In the week from October 7 to 14, a group of 40 people visited Vienna at the invitation of the Jewish Welcome Service. The majority of guests from five nations are descendants, members of the second generation, who went in search of family traces.
Only Vera Jacoby (Australia) and Ruth Moyal (Israel) as well as Josef Eisinger (born in 1924, USA) were born in Vienna. Josef Eisinger recently published his escape experiences in Flight and Refuge. During the stay, there were visits to Jewish institutions, a city tour and a visit to a wine tavern on the program.
At Vienna City Hall, the group was received by District Council Member Luise Däger-Gregori. She conveyed a greeting from Mayor Dr. Michael Ludwig to the guests: “As Mayor and Governor of Vienna, I am pleased to be able to show you today a changed and modern city: the political forces of Vienna reflect a democratic structure of constructive cooperation. However, we remain vigilant and are vehemently opposed to anti-Semitism and exclusion in our society! Through its work, the Jewish Welcome Service makes an essential contribution to understanding between generations and nations from Vienna to the whole world: the search for family traces in Vienna often closes a circle that hopefully also gives many guests a conciliatory view of Vienna.” (Source APA OTS) – all photos: PID/W. Schaub-Walzer
