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  • Middle Ages
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    • Austria in the Middle Ages
    • The Beginning of the Jewish Life
    • Legal Status
    • Persecution
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    • Economic Life
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      • The Jewish Street
      • The Jewish House
      • Dress
      • Food
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    • Women
      • Occupations
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      • Legal Status
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      • Tombstones
      • The Medieval Synagogue in Vienna
  • Modern Era
    • Communities
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      • Until 1867
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Jewish Communities of Austria
  • Middle Ages
    • Communities
    • Austria in the Middle Ages
    • The Beginning of the Jewish Life
    • Legal Status
    • Persecution
    • Among the Nations
    • Economic Life
      • Occupations
      • Physicians
    • Daily Life
      • The Jewish Street
      • The Jewish House
      • Dress
      • Food
      • Family
      • Leisure
    • Women
      • Occupations
      • Educated Women
      • Legal Status
    • Cultural Life
    • Archeological Findings
      • Tombstones
      • The Medieval Synagogue in Vienna
  • Modern Era
    • Communities
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      • Until 1867
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    • Anti-Semitism
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    • A Timeline of Jewish Life in Austria
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Home » Middle Ages » Women » Legal Status

Legal Status

Jewish women were allowed to own property and to acquire land and houses by gift, heritage or purchase. This strengthened their legal status. Widows could do with their property whatever they wished.

Jewish women were accepted as plaintiffs and witnesses in Christian courts. A case from Wiener Neustadt shows that Jews - men and women - were on an equal footing with Christians. The Jewish sisters Malka and Sletlein won a lawsuit concerning their rights over the house which came into their possession after the owner could not pay his debts to them. Although even a priest was involved, Malka and Sletlein were given due attention.

In rare cases Jewish women were granted individual privileges by rulers. Around 1360 Count Meinrad VII of Goerz issued a privilege for Scharlat, widow of Schalom, and to her mother Minz with their household. He promised to protect them, they were allowed to give loans with the usual interest and to trade freely and he promised to support them in legal matters. Also freedom of travel was granted.

  • Women
  • Occupations
  • Educated Women
  • Legal Status

תערוכה זאת התאפשרה הודות לסיועה הנדיב של הקרן האוסטרית הלאומית למען נרדפי הנאצים
This exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the
Nationalfonds der Republik Österreich für Opfer des Nationalsozialismus
National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism

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