Lichtzeichen Simmeringer Tempel Light

Hidden in plain sight, the Lichtzeichen Simmeringer Tempel Light stands as a silent sentinel. It whispers stories of a vibrant past tragically cut short. This unassuming light, part of the Lichtzeichen Wien project, marks the spot where the Simmeringer Tempel, a bustling hub of Jewish life, once stood. The Simmeringer Tempel was more than just a building. It was the heart of the Jewish community in Vienna’s 11th district. Erected between 1898 and 1899, the synagogue, designed by renowned architect Jakob Gartner, opened its doors on August 24, 1899. The Lichtzeichen Simmeringer Tempel Light now occupies this very ground. Imagine the capacity of the original Tempel, seating 249 on the ground floor and another 133 in the gallery. It hosted not just religious services, but also social gatherings, celebrations, and even a Hebrew language and Bible school. The Tempelverein Simmering, founded in 1891, commissioned the construction. They envisioned a grand synagogue to replace the smaller, overcrowded Bethaus on Simmeringer Hauptstraße. The Tempel became a symbol of their growing community. But tragedy struck on Kristallnacht, November 10, 1938. The Simmeringer Tempel was ransacked and destroyed, a victim of the Nazi regime’s escalating persecution. The building was subsequently demolished, its remains carted away. A chilling agreement exists between the Stillhaltekommissar and a local builder, detailing the demolition for a mere 1,000 Reichsmark and salvaged materials. Today, a residential building stands where the Tempel once was. The land, once owned by the Tempelverein Simmering, was seized, “aryanized,” and sold. The Israelitische Kultusgemeinde, the legal successor of the Tempelverein, later relinquished their claim for restitution, accepting a paltry sum of 35,000 Schilling. But the memory of the Simmeringer Tempel lives on. The Lichtzeichen Simmeringer Tempel Light, a five-meter-tall illuminated Star of David, serves as a poignant reminder of the vibrant Jewish life that once thrived here. It’s a testament to a community lost, but not forgotten, and a beacon of hope for the future.