A Visit to Vienna, 1962

The Queen Mary
Ma and Dally sailed on her to Europe in 1962

Precisely twenty four years after Ma and Dally fled Vienna, they returned for a visit to the city of their birth. It must have been a very difficult trip. The memories of their youth and of the world that was destroyed must have been constantly in their feelings and thoughts. They had lost homes, livelihoods, family, and friends. Their beloved Schiffschul with all its organizations was gone. The memories of Kristalnacht and the many other horrible atrocities that they had witnessed could not have been forgotten.

Following is a short diary, written by Ma, apparently at the beginning of the trip. It was written on an envelope of the hotel's stationary. The few lines speak for themselves.

This short diary was written by Ma during her visit to Vienna 1962
Her first visit since fleeing the Nazis in late 1938
"Its a funny feeling here in Vienna, at home without being at home."

Left N.Y. 11.30.62 on Queen Mary. 

First 2 days beautiful steady sea. 

3rd day strong gale 4th and 5th again very nice.

Arrived in Cherbourg [France] 12.5.62 9 A.M. 

came to Paris at 11 A.M. 

Went with bus 51 to Champ Elisee, walked till 6:30 ate at “Eden”. 

Walked till time to leave for Vienna. 

Walked back to … …. … took Orient Express at 9:45 P.M. 

came 2 hours later 12.6.62 to Vienna. 

(met Mr. Wasserfall from Paris). 

It is a funny feeling here in Vienna, at home without being at home. We left exactly 24 years ago on Dec. 15. 38 a lot of things have happened since then. Thank Haschem for everything. 

We checked into Hotel Post Fleischmarkt 24, then went out for a walk. 

A lot is changed, new stores, new houses, and new faces. 

Friday morning we called Deszo [Kohn] and Edwin’s cousin Dr. Walter Stroh. 

Went to Bre.... and walked. 

I can see we will walk quite a lot here. 

Friday afternoon we met Walter Stroh in his business “Sudfruchte?” 

He took us to his apartment. 

We met his wife Csesze (Magda).

Hotel Post's stationary
Ma and Dally stayed at the hotel
The few lines above were written on this stationary

Deszo Kohn was Ma's first cousin a brother of Irene Richter and Joe, children of Uncle Rudy.

Deszo Kohn (1907-1996)
Ma's first cousin
He was residing in Vienna
Ma and Dally visited him there

 Dr. Walter Stroh was Dally's first cousin a son of Uncle Willy Stroh.

Walter's wife Magda may she live and be well resides in Israel.

Dr. Walter Stroh (1911-1978)
Dally's first cousin
He was residing in Vienna
Ma and Dally visited him there

King George I of England and the Strohs - 1704

Title page of the Sefer Divrei Zikaron
Written by R' Yosef Stathagen (1640-1715)
R' Yosef is an Ancestor of the Strohs
This copy of the sefer belonged to
 Michoel Ahron Spitz, R' Yosef's great great grandson
Michoel Aron's brother Shmuel Spitz (1778-1844)
was the grandfather of Chana Stroh (1837-1933)

Rabbi Yosef Stadthagen was born in Metz, France to his father R’ Shimshon around the year 1640; he was named after his great-grandfather R’ Yosef Halevy ben R’ Yitzchok Ashkenazi, who served as the Rav of Metz and various other communities for over sixty years.

Rav Yosef resided in Stadthagen, one of only two towns in the small German State of Schaumberg – Lippe. He served as the Landsrabbiner (Chief Rabbi) of the entire state for over forty years. Though many Yidden would pass through the town of Stadthagen on their business travels, R’ Yosef mentions in the introduction to his Sefer Divrei Zikaron, that he did not merit to have other Talmidei Chachomim in his town with whom to discuss and clarify his learning.

R' Naftali Katz the Smichas Chachomim
One of the Maskimim on the Divrei Zikaron
He mentions that he was related to the author
As of now we do not know how they were related

In 1705 R’ Yosef printed his sefer Divrei Zikaron in Amsterdam, with the Haskomos of the Rabbanim there, and with the Haskomo of his relative the famous Gaon HaRav Naftali Katz the author of the Smichas Chachomim, the Rav of Frankfurt am Mein.

The sefer is based on the halachos of Shechitah and Treifos, and uses these halochos to teach lessons in Mussar and Yiras Shamayim.  The author quotes from Midrash, Gemora and other seforim including Akeidas Yitzchok, Shelo Hakodesh and others. The sefer contains excerpts from many of his droshos which were delivered in various villages. These droshos are very interesting and convey a fascinating portrait of Jewish life in the German villages of over 300 years ago.

The famous Shtadlan R' Lipman Cohen of Hanover
known as Leffman Behrens
He was the father in law of R' David Oppenheim
Rav in Nikolsberg and Prague
and the brother in law of Gluckel of Hameln
R' Yosef thanks R' Lipman and his son Hertz
for their assistance in printing his Sefer Divrei Zikaron
On Sunday the 18th of Tamuz in the year 404 (1704) the well known Katzin the Honoroble Lipman of Hanover sent a special messenger with a small carriage carrying a note requesting me to travel immediately by that same coach. He wanted me to be in Hanover by midday the following day Monday since the Duke, the Prince of Hanover commanded that the Rabbis hold a disputation with an apostate who had appeared there (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron)

In the summer of 1704 the famous Court Jew the Shtadlan Leffmann Behrens of Hanover, a brother in law of the well known Gluckel of Hameln, requested Rabbi Yosef to attend a disputation with a Meshumad.

The Prince of Hanover
Who became King George I of England
The debate was held in his presence
I was placed directly opposite the מומר there was only a table between us.
The Duke stood to my left; he was so close that my left arm brushed against the right arm of his Royal Highness the Prince (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron)

The Meshumad who had failed in his attempt to extort large sums of money from the Jewish community of Hanover, convinced the Prince of Hanover, the future King George I of England, to force the Jews to debate him.
  

Princess Sophie a cousin of Queen Anne of England
and Heiress to the throne
The mother of King George I of England
She also attended the debate
As soon as I entered the chamber, the Duchess the heir to the Crown extended her hand greeting me warmly.
I had not noticed her hand, and R' Lipman called me and said, "R' Yosef the Duchess is extending her hand".
I immediately approached her and placed the tips of my fingers on the palm of her hand; I bowed and greeted her.
The Duchess inquired after my place of residence. I responded, "I am from Stadthagen". She asked if Stadthagen was my native city. I replied, "no, I was born and raised in Metz". She said "if so you most definitely are able to converse in French". I responded, "at your service. However it is over 40 years since I left Metz and I have not had with whom to converse in French, therefore I have forgotten quite a bit; nevertheless the French books in my possession have helped me retain some knowledge of the language."
At the end of the debate, I rose from my chair and approached the Duchess to take leave from her with great thanks, speaking in the manner one speaks to royalty. She responded with these words, "I thank you, after all we all have One G-d" (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron)

The debate was attended by the mother of the Prince, Princess Sophie a cousin of Queen Anne of England and heiress to the English throne, the Prince of Celle, the priest of Hanover and other dignitaries.

The Abbot Gerard
He was also in attendance at the debate
Then the priest, the Abott inquired of R' Lipman as to my name, R' Lipman answered "his name is Rabbi Joseph Samson".
The Abbot remembered that some 40 years earlier when he was still in the city of Rintel there had been a large debate in the presence of priests and an apostate, there was also a great scholar in attendance. [Apparently R' Yosef was the that scholar] He then bowed his head slightly towards me.
When I saw the kindness of Hashem Blessed be His name, I felt strengthened and my heart urged me to be strong and resolute. (R' Yosef Stathagen in Minchas Zikaron)

R’ Yosef brilliantly refuted all of the Meshumad’s attacks, and made a very favorable impression upon the noble family. 

R’ Yosef wrote about the entire episode in great detail. He titled that work Minchas Zikaron. It was printed many years later in Berlin. 

R’ Yosef passed away about 1715.

R' Yosef's son in law, R' Yeshua Hamburger Chalfon was the father of R' Yehuda Leib the Rav of Tzehlem and the father of Rivka, the wife of R' Yitzchok Spitz of Eisenstadt. Dally's grandmother Chana was a great great granddaughter of Rivka.

January 1939

This card was distributed by the Jugendgruppe to the פליטים
fleeing Nazi occupied Vienna
urging them to remember their obligation to the Spirit of the Torah
לאנגע יארן האסט דו דעם תורה גייסט דער יוגענדגרופע געאטעמט
פארגעסט עס ניכט
בכל דרכיך דעהו והוא יישר ארחתיך
וואו דו וועסט הינקומען איז עס דיינע פליכט צו פארברייטערן אונזער אדיע
For many years you have breathed the Torah spirit of your Youth Group
do not forget it
'In all your ways know Him, and He will smooth your paths!'
where ever you arrive it is your duty to spread our beliefs
note the צעירי אגדת ישראל emblem in the center

The Schifschul was the leading Orthodox community in Vienna. Many in the Orthodox community were active in Klal work through the Shul, its branches and affiliates, namely the Beth Medrash and the Jugendgruppe of Agudas Jisroel. In 1938-1939, when the members of the community were forced to flee, a special notice was distributed to the friends and constituents of the Jugendgruppe bidding them to remain faithful to the ideals and principles of the Kehila.

Recommendation letter for Mr. Edwin Stroh (Dally)
from the Rabbonim of the Schiffschul
January 1939, when he fled the Nazis

Members of the Schiffshul fleeing the Nazis ימ"ש brought letters of recommendation from the Rav, R' Yeshaya Furst, asking the Yidden in their new communities to support them in any way possible. In one such a letter written for Dally, R' Furst mentions how Mr. Stroh was very active in the Jugendgruppe, and that he did much Klal work. We know that Dally was also active here in the United States in the founding of the Viener Kehilah - Adas Yereim. He was also involved in the founding of the Bais Yaakov Bais Miriam in the Mt. Eden section of the Bronx.

Translation of the letter.

בעה"י
Vienna 4 Janner 1939
Confirmation
I hereby certify that from his earliest youth Mr. Edwin Stroh has been a particularly valuable member of our Kehilah the Adas Yisroel Schiffscul.
Mr. Stroh is a Morenu. He is a very devout Jew, a conscientious man in every respect and of impeccable character.
All I can say about Mr. Stroh is only the very best and most beautiful. He enjoys the best reputation in our circles, a reputation he has earned through his fine personal qualities that I've mentioned.
He has operated in the context of our youth organization and was very active, and after his marriage he has also done much in Klal-work.
Now as Mr. Stroh and his family are forced to move away from here. My sincerest and best wishes accompany him, wishing him well-being. I urge all those who are able to assist Mr. Stroh to do so in any way possible.
Rabbi Jeschaye Furst
Rabb. Salomon Baumgarten
Rabbiner S. Furst Vienna

(stamp of:)

שלמה בוימגארטען

דיין דקה"י עדת ישראל (שיפפשול)

Transcription of the letter.

בעה"י

Wien 4. Janner 1939
Bestatigung
Ich bestätige hiemit, dass Herr Edwin Stroh seit seiner frühesten Jugend der Adas Jisroel  - Schiffscul angehort und ein besonders wertvolles Mitglied unserer Gemeinde ist.
Herr Stroh ist ein Morenu. Er ist ein besonders frommer Jehudi, ein in jeder Beziehung gewissenhafter Mensch und ein tadelloser Charakter.
Über Herrn Stroh kann ich überhaupt nur das allerbeste und schönste sagen. Er geniesst in unseren Kreisen  den besten Ruf, den er sich durch seine schönen persönlichen Eigenschaften, die ich Im Vorstehenden gezeichnet habe, erworben hat.
Er hat sich in Rahmen unserer Jugendorganisation sehr aktiv betätigt und auch nach seiner Verheiratung viel in Klal-Arbeiten geleistet.
Wenn jetzt Herr Stroh und seine Familie von hier wegziehen, dann begleiten ihn meine aufrichtigsten Wünsche für sein Wohlergehen und ich bitte alle Stellen, Herrn Stroh immer und in jeder Weise an die hand zu gehen.
Rabbi Jeschaye Furst
Rabb. Salomon Baumgarten
Rabbine S. Furst Wien

(stamp of:)

שלמה בוימגארטען

דיין דקה"י עדת ישראל (שיפפשול)

Agudas-Jisroel Jugendgruppe Wien

"Section of our Large Lecture Hall"
Sketch of the lecture hall of the Agudas Yisroel Youth Group in Vienna (c.1925)
The Youth Group was closely associated with the Schiffshul
and was very instrumental in preserving Yidishkeit in Vienna

Last week we began reciting ותן טל ומטר לברכה, signifying the start of winter. We are posting a winter schedule of the daily Shiurim that were delivered in the Agudas Jisroel Jugendgruppe in Vienna in the year 1925-1926.

Dally was an active participant in the Jugendgruppe, and definitely attended some of the Shiurim there.

 

Schedule of the winter Shiurim 1925-1926
note that  many of the מגידי שיעורים were בעלי בתים
Although some were established תלמידי חכמים
ביניהם הגאון ר' שלמה בוימגארטן שהיה אז בחור כבן עשרים שנה
והגאון ר' יעקב טייטלבוים אח"כ אב"ד קהל עדת יראים בקיו גארדענס ניו יארק
והגאון ר' שלמה שרייבער בן הגאון ר' יעקב עקיבא שרייבער בנו בכורו של הכתב סופר זצ"ל
Mr. David Bondi who taught סדרה was a son-in-law of Dally's uncle Jacob Stroh

 

 

Winter Schedule 

Agudas Yisroel Youth Group Vienna

location: 69 Obere Donaustrassee II

Open: Saturday and Sunday all day, Weekdays from 6 o'clock in the evening

• Friday 7:30 PM: Social gathering and a מגידות lecture
• שבת קודשy10:30 AM: סדרה by Mr. David Bondy
• שבת קודשy2:30 PM: מגן אברהם by Mr. N. Kohlmann
• שבת קודשy4:00 PM: Lecture
• מש"קy7:30 PM: alternating, Social Gatherings and Evening Discussion 
• Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 PM: גמ' ביצה by Mr. Ernst Spitzer
• Thursday 9:30 PM: חנוך by the Honorary Rabbi Yosef Baumgarten
• Monday and Wednesday 7:30 PM: תנ"ךy& קש"ע by Mr. Samuel Stern
• Daily after מנחה a Shiur for businessmen: by Mr. Salomon Schreiber
• Daily 8:00 PM: מס' פסחים Mr. Salomon Baumgarten
• Daily 8:00 PM: דף יומי by Mr. Victor Baumgarten and Mr. Jacob Teitelbaum
• Daily reading hall and library  

    

The schedule is found in a rare calendar booklet, Luach Blatter of the Agudas-Jisroel Jugendgruppe Wien for the Year תרפ"ו.

A rare Luach, Vienna 1925-1926
The calendar contains a schedule of the winter Shiurim
held in the Agudas Yisroel's Youth Group

The Jugendgruppe was open שבת and Sunday the entire day, and during the rest of the week in the evenings from six o'clock p.m. At the bottom of the schedule there is a note stating that the Jugendgruppe also has a library and a reading hall.

A label in one of the ספרים of the Jugendgruppe's library
it is from a copy of the third volume of שולחן ערוך הרב

Title page of the שולחן ערוך הרב
which once belonged to the library
note the stamp and the number in the left hand corner
 128c (c indicating that it is the third volume)
this is probably one of the few seforim in that library that survived the Holocaust

Since the history of this unique institution is not well known, we are bringing a description of the Jugendgruppe written by Mr. Charles Richter. It is part of an article printed in 1967 in the 25th anniversary journal of K'hal Adas Yereim in Brooklyn.

One of the nicest, exemplary institutions of orthodox Vienna was the Youth group of Agudas Yisroel. When we say "exemplary" we mean that it was followed by many other countries. The Youth group was initiated by the Schiffshul, but it soon encompassed the youth of all orthodox circles in Vienna. Young Chasidim, Bochurim who spent most of their day in "Klaus" with learning, would come to play a game of chess with an ordinary business employee; or carry on a discussion with another young man who came from a non-observant home and who sought to acquaint himself Yidishkeit. Young people from Hungary and Slovakia, especially those from the "Sheva Kehilos" would find like-minded friends. This was a factor in their remaining loyal to Yidishkeit in the midst of other distracting influences of the big city. The greater part of the time was spent on various Shiurim, but enough time remained for socializing and for social work.

As time went on the "Jugendgruppe" developed into a great movement in quantity and quality. When the call came to mobilize for Yidishkeit, they gathered as if to military duty. This occurred when it was a matter of giving a worthy reception to the thousands of delegates and guests who came to participate in the "Kenesio Kedolo"; or when it was found necessary to protest with vigor against the Swedish missionaries, who menaced Jewish children. The Shabbos afternoon Droshos by Rabbi Joseph Baungarten, were always a major event which left a deep impression. With the Youth Group in the “Flossgasse” as a model, affiliated groups were established in other Viennese districts as well as in the provinces.

Many former members of the Youth group exert great influence in America, England, Eretz Israel, and other countries. A number of names of devoted adherents of the “Jugendgruppe”, who are not among us any more, should be recorded here: Reb Shimon Schreiber, Reb Jekel Turkel, Reb Alter Fuchs, Reb Moshe Blech, Note Nissan and Shimon Felsenberg, Shmuel Bondi, Noson Adler, Menachem Richter, Shmuel Stern, Chaim Herzog, Benyomin Sev Wiess, Osher Stroh, Chaim Shlome Kraushar, may their memory be blessed.

The Viennese Youth Group took pride in a great many young people whom they had brought into the fold of Yidishkeit. One source of pride was young Matisyahu Gelman, a child of non-religious parents, who gravitated toward the “Jugendgruppe” after his Bar-Mizvah. Against the wishes of his parents he left Vienna and went to the “Yeshiva Chachme Lublin” where he became the favorite of the Lubliner Rav. Later on he became a great Talmid Chocham and a Gerer Chosid and he was known in Ger as “Matis Wiener”. During the war, Matis Wiener became a legendary figure as the leader of a Chasidic underground unit in the Warsaw Ghetto. Bedecked with beard and Peyos, he traveled under the very nose of the Nazis throughout occupied Poland and he organized groups of young Chasidim in the towns and cities, who remained true to learning and Chasidus. Throughout many cities these groups of young men became known under the name of “Matisovzes”. His accomplishments and heroism were recorded in a collection of memorials entitled “Ayle Shelo Nichnio”, by the well known orthodox writer Moshe Prager. The book was published in Eretz Isreal.

Mention must also be made of the orthodox writer Uriel Zimmer, whom we all knew and who died all to young. He can be characterized as a product of the Viennese youth group even though he had left Vienna as a very young man.

A similar role in Jewish life was played by the girls group the “Aguda Isreal Maedchen Gruppe".

Previous Chanukah Posts

א פרייליכן חנוכה

Chanuka 1939 

דאס שפיעלן איסט וויעדער אסור כמקדם 

Bundestag der Agudas Jisroel Chanukah 1927 

 

A Wedding in the Wosner Family 1938

Dally's uncle
Mr. Yochanan Wosner הי"ד
A distinguished member of the Schiffscul
An interesting article about the wedding of his daughter
was printed in the Vienna Judische Presse in 1938

Dally's mother Sabina Stroh nee Breuer הי"ד was the sister of Mamale Wosner nee Breuer הי"ד, the wife of Herr Yochanon Wosner of Vienna . The two families were extremely close, and were related by marriage in more than one way.

Harav Hagaon R' Yosef Baumgarten זצ"ל
The guiding force of the Viennese Jugendgruppe
where Mr. Wosner was very active

Mr. Yochanon Wosner was on the board of the Schiffschul, and was very active in the Beis Medrash of the Schul where the younger members davened. Many klal activities took place there under the guidance of Rabbi Yosef Baumgarten זצ"ל and later under the leadership of his son R' Shlome זצ"ל. 

Mamale's daughter Lilly [Reizel] married Mr. William [Zev] Feldman in January 1938.

Although according to the prevalent custom the wedding would have taken place in Vienna, the city of the bride, due to the poor health of Mr. Feldman, the bridegroom's father, the wedding took place in Piešťany, Slovakia midway between the residence of the groom and bridegroom. That is probably also the reason that the Rav of the Schiffschul, Rabbi Fuerst, did not attend the wedding.

Harav Hagaon R' Shmuel Wosner שליט"א
a first cousin of the כלה
He came from Pressburg to attend the wedding
where he spoke on behalf of the family

The Wosners, originally from Sederhel, were a prominent family. Many Rabanim attended the wedding. One of the guests, R' Shmuel Wosner שליט"א a nephew of R' Yochanon Wosner, who spoke at the wedding, is today a world renowned תלמיד חכם and one of the פוסקי הדור. At the time R' Wosner was a young kollel student studying in the famous Pressburger Yeshivah.

The following article about the wedding  appeared in the Orthodox Jewish Paper of the Viennese-Pressburg Kehilos.

  

A clipping from the Judische Presse
the Vienna-Pressburg Orthodox Newspaper
January 21, 1938

 Following is a translation of the article:

A wedding in the Wosner Family

Mr. Joachim [יוחנן] Wosner, a member of the presidium of the Adas Yisroel (Schiffschul), celebrated the wedding of his daughter Lilly [Reizel] to Mr. William [זאב] Feldman of Spišské Podhradie [Kirchdorf], in Piešťany on the 14th of Shevat 5698 (1938). 

Harav Hagaon R' Shlomo Baumgarten זצ"ל
Dayan of the Schiffschul
attended the wedding

The following Rabonim were present at the wedding: Rabbi Lemel Spitzer, Rav of Kirchdorf; Rabbi Hillel Weinberger, Rav of Duna Streda (Sederhel); Rabbi Shlomo Baumgarten, Dayan Adas Yisroel (Schiffschul) Vienna; and Reb Schmuel Wosner from Pressburg. 

Members of the presidium of the board of the Adas Yisroel (Schiffschul), Herr Franz Neumann, as well as many friends and relatives of the Wosners, Breuers, and Feldmans also attended. 

They all participated joyously in the wedding celebration, showing their affection and devotion to the parents of the bride and groom. 

In light of the frail condition of Mr.Feldman, the bridegroom’s father, [the mechutan] Mr. Joachim Wosner, decided to have the wedding take place far from Vienna, the Wosner's beloved קהילה קדושה . 
 
The celebration was conducted in the spirit of a joyous simchoh shel mitzvah and with respect to the sanctity of the occasion. 

Ober Rabbiner R' Asher Lemel Spitzer זצ"ל
the rav of Kirchendorf
where the Feldman family resided
spoke during the seudah

Ober Rabbiner Spitzer spoke during the seudah. Ober Rabbinner Wienberger, a family friend of the Wosners, expressed the friendship of their families in touching words. 

Harav Hagaon R' Hillel Wienberger הי"ד
The Sederheler Rav
a family friend of the Wosners
expressed the friendship of their families
in touching words

Afterwards Rabbi Shmuel Wosner of Pressburg spoke on behalf of the family. 

Mr. Morris Spitzer, representative of our Rav, the venerable Rabbi Yeshaye Furst of Vienna, transmitted the Rav’s warmest wishes to the family which is held in such high esteem. Mr. Spitzer also spoke a few words in the name of the officers of the Adas Yisroel praising Herr Joachim Wosner for his intelligence and warm heart. 

In a festive mood and with hearty wishes for the young couple the celebration came to an end. 

May the bride, in all her deeds, follow the ways of her parents, and conduct herself in the spirit of the Schiffschul bringing honor to the Viennese Kehila.