The tombstone of Reb Nissim: A piece of Jewish history returns

The tombstone of Reb Nissim: A piece of Jewish history returns

An important historical event took place on Tuesday in Graz when the oldest fully preserved Jewish tombstone, which goes back to 1387, was officially handed over to the Israelite cultural community. President Elie Rosen accepted the tombstone, which is considered an important testimony to Graz's Jewish history.

The gravestone, which once stood in the cemetery of a small Jewish community on the Joannumring, was in the meantime and was used as a building material for the outer wall of the Charlemagne Castle. This relocation of the tombstone is not only a loss of historical heritage, but also a symbol of the eventful history of Jewish society in the region.

important return for the Jewish community

The return was led by Governor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP), who emphasized that the initiative for the return of the stone was launched in discussions with roses over a year and a half ago. "We want to bring the stone home to a certain extent," said Drexler during the ceremony in the Graz synagogue, where the tombstone can now be seen as part of an exhibition.

In the Graz castle, only a replica of the stone can be found with an explanation, while the original is now being exhibited in the exhibition "Jewish Graz - Past, Present and Future". This place was described as "worthy" by Rosen to honor the historical artifact. Likewise, he mentions the immediately opposite tombstone of the Zipporah from 1304, which is also of historical importance, but has considerable damage.

rosen took the opportunity to thank Drexler for the return of the tombstone. This gesture comes at an important point in time when anti -Semitism and discrimination in today's society are increasingly in focus. Drexler confirmed that he is proud of the lively and diverse Jewish life in Graz and made it clear that nobody who accepts anti -Semitism could be part of society.

The return of this gravestone and the current exhibition in Graz not only offer a valuable opportunity for reflection on the history of the Jewish community, but also a way to celebrate the diversity and wealth of cultural identities today. For further information on the background and the importance of this return, see the report on religion.at .