Austrian Jewish groups’ schism

A BITTER ROW has broken out in Vienna’s Jewish community (IKG) between its two largest factions over next year’s budget and the allocation of state funding.

The Association of Bukharian Jews (VBJ) has claimed in an incendiary newsletter to Vienna’s Bukharian Jewish community that it is the victim of “systematic discrimination” regarding the dispersal of IKG funds.

The 2021 budget allocates the VBJ £263,751 for its religious activities — 60 percent less than the £638,843 they reportedly requested.

As a consequence, the VBJ asserts the Bukharian community will receive an effective subsidy per head of £125, below that of other Jewish communal associations.

These claims were disputed in the strongest terms by ATID, the faction led by IKG president Oskar Deutsch.

ATID charges the VBJ and its chair, Israel Abramov, of publishing partypolitical propaganda, promoting political and ethnic separatism and undermining Jewish communal unity.

The VBJ continues to receive the largest subsidy for religious activities of all Vienna’s Jewish communal associations.

The £263,751 set aside for the BVJ is 29 percent of the religious activities budget. In 2021, the Bukharians will receive more than the Georgian Jewish community (£146,251) and the Orthodox Khal Israel association (£170,281).

In their own newsletter, ATID accused VBJ chair Israel Abramov of pork barrel spending, undermining the IKG’s response to the coronavirus, and rejecting integrationist measures.

ATID pointed to Mr Abramov setting up a separate coronavirus hardship fund exclusively for VBJ members as evidence of his communitarianism.

This intra-communal argument has now gone national, with the VBJ petitioning the Austrian government to amend the law concerning the £3.65 million grant it plans to give the IKG for its security and to support Jewish life.

“We are very concerned that these funds will not be distributed proportionally among the various groups within Austria’s Jewish community”, Mr Abramov said.

This intracommunal argument has now gone national’