Austria to help restore Jewish cemeteries

Austria’s government will give $28.6 million to restore Jewish cemeteries in the country.

The cemeteries were abandoned and looted after Austria joined the Third Reich in 1938.

The decision came late Monday evening during a meeting of Austrian officials and Ariel Muzicant, president of Vienna’s Jewish community.

The money pledged by Austria will be distributed over 20 years. The Jewish community will raise a matching $28.6 million from citizens and outside donors, Bloomberg reported.

Vienna has seven Jewish cemeteries; another 28 are in upper Austria.