Jewish Cemetery (Roßau)
Encyclopedia
The Jewish cemetery in Roßau, which is also known at the Seegasse Jewish cemetery because of its location in the Seegasse, is the oldest preserved cemetery in Vienna
. Members of the city’s Jewish community
were buried here between 1540 and 1783.
of Vienna, Alsergrund
, and covers an area of approximately 2000 m². Today, the site is part of the yard of the old people’s home in the Seegasse and can be accessed via the home. Where the home now stands, there used to be a Jewish establishment for quarantining the sick (in order to prevent a spread of infectious diseases).
In 1629, the Seegasse was known as the Gassel allwo der Juden Grabstätte (approximately: The little lane with the Jewish burial site), from 1778 it was known as the Judengasse (Jews’ lane). In 1862, it was renamed Seegasse (Lake lane) after a fish pond that used to be in the area which was described in a document from 1415 as a “lake” (See).
against Viennese Jews in 1670, the Jewish merchant Koppel Fränkel paid a sum of 4000 gulden
, in return for which the city committed to maintain the cemetery. Use of the cemetery as a burial site continued thereafter until 1783, when emperor Joseph II
forbade the use of all cemeteries within the city walls.
A new cemetery for the Jewish community was created outside the city walls in the suburb of Währing (see Jewish Cemetery (Währing)). In line with the edicts of the Jewish religion
, the cemetery in the Seegasse was left untouched, while Christian cemeteries within the city walls were closed and built over.
In 1943, the Nazi authorities resolved to raze the cemetery and to build over the site. A group of engaged Viennese Jews responded by removing some of the gravestones, which they buried at the city’s main cemetery, the Zentralfriedhof
. In the 1980s, 280 of the 931 gravestones that were buried there were rediscovered and returned to their original homes as recorded in Bernhard Wachstein’s surveys of the cemetery from the 1910s. The cemetery was sanctified once again on 2 September 1984.
The inscriptions on the gravestones in the cemetery are entirely in Hebrew
.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Members of the city’s Jewish community
Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien
The Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien is the body that represents Vienna’s Jewish community. Today, the IKG has around 7000 members...
were buried here between 1540 and 1783.
Location
The Jewish cemetery lies in the suburb of Roßau in the 9th districtDistricts of Vienna
The districts of Vienna are 23 named city sections of Vienna, Austria, which are also numbered for easy reference. For centuries, district boundaries have changed...
of Vienna, Alsergrund
Alsergrund
Alsergrund is the ninth district of Vienna, Austria . It is located just north of the first, central district, Innere Stadt. Alsergrund was incorporated in 1862, with seven suburbs. The area is densely populated, with a lot of government-built housing. According to the census of 2001, there were...
, and covers an area of approximately 2000 m². Today, the site is part of the yard of the old people’s home in the Seegasse and can be accessed via the home. Where the home now stands, there used to be a Jewish establishment for quarantining the sick (in order to prevent a spread of infectious diseases).
In 1629, the Seegasse was known as the Gassel allwo der Juden Grabstätte (approximately: The little lane with the Jewish burial site), from 1778 it was known as the Judengasse (Jews’ lane). In 1862, it was renamed Seegasse (Lake lane) after a fish pond that used to be in the area which was described in a document from 1415 as a “lake” (See).
History
The Jewish cemetery in the Seegasse was created in the 16th century. Between 1540 and 1783, it was the main burial site for members of Vienna’s Jewish community. Following a pogromPogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
against Viennese Jews in 1670, the Jewish merchant Koppel Fränkel paid a sum of 4000 gulden
Austro-Hungarian gulden
The Gulden or forint was the currency of the Austrian Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian Empire between 1754 and 1892 when it was replaced by the Krone/korona as part of the introduction of the gold standard. In Austria, the Gulden was initially divided into 60 Kreuzer, and in Hungary, the...
, in return for which the city committed to maintain the cemetery. Use of the cemetery as a burial site continued thereafter until 1783, when emperor Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
forbade the use of all cemeteries within the city walls.
A new cemetery for the Jewish community was created outside the city walls in the suburb of Währing (see Jewish Cemetery (Währing)). In line with the edicts of the Jewish religion
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, the cemetery in the Seegasse was left untouched, while Christian cemeteries within the city walls were closed and built over.
In 1943, the Nazi authorities resolved to raze the cemetery and to build over the site. A group of engaged Viennese Jews responded by removing some of the gravestones, which they buried at the city’s main cemetery, the Zentralfriedhof
Zentralfriedhof
The Zentralfriedhof is one of the largest cemeteries in the world, largest by number of interred in Europe and most famous cemetery among Vienna's nearly 50 cemeteries.-Name and location:...
. In the 1980s, 280 of the 931 gravestones that were buried there were rediscovered and returned to their original homes as recorded in Bernhard Wachstein’s surveys of the cemetery from the 1910s. The cemetery was sanctified once again on 2 September 1984.
The inscriptions on the gravestones in the cemetery are entirely in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
.
Further reading
- Traude Veran, Das steinerne Archiv - Der Wiener jüdische Friedhof in der Rossau, Mandelbaum Wien 2006, ISBN 3-85476-176-7.