Jewish Community of Vienna

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Jewish Community of Vienna

The Jewish Community of Vienna, known in German as Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (IKG), is Vienna’s Orthodox Jewish organization. It represents the city’s Jewish community and has about 10,000 members. Historically, the IKG has stood for most Jews in Austria, with only a few other Austrian cities having sizable communities.

What the IKG does
- Supports members in social, religious, and educational matters.
- Publishes the official newspaper Die Gemeinde twice a month.
- Helps victims of Nazi persecution and their families with restitution and compensation.
- Runs services through its leaders, including the President and the Chief Rabbi.

Key people
- President: Oskar Deutsch has led the IKG since 2012.
- Chief Rabbi: As of 2020, Jaron Engelmayer was appointed Chief Rabbi of Vienna.
- The IKG also has cantors who lead religious services; Shmuel Barzilai has held the position of Chief Cantor.

History in brief
- The IKG’s roots go back to the 19th century, with Vienna’s Jews gaining more formal organization after 1848 and the founding of the community around 1852. The Stadttempel (the main synagogue) in Seitenstettengasse became a central home for the community.
- During Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, the IKG was shut down and then reopened in May 1938 as the Vienna Jewish Community to help manage emigration and, later, deportations. The name Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien was restored after World War II in 1945.
- In 1981, a terrorist attack targeted the Seitenstettengasse synagogue, killing two people and injuring many others. Security at the synagogue increased afterward.
- In 2022, the IKG and its president were involved in international discussions related to a custody case in Austria, highlighting ongoing community concerns.

The IKG’s archive
- The IKG’s archive is one of the most important Jewish archives in German-speaking Europe. It has records dating back to the 16th century and covers the community’s journey from its founding to after World War II.
- The archive includes meeting minutes, decrees, letters, emigration and financial records, lists of deportees, photos, and more. It provides crucial evidence for restitution claims and helps document the impact of Nazi persecution.
- Notably, evidence found in 1995 linked to the Deutsch-Schützen massacre (1945) led to prosecutions in 2009.

Other points
- The IKG has historical ties to Vienna’s Jewish education, religious life, and charitable institutions, including historic hospitals such as the Rothschild Hospital (1873–1943).
- The IKG’s work continues to shape Vienna’s Jewish life today, preserving history while supporting present-day needs.

In short, the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG) is the organized body representing Vienna’s Orthodox Jews, providing religious and social services, maintaining a rich archive of the community’s history, and leading the community through both commemorative and everyday duties.