Chevra Kadisha

A Chevra Kadisha, literally: holy society (often also translated as burial society) focuses on handling terminal care, the burial of the deceased and poor relief. Traditionally, benefaction is the third form of obligatory Jewish service (next to prayer and religious studies) which has led to a well-established welfare system in Jewish communities.

St. Pölten’s Chevra Kadisha emerged as an association in 1894 but it had been around since 1859 when St. Pölten set up the first Jewish cemetery. Next to organised welfare, private welfare was also established – a branch which was seen by Zwi Gol, formerly known as Hermann Hahn, as a proof of great solidarity amongst St. Pölten’s Jewry.  

"St. Pölten had no poor Jews. The poor who had declared themselves as such were fully looked after. I had two cousins who lived in the city. We lived outside of St. Pölten and therefore did not have the honour to be visited by them. They had plenty of opportunities to eat in the centre of town. There was a family, an older lady with her daughter, whom I brought a nice parcel before the holidays. I was told to greet her on entering with the words: ›Küss die Hand, gnädige Frau‹ (›Enchanté, madam‹) even though this was a poor woman. There definetely was a Jewish life in St. Pölten."