about. Above all, his two uncles who were in Vienna in 1938, fled to Romania as a result, survived and returned, told him about their experiences. His parents, who survived by fleeing (his father fled even to China), told him about it.
In school, he attended the Lycee Francais in Vienna, as the Jewish Community had concluded after 1945, all Jewish schools, and the Lycée anti-Semitic as little compared to regular public schools was, he was a very curious, critical students, especially in history lessons. Personal experiences with anti-Semites, he had very well. He whipped around by themselves with Nazis on the Uni-ramp in Vienna.
As ICG has been president twice, each elected unanimously. In 2002 he was the cult of tax (abolished based on non-law), since then, the number of entries into the Jewish Community. Wealthier members pay 11 € fee per month, the others are asked for voluntary donations.
In the census of 2001, he called for a boycott of the religion claim that because they need his opinion to be just "made" so little, such as the number of Slovenians in Carinthia, "to have to set up then a few signposts. Nevertheless, about 8,000 people to Judaism have known about 10000-15000 but can be counted yet, according to Muzicant.
Jewish identity in Austria
Whether as a Jew in Austria Now Austrian, Israeli or Jew is? - That anyone has to make up with himself, so Muzicant. He sees himself in any event, Austrians and Europeans, with Israel as a spiritual homeland. "However," needs to clarify Muzicant relativizing, "anti-Semites do not distinguish as before." He got in the course of the war in Gaza "a ton of hate letters," even though he obviously can not for the development in Israel and the Palestinian territories. He expressed this in fact only in the sense that the existence of Israel is not impugned. This right is an essential part of his Jewish identity. And if someone because of this Muzicant publicly made known confession emerges from the Jewish Community - What happened, according Muzicant well - then that is also "more so" because he no longer needs such a person represented.
development of the Jewish Community in 1945
The history of the Jewish Community in 1945 divides Muzicant into two sections: First, the phase in which the reborn community since 1945 a kind of relates to resolution policy, keeping in mind that it never again Jewish Living in Austria, respectively, giving Vienna, could. But since it is well known, in 1945 Jewish life in Vienna were, and arrived with all immigration and immigrants and returning again and again, there was inevitably a conflict of generations. This was about in the 70s instead, and led ultimately to the ICG board elections in 1981 a paradigm shift. Instead of Jewish institutions to dissolve and sell land (as happened with many properties of former prayer houses and synagogues, see Bob Martens, Katharina Kohlmaier: What happened to the land on which there were synagogues in Vienna In: DAVID, No . 59, 2003, p. 29-35, see also: Wikipedia: List of Jewish places of worship in Vienna wanted) to open the new generation of Jewish institutions again and keep remaining possessions. The extensive Jewish Community Archives and centuries-old documents were indeed already irretrievably been brought to Israel.
The change within the Jewish Community brought with it a de-politicization. Rather than make a mirror image of the Israeli political landscape, property policy was brought to the foreground. Party affiliations were in the background and now play little or no role. Nevertheless, one can say that the ICG mainly politically left of center is located. Whatever that may mean in practice now - to build a kindergarten, it does not matter if you left, right, or is in the middle - so Muzicant.
Jewish Community of Vienna in the European comparison
What the Viennese Jewry from the rest of Europe is different? The cohesion! Reform and Orthodox Judaism are located in Vienna, under one roof, that of the ICG. The ICG acts as the umbrella organization of all Jewish movements that are present in Vienna - which are many. Each group has far-reaching freedom. Only matters that concern the whole of Jewry are handled by the Jewish Community. About family law, entrance fees, etc., for which Chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg is responsible, in turn, is considered "very conciliatory." Also, the budget lies with the Jewish Community, and here, according Muzicant is also the only significant friction point there: Ultimately, all groups feel they receive too little money. What are the different forms of Viennese Jews, have concerns in political, ideological, religious terms, and by geographic origin, these different groups may indeed have their peculiarities and differences, but because of the freedoms under the umbrella of the Jewish Community, this ultimately not disturb the cohesion as a community Muzicant insured. And that it is a diverse, vibrant community can be as well to recognize the fact that there were 14, 15 prayer rooms and 6 rabbi in Vienna (Muzicant).
That there is a Jewish community in Vienna, in which different groups, of which Orthodoxy and Reform Judaism are probably the most widely divergent directions that can talk to each other that are not in different blocks is broken apart, this is so Muzicant, Europe no longer a matter of course. Thus, there exists in Germany, "all disputes" and "in Switzerland not even talk to each other." That way I can with Switzerland, at least in terms of Zurich confirmed. Not from personal experience, but through the ICZ (Jewish Cultusgemeinde Zurich, then writes the) people involved.
The question for activity and openness of the Jewish Community and the public perception, such as in a European comparison, there were some interesting statements. There were conflicting messages from the audience: First, those who moved a person finds that the ICG is more of a closed community (What Muzicant denied of course and brought a number of examples). Then then came a report of a Austrian woman who lived about 30 years in Germany, both in the north and south, and the Vienna Jewish Community feels much more open than German communities. Nor would it in Austria, which she finds it surprising, much more about the Jewish Community and events with Jewish culture, of which there were loud Muzicant about 300 a year, reported in the media. When the Jewish Community in Austria, gives a press conference, then come the media and also report - something that obviously is less the case in Germany.
On the subject of restitution
After 1945, Jews in Austria answered "do not fight hard enough and called for" and are more than occurred "as a supplicant." But that should not blame them, they have only just survived the Holocaust and were therefore "deeply traumatized," wanted to "live simply" (Muzicant). Austria
Many today would not understand why the recovery from 1945, "an issue" was, but in recent years, very strong (country man). "Is not" (Muzicant) - The restitution from the beginning was an issue. But after the United States exerted less pressure on Austria, as the Cold War, the confrontation with the Soviet Union, came to the fore, the case was slow or not at all forward. Many judges also were former Nazis, some have even found themselves Aryaniser (Muzicant). Then there was the lack of recognition of responsibility on the part of Austria - which is indeed decades, as the first victim of Germany, which bear no responsibility for the events between 1938 and 1945, looked at (which impelled the Republic of Austria but not to NS-legal decisions in their entirety to annul, as happened in other countries such as Denmark). And quite apart from all this: those Jews who survived the Nazis did so only in the few cases in Europe. Most had fled to North or South America were to live happy, and of course had little or no idea about the fate of their former possessions in Austria. They had indeed no information apology, explanation, invitation or anything else on the part of Austria. Restitution was considered "collectable debt": Who wants to have something that must strive to Austria and the local courts. Since Jews to escape from Austria was made known to all, especially the money one can naturally think that only few could afford in the years after 1945, the financial force in Austria, a trial endeavor, which in turn requires some courage, as the Austrian case law was very disadvantageous for the reasons mentioned for Jews.
turn in the 90s was the consequence of the end of the Cold War. Many archives have been opened, searches could be performed more easily on the fate of looted art and other property looted. Austria had now accepted a certain complicity in National Socialism, new information technologies (Internet in the mid-90s) are increasingly facilitating international communication and access to sources. For some actions now developed a "Klagsflut" that came up from the U.S. to Austria. This pressure came in 1998 the Washington Agreement, in which Austria undertook to make restitution. The role of the Jewish Community in these negotiations between Austria and the United States was not first recognized way. Only after a complaint by the Jewish Community won, she was admitted as a negotiating partner with Austria and the United States.
was total and is the Austrian restitution still poor. In general, only 10% of the approved robbery restituted good, and in principle is never the actual value of a good recognition. As an example, Muzicant a house that is 10 million € value. € 6 million of these are recognized, 600.000 € will be restituted. In contrast, there was again called Denmark: 90 to 95% all confiscated property was restituted there, namely 1945th
gives way, still the picture of largest raid in history , which took place from 1938 to 1945 in the former and present-day Austria. Then 18 billion shillings to the extent of that looting is appreciated. Taking as an example the 63,000 dwellings in 1938 in Vienna were Aryanized, and one assumes for each apartment a transfer fee of 50,000 euros now realistic, so alone is the about 3.1 billion euros.
The Waldheim affair
The look on Muzicant Waldheim differs in some essential respects from that of Georg Mark, that of the previous four guests, who had expressed most extensively on forest home. While Mark had the Waldheim affair rather not have seen such "exaggerated" as it "übetriebene" anti-Waldheim campaign finally stirred and anti-Semitic sentiments and brought right-wing politicians influx would, allowing for even "the Strache today," sees Muzicant this period of history almost complete opposites.
The Waldheim affair was "the best thing that could happen to this country," so Muzicant. She has broken old crusts and finally produced a civil society in Austria. A large group of people who since been critical of the Austrian past deal, at least indirectly, was the achievement of this affair. That through the media inflating the scandal caused, including US-entry ban for Waldheim, anti-Semitic, right response is, of course not surprising. But the benefits that has brought this affair (keyword civil society, critical engaging with the past) outweigh the disadvantages in the form on the right reflexes, which also attended the affair.
Waldheim received his travel ban, moreover, not because of his time as a Wehrmacht soldier, but because of his consistent denials that he pursued so long, until it was proven. Something to be in the USA unforgivable. This difference in attitude between the U.S. and Austria, where even the denial is quasi national sport, have also contributed to his own lack of understanding of U.S. criticism of Waldheim.
Wiesenthal and Kreisky
What's new at Kreisky? Well - once again statements that a completely contrary to the picture to find something beautifully drawn version of Markus'. Kreisky have such a "intense hatred" on his Jewish background had, he has never overcome (so Muzicant). And to relativization, Kreisky had never denied his Jewish origins: Yes of course he did not because, as he is this supposed to also deny (Muzicant spirit). But the fact remains that he is a 'troubled relationship with the Jews "had . And the statement that Jews are a "lousy people" (which Mark described so as untrue), Kreisky said no doubt, were referred to but in a certain respect, namely in response to a statement in which Jews as a people: "If the Jews are one people, then a lousy ". gone
As part of the allegations against Kreisky Wiesenthal that he had collaborated with the Nazis ( Kreisky-Peter-Wiesenthal affair ), whereupon Wiesenthal Kreisky sued for libel (the whole way, advance was the discovery of the Nazi past of the Kreisky -Minister By Peter Wiesenthal), there was, from today's perspective, rather unexpectedly, many (older) voices in the Jewish Community, the echauffierten about Wiesenthal. "How can he do this?" (so Muzicant about the mood at the time) - namely, that such confrontations are Wiesenthal himself. Reason for this mood was the same war survivors especially prevalent view that one should live as a Jew in Austria just quiet and unobtrusive. But the younger generation saw it differently - the paradigm shift, as described above, was in the air. Their opinion was that without an independent position in Austria has no right to exist. To hide, is the wrong way.
It is worth to any event a great success of the Jewish Community that at every important affair (Kreisky, Waldheim) a "clear position" have had. For by the Jewish Community to be heard, taken seriously and perform publicly. This was, moreover, a weakness of the Muslim faith or the representations, namely that they are not strong leadership, at least, have no representative leadership.
difference between Jewish and Muslim integration and faith representatives
An example of the statement made in the last sentence, namely the lack of organization of the Muslim representatives in Austria, According to the religion teacher is Muzicant debate, which was recently conducted. The occasion was known to be a survey of Muslim students at Muslim religious teachers, were allegedly found in a quarter anti-democratic positions. The study was medial hotly debated, partly also in doubt. Demands for a change in the laws concerning religion teacher training have been raised, however, by the responsible Ministry of Education not taken seriously. When then the ICG, Muzicant to speak out, that the religion teacher training was not a Muslim, but a general problem in Austria, he had first raised admiration. But it was also Jewish religious teachers often so that they could hardly German and poorly prepared surveys may also answers came, and would be in conflict with democracy. Also by such positions, which gives not only Jewish interests, but Austrian general, relate to a hearing.
connect
In other cases, Muslim religious leaders even actively approached the Jewish Community, to ask them for help in religious-political debates. So there was need for such regulations for the religious enclosures, so special, religious laws observed slaughter methods (allow full bleed, etc.). But even that was not a Muslim issue was purely and only together with the Jewish Community because you could find satisfactory solutions to the policy (with details I can not serve, unfortunately, Muzicant mentioned this only briefly as an example). Anyway, it seems a need for improvement in the Muslim representatives to give. There are a number of agencies that have different positions represented. A true umbrella organization similar to the ICG, there is not, despite the officially recognized Islamic Religious Community, Anas Schakfeh. This has only a few thousand members and is no different from other Islamic communities in Austria accepted as the supreme representative.
Finally, the question of how it may be that in recent decades, when thousands of Jews from the East, not a word was German, in Vienna, came up today are generally integrated well and their children show many university degrees, whereas among Muslim immigrants but much less successful (there are studies on graduation rates, graduation rates, etc. to origin, religion, representing this.)
Muzicant has "no idea" why he would even like to know. Although it is a cliche, Jewish learning and all, but he'll take himself too often, was about when a child of Eastern European immigrants in a very short time to acquire a doctorate from the University of Economics. Perhaps it is because so Muzicant that it often integrate more incentive to learn and gives. There may be "a pressure to maintain a Jewish minority in the mainstream society to integrate,"
