Irene Aue-Ben-David Appointed Director of the Jewish Museum in Hohenems
Der Standard, November 19, 2025
German original: https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000297129/irene-aue-ben-david-wird-leiterin-des-juedischen-museums-in-hohenems
As of April 2026, the 52-year-old historian will succeed Hanno Loewy, who is retiring. She was unanimously recommended by the selection committee.
Historian Irene Aue-Ben-David will take over as director of the Jewish Museum Hohenems in April 2026. The 52-year-old will succeed Hanno Loewy, who is retiring after more than twenty years as director of the museum. Aue-Ben-David has been director of the Leo Baeck International Research Institute for German-Jewish History in Jerusalem for ten years. She was unanimously recommended for the position in Hohenems by an international selection committee, according to a press release from the museum.
Aue-Ben-David, born in Hildesheim, Germany, received her doctorate in modern history from the University of Göttingen. Until 2017, she worked primarily in Israel as a research assistant, project manager, and curator. Since 2015, she has headed the Leo Baeck Institute in Jerusalem, which conducts research in the field of German-Jewish history and culture and communicates the liberal values and experiences of German-speaking Jewry to a broad public.
According to a press release from the museum, the historian impressed the commission “with her professional excellence, leadership qualities, analytical and communication skills, commitment, and enthusiasm.” Aue-Ben-David will come to Vorarlberg on December 15 for an initial meeting with the museum team and a press conference.
Advertised in May
The board of the Jewish Museum's sponsoring association followed the unanimous recommendation of the selection committee in making the appointment. The position was advertised internationally in May, followed by a two-stage application process with hearings of the candidates before the committee. The Jewish Museum is sponsored by the city of Hohenems, the state of Vorarlberg, and the Friends of the Jewish Museum Hohenems. (APA, November 19, 2025)