Over 200 Participants in Declaration of Solidarity against Antisemitism in Wiener Neustadt
On Thursday, October 10, 2024, over 200 participants gathered at the main square in Wiener Neustadt (a town south of Vienna) to participate in a “Declaration of Solidarity” for Israel and against antisemitism and hatred of Jews.
Together they marched, holding Israeli flags in different sizes, through the city center of Wiener Neustadt, braving the pouring rain. The Viennese Chief Rabbi, Jaron Engelmayer, thanked the participants for their courageous act of friendship towards Israel and the Jewish people and said a prayer to commemorate the city’s deceased Jews, whose congregation had been completely driven out and eradicated during the Holocaust. He also said a prayer for the victims of the October 7 attack and the hostages in Gaza and ended his address with Psalm 83.
The Viennese Chief Rabbi, Jaron Engelmayer, saying prayers at the medieval Jewish tomb stones
During the closing ceremony at the main square David Roet (The Ambassador of the State of Israel in Austria), Joshua Weiss (grandson of the last Chief Rabbi of Wiener Neustadt), Marie-Louise Weissenböck (Chairwomen of “Christen an der Seite Israels” in Austria) and Helmut Eiwen (Senior Pastor of the Freikirche Ichthys of Wiener Neustadt) delivered short speeches.
From left to right: Helmut Eiwen, Marie Louise Weissenböck, Ambassador David Roet, Joshua Weiss and wife
Following Hamas’ terror attack on October 7, 2023, there has been a worldwide explosion of antisemitism. In Austria antisemitism has increased fivefold. It was not the first time that such a surge of hatred of Jews happened, according to Joshua Weiss. “My father had to flee from this city when he was eleven years old. He told me that Wiener Neustadt all of a sudden was flooded by the Nazi ideology and fanaticism. My grandparents turned into being outcasts, persecuted and prisoners from being respected citizens within a few weeks. But I am not here to point the finger at others. I came to my ancestor’s city because it is part of my heritage and culture which I appreciate very much. The first film my father showed me was “The Sound of Music” and he told me that Nazis and persecution were not the only things one found here, but that Austria was a wonderful country. His favourite song always remained “Edelweiss”.
“Ambassador David Roet: “The solidarity of our friends and allies, in particular here in Austria is a ray of hope in the darkness”
Common strive against extremism
Representing the Jewish State, ambassador David Roet praised Austria’s clear stance: “The solidarity of our friends and allies, in particular here in Austria is a ray of hope in the darkness. The Austrian Government, the Parliament and the cross-party leadership have unequivocally stated that this battle is not only fought for Israel but for the values of freedom, democracy and humanity. Only when we as moral and democratic nations stand together, we can fight the dangerous strives for extremism.” He also emphasized that he is committed to work for the liberation of the hostages. “The call to liberate all hostages is not a political call, but a moral call that should be joined be all of humanity.”
The accounts of the released hostages, about what they had to endure in the dark tunnels of Hamas are horrific and describe an unimaginable suffering. The visible and invisible scars they incurred witness the darkness they survived and the need to bring home those who were left behind. The hostages are not just a number, they are people, valuable, loved, irreplaceable members of our families. Bring them home!”
The Ambassador of the State of Israel in Austria, David Roet
“Bring them home!”
Christians should not be silent again
The inaction and the silence of the majority of Christians has encouraged National Socialism in the era of the Holocaust. Marie-Louise Weissenböck stated the motivation for the declaration: “We stand here against the silence, against hatred and against antisemitism. We stand here not only for Israel, but also for the Jewish citizens in Austria and worldwide who are exposed to an incredible surge in Israel-related antisemitism. We will not tolerate this antisemitism, and we will raise our voices against it.”
Christian antijudaism as breeding ground for antisemitism
Helmut Eiwen placed the roots of antisemitism in Christendom as well: “It always fills me with great pain and deep shame that one of the historical roots of antisemitism is based on a hatred of Jews motivated by Christendom. This Christian antisemitism became the breeding ground for every type of antisemitism up to the racist antisemitism of National Socialism. As Christians we should not allow or want to conceal this guilt but admit it and beg for forgiveness.”
The grandson of the last Chief Rabbi of Wiener Neustadt, Joshua Weiss advocated new future prospects: “To accept responsibility means to me: understand the past in order to learn from it for the future and to do better.”
The Solidarity march and declaration for Israel and against antisemitism and hatred of Jews in Wiener Neustadt was initiated by the Ichthys congregation of Wiener Neustadt in partnership with Christians for Israel in Austria (Christen an der Seite Israels – Österreich) and was organized in close cooperation with the Jewish community.
