Oskar Deutsch became the new president of Austria’s Jewish community following the resignation of Ariel Muzicant, 60, who served as president for 14 years.
Born in Vienna, the 48-year-old Deutsch is owner of a successful coffee company in the Austrian capital.
He is the first president born in the country after World War II of the roughly 8,000-member community.
Deutsch has served the community for the past 14 years as vice president. He played a key role in organizing the 2011 European Maccabiah Games, the Jewish Olympics, in Vienna, in the presence of 2,000 athletes and 3,000 attendees.
He said he wants to open the community to non-Jews. “We want to present ourselves as part of Austrian society and we will continue to reach out more to the non-Jewish society," he said in a press conference at which the new Board was presented.
But he also wants to show that there is a "vibrant Jewish life" in Vienna, Deutsch said, referring to the numerous schools, synagogues and cultural program.
The new Vice President, Judith Adler, became the first woman to be elected to the community’s board.