The Jews of Austria are an ancient Jewish community likely originating in an exodus from the Roman occupation of Israel. During the course of many centuries, the political status of the community rose and fell many times: during certain periods, the Jewish community prospered and enjoyed political equality, and during other periods, the Jewish community suffered pogroms, deportations and anti-Semitism. The Holocaust decimated the Jewish community in Austria and only 8,140 Jews remained in Austria according to the 2001 census, but other estimates place the current figure between 9,000, 15,000 and 20,000 people.