The inauguration of the new hospital in March 1935 was attended by important dignitaries, including Minister of Labour Nistor and Mayor Marmeliuc. Chief Rabbi Abraham Mark gave a sermon and, after striking the mezuzah, explained the significance of this ritual landmark. It serves to “keep the evil spirits away from man and to banish the bad instincts inherent in man. The new building of this hospital should be a symbol of charity without distinction of sect or nation. (This part of the speech provoked lively applause.)” (“New building of the Jewish hospital is inaugurated”, in: Der Tag, 5 March 1935, p. 3). The director of the hospital, Dr Josef Ohrenstein, then put the new building in its historical context, explaining that in 1850 “the well-known philanthropist Markus Zucker had donated a plot of land to the community with the stipulation that the foundation stone for the construction of a Jewish hospital should be laid on it. Almost three-quarters of a century had passed since then when another philanthropist, Miss Fanny Rosenzweig, came forward and bequeathed a legacy to the Lodge-Bnei Brith with the intention of building the new Jewish hospital. Director Ohrenstein recalls the activities of Dr Straucher and the mentorship of Dr Ebner-Fleminger and explains the work carried out in the Jewish Hospital after the end of the war. This new building was started by the previous community leadership and now the current leadership has managed to complete the work that was started.” (ibid., p. 3). During the Soviet period, the hospital was used as the municipal hospital No. 2. Today it is in a state of disrepair. The foundations are in danger of slipping because the building is on a slope.
Text: Markus Winkler
Materials
- „Neubau des jüdischen Spitals wird eingeweiht“, in: Der Tag, 5. März 1935, S. 3
