Thoughts of a Cosmopolitan Citizen

Kurier, July 7, 2024
German orginal: https://kurier.at/kultur/gedanken-eines-weltlaeufigen-buergerlichen/402921602

Martin Engelberg reflects on his Jewish identity in the context of Austrian contemporary history and politics.

By Rudolf Mitlöhner

Martin Engelberg is unlikely to be a member of the next National Council. The Jewish psychoanalyst, publicist and management consultant has been a member of the ÖVP since 2017: an asset in terms of cosmopolitanism, intellectuality and elegance – qualities that would suit the House in general and the People's Party in particular in the future.

Now Engelberg has written a book: "Absolutely Jewish" (the author thanks KURIER culture editor Thomas Trenkler for "reading the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions"). Engelberg draws a broad, autobiographically connoted bow. What constitutes "Jewish identity" for him? "Seclusion, discrimination and persecution" over the centuries have produced specific "virtues of Judaism": "starting again after disasters", "optimism", "creativity".

"Stable value system"

Perhaps it is these virtues that allow Engelberg to counter the widespread narrative of an increase in anti-Semitism. "In my personal experience, traditional anti-Semitism has become less prevalent over the last few decades," he writes, referring to Austria. But in general, he also believes that "Jews in Western countries are better off today than ever before in history". The author also very clearly rejects the instrumentalization of the Nazi era and the Holocaust for current political debates, for example in the confrontation with the FPÖ. The latter cannot be "effectively and, above all, permanently combated by a cordon sanitaire. Certainly not by inappropriate and inappropriate criticism and Nazi comparisons."

The author defends Sebastian Kurz against accusations of populism and credits the former chancellor with a "very stable liberal-conservative value system". And what's more: "Sebastian Kurz's rejection of almost uncontrolled immigration is also very directly related to the protection of this value system."

The most touching part: the words that Engelberg finds for his wife Danielle Spera and his three – now grown-up – children.

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Forgotten Places: A Look at Austria's Jewish History