Fierce debate about exhibition at the Jewish Museum

ORF, February 2, 2023

German original: https://religion.orf.at/stories/3217486/

The director of the Jewish Museum Vienna, Barbara Staudinger, is facing sharp criticism in connection with the exhibition "100 Misconceptions About and Among Jews," which has been running since November. Now Jewish supporters are coming forward.

According to the "Kurier", Oskar Deutsch, President of the Jewish Community (IKG) Vienna, criticized the exhibit as partly problematic. Middle East expert Ben Segenreich and publicist Paul Lendvai are also among those who have criticized the exhibit. Staudinger has now received support from nine Holocaust survivors, the Standard reported Thursday (online edition).

They addressed a letter to IKG President Deutsch as well as Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and the museum's supervisory board. Although one could be divided about the exhibition, they were "appalled" "when the director is defamed as an anti-Semite, the exhibition is even partly moved into the vicinity of ‘reengagement in National Socialist activities’ (nationalsozialistische Wiederbetätigung) or some accuse her of not being Jewish."

Criticism yes, character assassination no

Criticism is important, but "nothing justifies character assassination and agitation! Tolerance and respect are needed," "Der Standard" further quoted from the letter. The IKG was asked to "no longer remain silent, but to bring the discussion back to a factual level."

The letter was signed by Robert Schindel, Timothy and Franziska Smolka, Zwi Bar-David, Gerda Frey, Helga Feldner-Busztin, Peter Munik, Siegfried Loewe and Angelica Bäumer.

Director Staudinger herself had recently announced in interviews that she would be adding "another textual level of context" to the exhibition in the coming weeks. "100 Misunderstandings About and Among Jews" is on view at the Jewish Museum in Dorotheergasse until June 4.