Former Synagogue in St. Pölten in New Splendor

ORF (Austrian Public Broadcasting), April 17, 2024
German original: https://religion.orf.at/stories/3224647/

After extensive renovation and adaptation into a cultural center, the former synagogue in St. Pölten presents itself in new splendor. The Art Nouveau building, built in 1913, opens its doors at the weekend.

The synagogue was built by the architects Theodor Schreier and Viktor Postelberg. Admission to the open days, from Friday to Sunday, is free. Exhibitions, concerts and an educational program will be on offer until 10 November. The synagogue, which was severely damaged during the National Socialist pogroms in November 1938, was restituted by the City of St. Pölten to the Jewish Community of Vienna in 1954 as the legal successor to the Jewish community of St. Pölten, which had been wiped out.

The building became increasingly dilapidated in the following years, but demolition - as happened in Krems - was prevented. The city, state and federal government made it possible to carry out an initial restoration from 1980 to 1984. As part of the "Kultur St. Pölten 2024" project, a new two-year renovation was carried out and a new usage concept was drawn up based on the scientific findings of the Institute for Austrian Jewish History, which is located in the former cantor's house.

"A place of family history"

The director of the Institute for Jewish History Austria, Martha Keil, has curated a vivid permanent exhibition entitled "The Synagogue and its Community" in the women's gallery. The exhibition not only contains a number of objects, photos and documents as well as interviews with survivors at media stations, but also highlights the sometimes insensitive renovation work carried out in the 1980s. In addition, one of the 321 Shoah victims from St. Pölten is commemorated every month.

From May 17, there will also be a special exhibition entitled "Things move. Objects and their Jewish stories". In June, Johann Kneihs will curate "Jewish Weekends", a festival for Jewish culture. Keil hopes that the former synagogue will also become a "place of family history and a meeting place for regular visits" outside of events. The next follow-up meeting is planned for September 2024. For example, there is contact with pianist Irene Schreier Scott, 94-year-old granddaughter of Theodor Schreier, who perished in Theresienstadt in 1943, and her daughter and granddaughter.

Historic building

A special feature is the installation placed in the room by Johann Moser in the form of a beam of light. On the one hand, it is a reminder of the building's history of violence, and on the other, it symbolically illuminates a trace of survival.

The National Fund of the Republic of Austria, the Federal Monuments Office, the Province of Lower Austria and the City of St. Pölten have jointly acquired 4.6 million euros for the restoration and adaptation of the building. The structural measures, such as a new entrance area and barrier-free access thanks to the addition of a lift, were carried out by the architectural firm Wolfgang Pfoser. An inventory contract between the Jewish Community of Vienna as the owner and NÖ Museum Betriebs Gmbh regulates the long-term use of the building.