Memory of the Jewish community: New memorial installation in St. Pölten

Memory of the Jewish community: New memorial installation in St. Pölten

A new milestone in the culture of remembrance was set at the old Jewish cemetery in St. Pölten. An impressive memorial installation with glass panels, which bears the names of the people who were in between 1859 and 1906, was introduced. This installation not only gives an insight into the garden -like area, but also offers a way to personalize grief and appreciation of the deceased. The white prints are legible and symbolize the white dead dresses in which the dead are buried according to Jewish tradition.

This initiative is particularly important because it takes place 80 years after the cemetery was destroyed and desecrated by the National Socialists. Thanks to this installation, survivors can take memorial stones back, which represents a traditionally Jewish practice that contributes to partially replacing the graves lost by the devastation. This is also to be remembered by passers-by of the once flowering Jewish community in St. Pölten and the loss of tombstones during the Nazi era.

opening in the sign of memory

The ceremonial opening of the commemorative facility took place in a special framework: offspring of Jewish families formerly living in St. Pölten gathered to celebrate this crucial step in memorial culture. Among the prominent guests was Claudia Prutscher, the Vice President of the Israelite Culture Community Vienna. The financing of this important initiative was guaranteed by the cultural department of the state of Lower Austria, the National Fund of the Republic of Austria and the city of St. Pölten.

the Dr. Hans Morgenstern-Platz

In the course of these developments, the area south of the Old Jewish cemetery was given the name "Dr. Hans Morgenstern-Platz". This was done by a decision by the local council on September 30th. The square was after Dr. Hans Morgenstern named, a doctor and Jewish contemporary witnesses who died in November 2023. This name underlines the importance of personalities associated with the history of the Jewish community in St. Pölten.

In addition, a lecture on the old Jewish cemetery in the city museum will take place on October 21. The speakers are Christoph Lind from the Institute for Jewish History of Austria and city archeologist Ronald Risy. Interested parties can find details on the website of the city museum.