Festival of Jewish Culture in Vienna: Strong Women in Focus

Der Standard, November 13, 2021

German original: https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000131113129/festival-der-juedischen-kultur-in-wien-starke-frauen-im-fokus

Film screenings, concerts, and readings, are part of the program until December, including tips for investments to protect against old-age poverty.

This year, the Viennese Festival of Jewish Culture’s main focus is on women. That can be interpreted sociopolitically: during the pandemic, women have made substantial contributions to keeping the system afloat. “Women’s Power in Jewry” is the name of this issue, and the program shows that this strength has tradition. This is impressively evident in the documentary film Truus’ Children, about the Dutch woman Truus Wijsmuller, who save the lives of ten thousand Jewish children during the Nazi regime by making a deal with Adolf Eichmann. Twenty-three of the saved children get to speak in the film.

One of four cinematic memorials is on view in Austria for the first time: Hannah Arendt (2012) tells of the time when the philosopher follows the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem; actress and IT trailblazer Hedy Lamarr is honored with Geniale Goettin (Genious Godess). Ask Dr. Ruth portraits the Holocaust Survivor and radio/TV sex therapist Ruth Wetsheimer.

Film Scores and Investment Tips

In addition, concerts and readings are on the program until December. This Sunday an evening of film scores with the Viennese Anna-Rothschild – Ensemble marks the opening. The Jewish composers and original interpreters behind the pieces from Gone With the Wind to Schindler’s List have once fled from the Nazis. The unusual parts of the program? A panel discussion (7. 12.) investigates the female side of God, and financial mathematician and broker Larissa Kravitz advises women on investments to counter old-age poverty (18.11.) (wurm, 13.11.2021)