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Up
to March 11, 1938, there were in Vienna 23 synagogues in their
own buildings, and 70 prayer houses in smaller premises. In
all these premises religious services were held regularly
twice a day, and were attended by all sectors of the Jewish
population of Vienna.
After
the reorganization of the situation, the Community Synagogue
of Vienna-Floridsdorf was occupied by Nazi Party organs, while
31 prayer houses were disbanded by the Commissar for the
Aryanization of clubs, associations and organizations.
Religious services were held as before in all other
synagogues.
Since
all synagogues existing in Vienna on November 10, 1938, were
withdrawn from their [normal] purpose, the lack of a religious
service has become painfully noticeable among the Jews living
in Vienna. Even if the main aim of the Jewish population is
emigration, and the means of survival until the time of their
departure, it would still be of great importance to make at
least some public religious services available once more to
the Jews living in Vienna. The provision of religious services
would not only help to satisfy the religious requirements of
the Jewish population, but also create an opportunity for the
Jewish Community to transmit directly important announcements
by order of the Authorities, or of importance for emigration,
as used to be the practice.
We
therefore beg that it be permitted to hold religious services
in the auditorium of the Community House I, 4 Seitenstetten
Street; in the auditorium of the Community House II, 3 Tempel
Street; and in the Hall [District] XX, 35 Denis Street.
The
General Director
Loewenherz,
Head
of the Jewish Community, Vienna
The
Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People,
A/W165,3.
*
Written on March 8, 1939, to the Central Office for Jewish
Emigration, the Gestapo Headquarters and the Commissar for the
Aryanization. |
