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Synagogue
in Graz
Synagogue
in Graz
On
November 9, 2000, more than 100 Jews from the United
States, Great Britain, Canada and Israel, met in Graz,
capital of Styria and the second largest city in Austria.
They came together to participate in the rededication
of a synagogue that was destroyed exactly 62 years earlier
during the infamous Kristallnacht, when thousands
of Jewish shops, homes, prayer houses and synagogues
were smashed by the Nazis.
Ingrid and Jörg Mar, the architects of the new
synagogue, situated the building on top of the old foundation,
incorporating portions of the ruins, which date from
1892. The glass dome of the synagogue lets in light
and one can see the sky. The dome is supported by 12
columns — symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel.
A Star of David forms the center of the dome.
More than 150 students from three public schools in
Graz worked over 10,000 hours to gather bricks from
the old synagogue, clean the stones, and select pieces
for the new construction. While this newly-created building
is reminiscent of the old synagogue, the architecture
and the participation of young Austrians who helped
with the new edifice, provide an impetus for hope and
optimism for the future.
In 1988, the year of the 50th anniversary of the Austrian
Anschluss, all political parties of the city
of Graz pledged to rebuild the synagogue as “an
act against forgetting.” As Mayor Alfred Stingl
said, rebuilding the synagogue should not be viewed
as “compensation,” since nothing can compensate
for what happened to Austrian Jews during the Nazi period.
Today, the Jewish Community of Graz is very small: about
100 members as compared to almost 2000 members in 1910.
In 1938, most members of Graz’ Jewish community
fled or were killed in Nazi camps. After the war, none
of the survivors were invited back and those who left
did not return.
Among the guests honored at the rededication were representatives
of many communities: Jews, Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Muslims, and Buddhists. Prominent among them
were the president of the Jewish Community in Vienna,
Ariel Muzicant, and Chief Rabbi Chaim Eisenberg. Austrian
President Thomas Klestil pointed out that many Austrians
participated in crimes during the Nazi regime. Kurt
Brühl, president of the Jewish Community in Graz,
stated, “We cannot forget the injustice, but we
thank you sincerely for giving us back our synagogue.”
Unique to this newly dedicated building is the fact
that it will be open for worship to all faith communities.
Michael
Feuerstein (Austrian Gedenkdienst Intern)
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