The HAKOAH and Friedrich Torberg

The „HAKOAH“ was founded in 1909 and is a Jewish sports club comprised of various sections. Throughout the history of the club members achieved great successes. The championship title in the 1925 Austrian professional soccer league is especially notable. The water polo section gave rise to the most prominent sportsman of the club to date: Friedrich Torberg. He joined the “HAKOAH” at the early age of 13. Originally, he wanted to play soccer. But the soccer section was extremely popular and could not accept further members. He decided to reinforce the relatively young swimming section. As a water polo player Friedrich Torberg achieved great successes. He described the experiences of Harry and his water polo team in his 1935 novel “Die Mannschaft” (The Team). But he built a monument to the soccer team with his 1959 essay “Warum ich stolz darauf bin” (Why I am Proud of It).

Immediately after the annexation of Austria in 1938, the “HAKOAH” was annihilated by the Nazis. It should take nearly 70 years to the day until it returned to a third of the former area in Vienna’s Prater.

It is due to a fortunate “coincidence” that I could be present at the inauguration of the shell construction. I had applied for a job as a fitness trainer and learned of the event in a conversation. I can remember well the joy with which the ceremony was celebrated. There was a tour through the yet unfinished sports center and afterwards delicious food was served.

So then, the festivity of return on March 11th, 2008. The invited guests witnessed a unique event. The “HAKOAH” had had to wait so many years for its return to the Vienna Prater and I was aware of the enormous significance this has for the history of the club. I owed my being a guest to my presence at the inauguration. The atmosphere in the festival hall was very cheerful. People took pleasure in participating in this special occasion. Speeches were held by Ariel Muzicant, President of the Jewish Community at the time, political representatives and Paul Haber, President of the “HAKOAH”. The highlight proved to be the performance of Erwin Steinhauer, who recited excerpts from the play “HAKOAH-führt!” (“HAKOAH-leads!”

It is wonderful that the “HAKOAH” is now back in the Vienna Prater and that many sections have formed there that are open for people of all religions and faiths. It is worth mentioning that the “SC Maccabi Wien” is the only Jewish soccer club in Austria and has thus superseded the “HAKOAH”. There is, as a representative of the “HAKOAH” explained to me, a consensus about this.

(Note: This text was first published as a German version in the “Wiener Zeitung on June 25th, 2018. I have slightly adapted it and now given greater involvement to Friedrich Torberg)