… for Austrian Jews expelled by National Socialists
The Welcome to Vienna invitation programme was established over 25 years ago by then Mayor Leopold Graz and City Councillor Heinz Nittel at the suggestion of Leon Zelman.
The scheme is aimed at enabling Viennese who were expelled by the National Socialists an opportunity to once again experience their birthplace and former home town.
Initially, there was little interest as the wounds caused by the loss and expulsion of the Austrian Jews, with the active involvement of the local population, went too deep.
However the Jewish Welcome Service invitation programme attempts at least to make gestures in the right direction, and these are now well received both by the direct victims, and by the second and third generations of Shoah survivors.
With its group approach, the Jewish Welcome Service strives to calm the fears of displaced Jews when contemplating a visit to Vienna by including their relatives. Thousands of people have been invited in this way.
