The president of the Jewish Welcome Service, Vienna’s mayor, Dr. Michael Ludwig, and the vice-president, Vienna’s City Councilor for Cultural Affairs, Veronica Kaup-Hasler, have written a letter to the guests of the JWS at this difficult time. Many of you have already spent many months preparing for an emotionally taxing visit to Vienna. Unfortunately, this will only be possible at some point in the near future.
Dear Madam, dear Sir,
Dear friends of the Jewish Welcome Service,
(photo: PID – Christian Jobst)
The coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the lives of people worldwide. As in many other cities, strict restrictions have been in place in Vienna. While we have been striving to control the spread of the coronavirus, we have tried to provide all people with the best medical care available and make life in the city as liveable as possible under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, your visit to Vienna also had to be cancelled for the time being due to current travel restrictions and restrictions on public life. We are very sorry that you cannot take up the invitation of the Jewish Welcome Service to make a study tour to Vienna at the present time.
(Foto: PID – Christian Jobst)
We acknowledge our role as intermediary between Austria and Holocaust survivors and their families and will, by all means, continue to provide every support for genealogical research and other numerous projects and cooperation activities despite the corona situation. It is a key concern of the Vienna City Government to promote active remembrance and raise public awareness on the rich cultural heritage of the Jewish community in Vienna.
Many of you have long prepared for your trip to Vienna, which could understandably also create an emotionally challenging situation. We therefore hope that you will soon have the opportunity to see today’s Vienna for yourselves and visit the city, which has become an international meeting place and is renowned for its cultural offerings and the world’s best quality of life. We look forward to welcoming you to Vienna before long!
Stay safe!
President
Dr. Michael Ludwig
Mayor and Governor
City and State Vienna
Vice President
Mag.a Veronica Kaup-Hasler
Executive City Councillor for Culture and Science
