In the heart of Vienna, hidden away in the building complex at Seitenstettengasse 2–4, stands a unique architectural and historical gem that has been there for two centuries: the Vienna City Temple. To mark its 200th anniversary, a medal has been dedicated to this special place—a sign of recognition and remembrance.
In the heart of Vienna, hidden away in the building complex at Seitenstettengasse 2–4, stands a unique architectural and historical gem that has been there for two centuries: the Vienna City Temple. To mark its 200th anniversary, a commemorative medal has been dedicated to this special place—a sign of recognition and historical responsibility.
The Vienna City Temple was built between 1822 and 1826 according to plans by the imperial architect Joseph Kornhäusel. Its architectural “invisibility” was no coincidence, but a direct consequence of the legal situation at the time: According to the regulations for so-called tolerance houses – places of worship for non-Catholic religious communities – these were not allowed to be recognizable as such from the outside. For this reason, the synagogue was integrated into a residential and commercial complex between what is now Seitenstettengasse and Desider-Friedmann-Platz. Today, this place is considered the spiritual and organizational center of the Jewish community in Vienna and throughout Austria.
Architecturally, the temple's oval main hall is reminiscent of a classical theater—a symbol of the connection between tradition and modernity. To this day, the city temple embodies this attitude: open to the diversity of Jewish life, firmly anchored in its history, but always looking ahead.
The November pogrom of 1938 was not a singular event that took place in a single night. From November 9 to 13, Jewish institutions were destroyed, homes were vandalized, shops were looted, and people were abused, deported, and murdered throughout the German Reich – including Austria. Within a few days, Jews were stripped of all protection by the law and society. They were outlaws.
In Vienna, almost all synagogues, prayer houses, and institutions of the Jewish community were systematically destroyed. However, the Vienna City Temple survived these days of violence – not by chance, but because of specific tactical considerations on the part of the perpetrators: its close structural integration into the surrounding residential and commercial complex made it impossible to burn it down in a controlled manner – the risk of the fire spreading to adjacent buildings was too great. In addition, the temple building housed the archives of the Jewish Community with its registry books. These registers were indispensable for the Nazi bureaucracy in order to systematically register, disenfranchise, deport, and ultimately exterminate Jewish people. For these reasons, the City Temple was spared – as the only Jewish house of prayer in Vienna.
After World War II, the temple was restored with limited funds. Extensive renovations followed in the 1970s and 1980s: a community center, a kosher restaurant, and what is now the Simon Wiesenthal Institute were added to the expanded building complex. Since then, the City Temple has stood not only for religious life, but also for education, culture, and cohesion.
Today, more than 36 years after the last construction work, a comprehensive restoration is imminent. Starting in fall 2025, the City Temple and community center will be renovated with the support of the Federal Monuments Office—a forward-looking project. Plans include replacing damaged windows, renovating the façade, sanitary facilities, ventilation, and furnishings, as well as measures to improve accessibility and safety. The aim is to restore the temple's original design to its former glory – while preserving it for future generations.
The City Temple symbolizes continuity—for Jewish life in the midst of a city that has all too often been the scene of threats against it—and for the future, which must be shaped with responsibility.
The Vienna City Temple is thus more than a place of prayer. It is a memorial, a symbol of survival and new beginnings – and the living center of Jewish life in Vienna. The anniversary medal not only commemorates 200 years of history, but also calls on us to preserve and carry on this important heritage together.
