Hungary’s main Jewish community weekly magazine, Szombat, published a scathing critique of the country’s Jewish community leaders who, the publication charges, seem to be more interested in demonstrating their loyalty to the Orbán government and in being subservient, than in coordinating their message with each other and showing any signs of community solidarity before heading into meetings with the regime.
“Some representatives try to aggrandize their personal importance, they try to prove their loyalty to the government, they engage in lobbying, rather than presenting significant issues faced by the entire Jewish community. There are hardly any signs of solidarity and coordination among Jewish faith communities in Hungary”–writes the editorial board of Szombat.
This past week, the Orbán government hosted yet another so-called “Jewish Community Roundtable,” a meeting between regime and Jewish community delegations held three to four times per year. Although the government does have control over the agenda, Szombat noted that if the Jewish community could actually coordinate prior to the meeting, it would have some opportunity to shape that agenda and add points for discussion. But if they fail to propose these modifications to the agenda persuasively, their additions are all lumped together under “other business.”
Jewish Community Roundtable. Photo: szombat.org
Szombat observes that while János Lázár, who hosts these meetings, and the Fidesz government delegation present a clear, united front, the Jewish community’s deep divisions come to the surface during the roundtable.
For a brief period of time, MAZSIHISZ, the main federation of Jewish faith communities, tried to coordinate their presence at these meetings with other groups in the community, but these efforts were lackluster. At the most recent meeting this week, “the government once again was able to decide what topics to include in the consultation with the Jewish community, and those which should be excluded.” One topic that the government is looking to coordinate with the Jewish community is the future of right-wing historian Mária Schmidt’s proposed Sorsok Háza (House of Fates) Holocaust museum, which has caused disagreement and dissent even within government circles and where the Jewish community’s input was completely disregarded during the planning phase.
“It’s as though the Hungarian Jewish community does not even exist, but instead all that remains are Jewish groups and individuals all competing for financial support, political influence and public exposure,” laments Szombat’s editoral board.
