Due to the scattered nature of the kehila (community) in the provinces of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, the small number of members (currently around 100 people entitled to vote) and the generally advanced state of secularisation, religious life in the IKG for Tyrol and Vorarlberg is only active to a limited extent. The community currently lacks the kind of religious centre in Innsbruck that existed before the Shoah. For this reason, a minyan (the required quorum of 10 men) is only guaranteed in Innsbruck on the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Nevertheless, services are offered and festivals organised as often as possible. The community celebrates Kabbalat Shabbat once a month (usually on the first Shabbat of the month), followed by a Kiddush. The Passover Seder is celebrated regularly with a high level of participation, as are Hanukkah and Purim.

The range of religious events is constantly being expanded and announced in the newsletter.

Judaism has a millennia-old tradition of religious dietary laws, which are referred to as «Kashrut» in Hebrew. These laws regulate the selection, preparation and consumption of food and drink. Basically, food is divided into two categories: permitted «kosher» and unauthorised «trefe». In addition, the separation of meaty and dairy foods must be observed; „parve“ are those that are neither one nor the other and can therefore always be eaten with both. For further information on the extensive rules of kashrut, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kosher shops and restaurants in Austria currently only exists in Vienna. In some tourist resorts in western Austria, there are a few hotels that have a kosher kitchen, or which are at least supplied with kosher food. Today, kosher food has to be sourced from Vienna or Munich, or from other places via the internet. There is now a wide range of kosher food on offer, but it is also associated with corresponding (shipping) costs. We are happy to provide information about the relevant options on request. You can also use www.kosherwien.com to order „Kosher list“ which lists kosher products available in supermarkets in Austria.
The offered Meals in the community centre do not contain meat. This makes it easier for us to keep the kitchen kosher. On request, for example on the High Holidays, meat dishes are also offered and kosher meat can be brought in. However, please inform the congregation in advance so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.

The mikveh (also known as the mikva) is a so-called. Ritual bath or immersion bath. After cleansing the body and reciting a bracha (blessing), complete immersion in water without clothing ensures that the body is completely immersed. ritual purity here. Originally, the immersion bath was necessary before visiting the temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is mainly orthodox women who go to the mikvah after menstruation. Men also use the mikvah before Shabbat or public holidays, for example. People also go to the mikvah when they convert to Judaism or after the birth of a child. The mikvah is fed by „living water“, natural, flowing water (spring, river or rainwater). It may be topped up with additional water and heated. However, the natural water must never be completely emptied. It must at least 500 litres ideally double the amount, and 7 steps down have a mikvah. If no mikveh is available, the obligation to immerse oneself can also be fulfilled in the sea, a lake, a river or a deeper stream.

In the historic Tyrol / Vorarlberg region there were before the 2nd World War only in Hohenems and Merano a mikvah. In Hohenems, a small building was erected for this purpose in 1829. In Merano, the mikvah was housed in the Hotel Bellaria. In Hohenems, the mikvah has been preserved and can be visited at the Jewish Museum. Today is on the territory of the IKG for Tyrol and Vorarlberg  No ritual immersion bath available. Orthodox summer guests in the tourist centres of Fiss, Serfaus, St. Anton etc. make do with private solutions. The nearest mikvot are in Davoos, Munich, Constance and Vienna. Today, the mikvah as a place of spiritual life is also being rediscovered by non-orthodox movements.

In the event of death, the bereaved should contact the Jewish Community immediately so that the tahara (washing of the dead) at the Pradl cemetery and the burial at the Western cemetery (Jewish section) can be organised if desired.

Contact:
Jewish Community for Tyrol and Vorarlberg
Sillgasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck
Phone +43 512 586892
e-mail office@ikg-innsbruck.at
Office opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 12:00

Outside opening hours:
President Siegfried Gitterle, Phone: +43 664 5831274
Mr Mordechai Hammer, Phone: +43 676 844 512 451

Please also note: After every death, a medical officer on duty must carry out a coroner's inquest before a funeral parlour can transfer the deceased. As soon as someone has died outside the Innsbruck Regional Hospital, please also report the death immediately to the Healthcare - Funeral Services Department of Innsbruck City Council.