We are fortunate to live in a country where Purim is an exuberant celebration honoring a woman’s courage and the power of G-d’s love. However, Purim in 1938 was far from joyous for the Jews of Austria. That year, Purim fell on March 17. Under normal circumstances, the Austrian Jews would make hamantaschen, organize Purim spiels and take out their graggers. But an avalanche of malevolence fell upon the Jews a few days before these celebrations would have taken place.
On March 12, Germany annexed Austria as a province and renamed it “Ostmark.” Several thousand years after Esther’s courageous stance, the Jews of Austria were reminded once again in the month of March that people hate Jews simply for being Jewish.
The horrors Austrian Jews faced are often viewed as identical to those that befell German Jews. In fact, their experiences were rather different. This is not to say Jews of both countries did not ultimately suffer the same persecution and death. Comparing the Austrian Jewish experience to the German one is not about counting how many were murdered, nor is it an attempt to determine who suffered more at the hands of the Nazis. However, their journeys were distinct, and in many ways, the Austrian Jews began their horrific journey in March, shortly before Purim.
The terrors the German Jews had dealt with for years crashed down on Austrian Jews seemingly overnight. Cruel anti-Semitic laws went into effect immediately; hordes of Austrian men and women attacked Jews, beat them, and made them scrub the streets. Even German Nazis were surprised by the brutality demonstrated by the Austrians in these months and during Kristallnacht that following November. Most Austrian Jews came to Vienna in the 1860’s and thereafter; a greater proportion of German Jews had lived in Germany for generations. Austrian Jews were comprised of a variety of people: assimilated and non-assimilated, observant, and non- observant, Yiddish speakers and Zionists. This is not to say all German Jews were alike, but the fact the Austrian Jewish community was more fragmented made it harder for the Austrian Jews to communicate with each other and realize not only how powerful the Nazis were becoming in Germany, but the potential threat to Austria. Ninety percent of Austrian Jews – approximately 180,000 – lived in Vienna and were therefore easier to round up when deportations began. (A Central Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna was established and originally run by Adolf Eichmann.) While German Jews had more time to consider whether they should emigrate, Austrian Jews needed to make this decision in an instant. German Jews established many relief and welfare groups over the years; Austrian Jews lacked unity and were too rushed to set up organizations as effective as those in Germany.
We all share the vulnerability of Austria’s Jews, and the reality is, life can change in an instant. We might never understand why horrors of such magnitude are allowed to happen, but we must stand up as Esther did. We must believe that Haman – and those who follow in his footsteps – will ultimately be defeated. Purim reminds us to never forget the importance of trusting in G-d and his teachings, for G-d ultimately stays true. And when I see children eating hamantaschen after a temple service, I am overwhelmed by gratitude they have experienced only the beauty of Purim and none of the fear.
This article was published in The Jewish Advocate on February 27, 2015.
