Security for Jewish life: New contract strengthens cooperation in Vienna

Security for Jewish life: New contract strengthens cooperation in Vienna

On March 17, 2025, a decisive event occurred in the Israelite Religious Society (IRG): Oskar Deutsch was unanimously re-elected as president. This happened during a board meeting of the IRG, which forms the umbrella of all Jewish religious communities in Austria. In addition to Deutsch, Charlotte Herman, president of the IKG Linz, and Dezoni Dawaraschwili, member of the cultural board of the IKG Vienna, were also elected as vice presidents. The IRG represents the interests of all Jews in Austria who are members of a religious community and is therefore a central organ in the country's Jewish community ots.at reported.

In addition, on June 15, Federal Minister Gerhard Karner and Oskar Deutsch signed the “Gemeinsam.Sicher” agreement at the IKG Vienna campus. This is happening in a context that is intended to improve the dialogue between the members of the Jewish religious communities and the authorities. The Interior Minister emphasized the importance of regular exchanges at eye level, which also serves to lower the inhibition threshold when dealing with the police. The agreement includes measures such as encounter projects and training for police officers to strengthen security in Jewish life in Austria. “Security is the basis for this,” said Deutsch, who also pointed out the diverse religious and cultural activities on campus ikg-wien.at reported.