How to find a grave in the Jewish cemetery in Vienna

1) Identify the plot number
There are several ways to find the plot number of a grave online. Instructions for using three websites are below.

a) The cemetery database of the IKG (Jewish Cultural Institute Vienna):
https://secure.ikg-wien.at/

The English language button also shows German as of April 2024. Graves shown are dated no later than May 1945. This data base also covers other Jewish cemeteries in Austria. It is not uncommon that some graves or names don't show up.
- Enter only ZUNAME (Last name) and VORNAME (first name) for best results.

The following example will be referenced throughout the rest of this document.
Zuname: Goldberg
Vornamen: Moses
Gest. = died
Beerdigt = buried
Alter = age
Sterbeort = place of death

Notice the lines in red. The information in these rows indicates the cemetery, the entry gate or door ("tor"), group (Gruppe), aisle (Reihe) and grave number (Grab).

For the first entry of Moses Goldberg the line reads as follows:
ZENTRALFRIEDHOF = Central Cemetery
I. TOR = Gate 1
Gruppe = group 019
Reihe = row 026
Grab = gravesite 061 Notice that a lower case ‘a’ added to some numbers. This is intentional.

 

b) Genteam
https://www.genteam.at/en/

As of April 2024, graves dated through 1953 are on this site. This is the index database for most Austrian BMD files. Be aware that it is still work in progress. It requires registration to use the site. Once registration is complete, you have to wait for the confirmation email to enter the site. It is wise to compare it to the information on other sites to ensure completeness of the information. (The lower case 'a' is an important detail that shouldn't be ignored.) To use the Genteam site, follow the steps below:

• Overall Search (left hand side)
• Name = Goldberg, First Name = Moses
• A list of all entries currently digitized will be displayed
• Review the details of the Moses Goldberg entry you need with the "Database" listed. For this example "Jewish Cemeteries." The plot is described using the combination of name of the cemetery, the group, row (or aisle) and tomb number (gravesite). In the example provided above the details are as follows: ZF = Zentralfriedhof or Central Cemetery Tor 1 = Gate or door 1 Group, Row, Tomb (grave or plot) = 19, 26, 61

c) Jewish Gen
Probably the best known website to international researchers is https://www.jewishgen.org/
In this case I searched for: Goldberg - Moses - Austria/Czech - Online Worldwide Burial Sites The information describing the plot is in the first column of the last set of rows displayed above.

 

 

 

 

2) What does the number tell you
In the last three websites you found the number: Tor 1, Group 19, Row 26, Grave (or Tomb or Grab) 61
a) Determine if the cemetery listed is (WIENER) ZENTRALFRIEDHOF or ZF This refers to the VIENNA CENTRAL CEMETERY, a network of several physical locations. It is a interdenominational cemetery in the south of Vienna, established in 1874. General information about this cemetery is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Central_Cemetery It is easy to reach by public transportation: U3 subway to Simmering station and then any tram heading south (numbers 71 and 11). The cemetery is enormous: it has 5 gates.
b) Identify the gate or door (Tor) number. Websites will alternately notate the gate as T1, Tor1, Gate 1, Gate I or for the Moses Goldberg example: T4, Tor4, Gate 4, or Gate IV.

3) Central Cemetery Gate 1
This is considered the "old" Jewish cemetery established in 1874 with around 52,000 graves in which around 100,000 people are buried. Yes, you are reading it right, there can be more than one person buried per grave. The cemetery is owned by the city of Vienna and open to the public. It is cared for by the IKG. Be aware the cemetery might be closed during bad weather due to falling trees. Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/V7JtmRem4oTyACgP8 Tram 71 or Tram 11 Tram stop: Tor 1 Opening Hours: Nov - Feb: 8am to 5 pm, March and October: 7am to 6pm, April to Sep: 7am to 7 pm, May to Aug: every Thursday 7am to 8pm

4) Central Cemetery Gate 4
This is considered the "new" Jewish cemetery established in 1916 after the old cemetery got too small. Up until today 60,000 people are buried here. This cemetery is owned by the IKG (Jewish Community Vienna) and therefore considered "private".
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/csw1nDRPF3u2Jpia9 Tram stop: Gate 4 Opening Hours: April - Oct: Sunday to Thursday 7am to 4.30pm, Friday: 7am to 2 pm Oct - April: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 4pm, Friday: 7am to 2pm Closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidays Men are required to wear a Kippa

5) On location
It is recommended you have a mobile device with an application for accessing the internet with you when you visit onsite. The websites discussed above are not particularly mobile-friendly: a tablet with cellular data service (to connect to the internet) is highly recommended. Signage inside each gate displays a map indicating the layout of the location. Layouts for both locations use pretty much the same system. Each location is divided into GROUPS. Some groups are in better conditions than others. Be aware the cemeteries have survived two world wars, bombings, front-line fire, vandalism and weather. Some groups have more detailed row and grave number signs than others. On Google Maps or Google Earth you get a pretty good idea of the condition of the various parts. Inside the group, the rows of gravesites will run parallel in a given orientation. It's important to note rows may also form the boundary of a given group. The condition of headstones will vary. Some stones might have been "affordable" at the time of the burial so they are broken or gone because of natural elements. This is where your inner detective starts ...

6) Ways to help you
A gentle reminder of the example used throughout this document: Moses Goldberg T1-19-26-61 Enter through Gate 1. It is slightly off the central walkway. Note the "Zeremonien Gebäude" referenced in the map below does not exist anymore. Walk all the way to group 19... again Google Maps is your friend. Count the walkways (some grass, some asphalt) to arrive at the desired group. Walk into the group and start counting the rows from the asphalt walkway on your left. As there won't be many row number signs, you will need to triangulate your destination, especially if you cannot find a headstone. Use the database at https://secure.ikg-wien.at . Type in a name you can read on a nearby headstone to see what number it is. Bear in mind, not all names are in the database, so you might need to try 2 or 3 times. And it is not really mobile phone usable, it works but a tablet is better. When you have located the row start counting for the plot. Bear in mind, some plots have a 26 and a 26a ... so repeat the database search until you can narrow it down.

7) My Google Maps Grave Index
Some time ago I started noting down the graves I have searched/visited and created a small file on google my maps. As soon as you click this link it will overlay on your google maps. You will see the usual numbers of the gate-group-row- plot. Compare it with the grave number you are looking for. Maybe it is right next to, or in the vicinity of a grave I have been to in the past. It also gives you a reference to where the rows and/or plot numbers start from. Please bear in mind that the GPS has a radius of 10m. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1PgrRpaaKte93Wy0nH9mliX4e4nKOwb4&usp=sharing

8) What to do if there is no headstone
You have now been walking through the cemetery and have gotten a feeling for it. Some groups have very nice and readable headstones and some are barely noticeable. This has to do with the time they were put up, the circumstances and nature. If you cannot find your headstone, this does not mean you are at the wrong location.