Safikg - Supporting The Jewish Community Of Vienna

07/07/2025

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01/29/2025

Digitalization of archive material of the Jewish Cemetery Vienna:

The Jewish Cemetery Vienna whose origins date back to 1880 when the first older Jewish part of the Central Cemetery Vienna was opened for burials, could preserve within its offices a number of valuable archival material. Among those indexes consisting of hand-written index cards – one for each person buried on the Jewish sections of the cemetery from 1880 up to now.

We would like to preserve these valuable treasures for the future and to publish them to a broader public.

The fact that the cemetery was a target for arson back in November 2023 also made apparent how vulnerable our archive material in fact is. Although nothing happened to the index cards, we have installed additional fire protection and security measures. Nevertheless, the digitalization of archive material would be the most secure measure to prevent that this important information might get lost in the future.

We are currently working on preparing the cards for the digitalization. We also provide a scan of the cards for visitors who search for the graves of their ancestors, which in these cases is a document that adds important bits and pieces to the family tree.

As the preparation work will soon be finished, we would like to start with the actual digitalization this year. There are two different card indexes which can be digitalized by a specialized company.

- Index cards of burials at Central Cemetery Gate 1 (1880 – approx..1960)
- Index cards of burials at Central Cemetery Gate 4 (1917 - nowadays)

Our plan is to divide the whole amount into 5 parts to be able to do the post-editing directly afterwards. This is the budget plan for the upcoming years, we would like to start with the older part – the index starting in 1880 with the first burial at the Jewish section of the Central Cemetery Vienna:

- Index gate 1: 13.000 (2025) | 13.000 (2026)
- Index gate 4: 23.000 (2027) | 23.000 (2028) | 23.000 (2029)

01/24/2025

Leopoldstadt, Vienna: An Unlikely Safe Place for Jews

Despite their country’s history and the fraught current moment, the Jews who reside where both Sigmund Freud and the founder of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl, once lived, do not dream of relocating.

Read the full article here:

Despite their country’s history and the fraught current moment, the Jews who reside where both Sigmund Freud and the founder of modern Zionism, Theodore Herzl, once lived, do not dream of relocating.

01/13/2025

The Jewish wedding is the foundation of the Jewish home. Lauren & Ben wanted to share the meaning and depth of their history, building this beautiful home for their future children, so they would know and be proud of where they come from.

They conceived of the idea to have their wedding in Vienna as a personal testament to the strength & perseverance of the Jewish people. Lauren's family lived in Vienna before the Holocaust, and Ben's escaped pogroms in Eastern Europe. The location was chosen with the intention of not only highlighting their future, but bearing witness to the past. As they set out to start their life together, they wanted to demonstrate their incredible pride in their Jewish identity. They are here, living and thriving, with hope, and an unbreakable spirit and faith in God, and with immense pride in a strong Israel and IDF.

Lauren and Ben were married at the Stadttempel Synagogue, 86 years to the day, on the Anniversary of Kristallnacht, in the one remaining Shul from the Holocaust; where Lauren's great grandparents, and great great grandfather's names are commemorated in the Memorial immediately outside of the Sanctuary, honoring Viennese Jews who perished in the Shoah. We know that all of European Jewry was smiling down on them with immense pride. Am Yisrael Chai.

01/12/2025

Our 200th Anniversary Stadttemple Restoration Project is underway!

This year, the IKG will be upgrading the façade, windows, staircases, plumbing, and flooring to the City Temple.

We will be replacing the facade, windows, staircases, plumbing,
flooring, and wall fixtures. New wooden seats will be imported from Israel, security will be upgraded to the highest standards, and accessibility for people with disabilities will be a priority.

SAFIKG aims to raise $3 million for this Project. Please help us reach our goal and preserve the future of this iconic treasure.

Help us on our mission to support and strengthen the Jewish community in Vienna. Together, we can preserve this vital heritage and create lasting change.

Donate today at: https://www.safikg.org/donate

01/12/2025

The IKG (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien) safeguards the well-being of Viennese Jews, supporting local members including the many Jewish Ukrainian refugees who now call Vienna home.

The Epicenter of our IKG community for nearly 200 years has been the beautiful Stadttemple, our City Temple, which has been the spiritual heart of Austrian Jewish life, offering a wide range of social, religious, and educational services.

The IKG publishes one of the most revered Jewish newspapers in the world, the bi-monthly newspaper Die Gemeinde, and provides critical support for Jewish victims of National Socialist persecution, aiding them with reparations and compensation. Additionally, over 500 students attend the Zwi Perez Chajes (ZPC) School, which educates youth from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Purposely situated next door to the school is the community Elder Care apartment building.

The IKG’s expertly run Archives department holds thousands of priceless records and files on Austrian Jewry, pre-1939. It is an invaluable resource to many seeking to learn about their family and heritage. Of course, the large community cemetery holds the key to many memories as well.

Today, the community of 8,000 is led by President Oskar Deutsch and Chief Rabbi Jaron Engelmayer, who uphold the traditions and ensure the continuity of Jewish life in Vienna.