Chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg receives Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for the services to the Province of Vienna

Source: Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien

http://www.ikg-wien.at/?p=16639

On Monday, June 3, 2013, the Governor of Vienna Michael Häupl awarded Chief Rabbi of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (Jewish Community Vienna) Professor Paul Chaim Eisenberg with the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for services to the Province of Vienna. Many officials of the city government of Vienna as well as high level representatives of the Jewish community participated in the ceremony.

Governor Michael Häupl acknowledged Chief Rabbi Eisenberg as a very humorous person, who loves to tell Jewish jokes. “Laughter is a sign of tolerance and openness,” Häupl cited Eisenberg. Over the past few years, many projects had been organized by the city of Vienna together with its Jewish citizens. Häupl emphasized that any sign of intolerance had to be opposed vehemently.

Referring to Governor Häupl’s speech, Chief Rabbi Eisenberg declared that being a rabbi was a serious job. The relationship between the Jewish community and the city of Vienna had especially improved under Mayors Helmut Zilk and Michael Häupl. Finally, Eisenberg thanked the city of Vienna for the realization of joint projects.

About Rabbi Eisenberg

Professor Paul Chaim Eisenberg was born in Vienna in 1950. He comes from an important family of rabbis. His father already served as the chief rabbi of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien. After high school, Rabbi Eisenberg studied at the University of Vienna completing a degree in Math and Statistics. From 1973 until 1978, he pursued rabbinical studies in Jerusalem. In 1978, he was appointed rabbi and in 1983, after the death of his father, he took over the role as chief rabbi of Vienna. In 1988, he was appointed chief rabbi of the federal association of the Austrian Jewish communities. In his function as spiritual head of the Jewish citizens of Austria he is a constant supporter of the dialogue with representatives of the Catholic Church and the Islamic community. He is the author of many articles in Jewish and theological journals. Apart from serving as chief rabbi, he frequently performs as a singer, i.e. during the annual KlezMore-Festival and the cantor’s concert in Vienna. 

Exhibition: Austrian Builder-Owner Award 2013

Exhibition: Austrian Builder-Owner Award 2013

Source: Vienna Insurance Group

When: From 27 November 2013 until 10 January 2014

Where: Exhibition Center in the Ringturm
              1010 Vienna, Schottenring 30

Presented by the Central Association of Austrian Architects since 1967, the Austrian Builder-Owner Award has grown in significance over the years, serving as the model and inspiration for a number of regional and international architecture prizes.

Euphoria and Unease. Jewish Vienna and Richard Wagner

Euphoria and Unease. Jewish Vienna and Richard Wagner

Source: Jewish Museum Vienna

The year 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Richard Wagner, one of the most controversial characters of the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. His essay Das Judenthum in der Musik (1850 and 1869), his operas, and many other statements established him as one of the most prominent anti-Semitic figures within the German-speaking bourgeoisie. 

Theater: "Secret Communication 88 The Life of Hedy Lamarr"

Theater: "Secret Communication 88 The Life of Hedy Lamarr"

Source: Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien

November 7-9, 13-15, and 22-23, 8 p.m. at TTZ Tanz und Theaterzentrum Graz, Viktor Franz Straße 9

The 100th birthday celebration is postponed: The Austro-American actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr (née: Hedwig Kiesler) was not, as many sources claim, born on November 9, 1913 but exactely one year later at the hospital Sanatorium Hera in the Alsergrund district in Vienna. 

The Vienna University of Economics and Business builds Holocaust memorial

The Vienna University of Economics and Business builds Holocaust memorial

Source: Der Standard

http://derstandard.at/1381369121534/WU-bekommt-NS-Mahnmal

For students and researches, who were expelled during the Nazi era

Vienna – By spring 2014, the Vienna University of Economics and Business will have completed a memorial for students and employees, who were expelled from the former University of International Trade (HWL) during the Nazi era, a press release from the University stated on Friday, October 18, 2013.

Exhibition: Theophil Hansen – Classical Elegance in Everyday Life

Source: The Wiener Staedtische Versicherungsverein
http://www.vig.com/en/press/architektur-im-ringturm/current-exhibition.html

When: 18 April until 6 September 2013
Where: Ausstellungszentrum im Ringturm, 1., Schottenring 30


To mark the 200th anniversary of his birth, the exhibition in the "Architecture in the Ringturm" series by the Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein is a solo exhibition devoted to probably the most significant architect of Vienna's Ringstraße era - Theophil Hansen. Hansen's legacy includes not only his fine buildings on the Vienna Ringstraße but also the significant impact of his work on the development of International Modernism. As well as selected examples of Hansen’s buildings in Vienna (Vienna's Parliament building, Musikverein concert hall, several city palaces - among them the Palais Ephrussi and Epstein), the exhibition also features some of his lesser known works in Central and Eastern Europe.

Find more details here.

Exhibition: The Righteous - Courage is a question of decision-making

Source: Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien

HTTP://WWW.IKG-WIEN.AT/?p=16909

Sep., 11 – Dec., 20, 2013, Museum Arbeitswelt in Steyr

Opening on Sep., 11, 2013, 7.30pm, with the rescued contemporary witness Angelica Baeumer.

Mediation programs for students starting from 8th grade during the time of exhibition. The mediation programs are combinable with the new “Stollen der Erinnerung” and the political workshop Demos.

The exhibition is shown in cooperation with the Oesterreichische Freunde von Yad Vashem.

The exhibition, which is based on the idea of Guenther and Ulrike Schuster (Oesterreichische Freunde von Yad Vashem), academically supported by Michael John (University of Linz) and Albert Lichtblau (University of Salzburg) and artistically carried out by Manfred Lindorfer in close cooperation with the Museum Arbeitswelt, deals with the theme of civil courage under the conceivably most threatening conditions of Nazi era.

First Leon Zelman Prize goes to "Verein GEDENKDIENST"

Source: Jewish Welcome Service Vienna

8568_467341653358008_498070347_n.jpg

Vienna's City Councilor Michael Ludwig awarded the first Leon Zelman Prize in mid-June on behalf of City Councilor for Culture Mailath-Pokorny – to Verein GEDENKDIENST for its contribution to the fight against fascism, anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of discrimination. An "award and acknowledgement of an important commitment made entirely in the spirit of the great bridge-builder and publicist Zelman," is how Ludwig explained it. Adalbert Wagner, the Chairman of GEDENKDIENST, received the prize together with EUR 5,000.

More about the Leon Zelman Prize.

Exhibition: The Jewish Community of Frauenkirchen

Source: Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien
http://www.ikg-wien.at/?p=16784

 

April 11, 2013 – October 10, 2013, exhibition focusing on the history of the Jewish community in Frauenkirchen (in German and Hungarian) at the Franziskanerkloster Frauenkirchen, Kirchenplatz 2, 7132 Frauenkirchen.

Over 250 years, a Jewish community existed in Frauenkirchen, which at times comprised a third of the total population. The Jewish Community played a key role in the ascent of Frauenkirchen to the economic center of the National Park Neusiedlersee.

Exhibition: Wels 1938

05.06.2013 – 27.10.2013 in der Burg Wels, Burggasse 13.

75 years ago Austria lost its sovereignty and independence for seven years. It became part of the German Reich. Based on the latest research finding, the special exhibition at the Burg Wels makes an attempt  to depict the also for the city of Wels fateful time of National Socialism, even though, there is no strict physical separation and many of the issues are applicable to the whole of Austria. In general the exhibition focuses on the time between March 1938 and September 1939, when the war broke out.

Upcoming Concert: "A thousand and one sephardic nights"

Upcoming concert in the framework of the 2013 Jewish Culture Weeks, Vienna - "Jewish Culture from Hungary."

When: June 16 at 7:30 pm

Where: Wiener Konzerthaus

Bea Playa is one of the most versatile singers of our time and in her music she combines elements of Hungarian and Bulgarian folk music, Indian music, Jazz and world music.

Growing up listening to Hungarian folk music, Bea Playa moved to the Hungarian capital Budapest, where she started her impressive career. The energetic singer has worked together with many different bands and ensembles and since 2001 has released eleven studio albums, including seven solo albums, which are characterized by unique compositions of oriental, modern and traditional music from her homeland.

Upcoming Concert: Eszter Bíró Quartet

Upcoming concert in the framework of the 2013 Jewish Culture Weeks, Vienna - "Jewish Culture from Hungary."

When: June 13, 2013 at 7:30 pm

Where: KIP - Cafe Prueckel, Biberstr. 2, 1010 Wien

Eszter Bíró is a versatile artist, who is known as a singer, actress and musical performer (among other projects, she starred as Christine in “Phantom of the Opera”) in Hungary. Her music is a unique blend of musical styles, in which old Jewish melodies sung in Hungarian, Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino take you on a trip through the millennia. Inspired by the Jewish musical tradition of her Eastern European heritage, she performs traditional Jewish songs in many different languages and interprets them in a unique way, e.g. the use of traditional Eastern European Instruments is combined with the modern technique.

Chief Rabbi Paul Chaim Eisenberg receives Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for the services to the Province of Vienna

Source: Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien

http://www.ikg-wien.at/?p=16639

On Monday, June 3, 2013, the Governor of Vienna Michael Häupl awarded Chief Rabbi of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien (Jewish Community Vienna) Professor Paul Chaim Eisenberg with the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for services to the Province of Vienna. Many officials of the city government of Vienna as well as high level representatives of the Jewish community participated in the ceremony.