Recently in the spotlight

György Ránki (1907-1992)

Erzsébet and Zsuzsanna Ránki establish the György Ránki Scholarship at Indiana University

Erzsébet and Zsuzsanna Ránki have established the György Ránki Scholarship in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. This gift will provide financial support to scholars specializing in Hungarian Studies, as well as additional support for the György Ránki Hungarian Chair. Professor György Ránki’s work focused on Hungarian and Central […]

by · April 25, 2019 · Diaspora
Crucified dreams

Crucified dreams

On the road that escapes Jerusalem and winds along the ridge to Emmaus, two disillusioned youths drag home their crucified dream. They had smelled messiah in the air and rose to the scarred and ancient hope only to mourn what might have been. And now a sudden stranger falls upon their loss with excited words about mustard seeds and surprises […]

by · April 21, 2019 · Culture
The 1947 basilica fire

Hungary’s own tragic Basilica fire in 1947

On June 20, 1947 the iconic dome of St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest burned down. The cause of the fire was worker’s negligence during the roof’s renovation. Firefighters desperately tried to save the cupola, but their equipment couldn’t reach the height of the building. In the surrounding streets thousands of citizens watched with horror the struggle of the firefighters. (Watch […]

by · April 21, 2019 · Culture
Mr. Davis listens to Mr. Ódor. (Photo: Don Davis/Facebook)

New Democratic Party MP Don Davies has “great meeting” with Orbán regime representatives

Our publication has been critical in the past of close contacts and friendly relationships between the prior Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and representatives of Hungary’s Orbán regime. The Hungarian Free Press, its contributors and many of its readers have on numerous occasions informed different layers of the Canadian political establishment of the systemic rule of law violations […]

by · April 18, 2019 · Politics
Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement rally at the Romanian Embassy in Budapest in 2016.

Hungarian American organization supports convicted violent neo-Nazis in Romania

Two Romanian citizens, Mr. István Beke and Mr. Zoltán Szőcs were arrested in November, 2015. They are ethnic Hungarians and local leaders of a group called Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement (Hatvannégy Vármegye Ifjúsági Mozgalom). The two man were charged with planning to detonate an improvised device during the December 1, 2015, National Day celebration in Targu Secuiesc (Kézdivásárhely in Hungarian), […]

by · April 17, 2019 · Focus
Magyari-Köpe at the pulpit

Good luck, Rev. Gábor Magyari-Köpe!

I was surprised to learn that after 15 years of service Rev. Gábor Magyari-Köpe has left the Free Magyar Reformed Church of San Francisco and Vicinity. I don’t know the reason for his departure but want to wish him good luck. Magyari-Köpe grew up in an ethnic Hungarian family in Brasov (Brassó in Hungarian), Romania. According to his bio, he […]

by · April 12, 2019 · Diaspora
Scene from the all-white cast Porgy and Bess

Hungarian opera singers claim African American identity

Fifteen Caucasian opera singers from the Hungarian State Opera signed a document claiming that they identify, in part, as being African American. Szilvester Ókovács, the Opera House’s director, asked those with roles in George Gershwin’s piece Porgy and Bess to identify as African-American in writing, in order to get around the fact that Ira Gershwin insisted that these roles only be filled […]

by · April 10, 2019 · Culture
Mozsgó's public institution for the disabled.

Widespread abuse of disabled residents at Hungarian institution

A public institution for the disabled in the southwestern Hungarian village of Mozsgó (population 1,000) is under scrutiny after a complaint detailed widespread abuse of the intellectually disabled residents by staff. Hungary’s Népszava daily reported on a detailed complaint and video evidence documenting the physical abuse and the overall inhumane treatment of residents. In one of the videos, produced with […]

by · April 8, 2019 · Focus
Another selfie

Who’s Meshuga? Arnold Schwarzenegger and Viktor Orbán – best buddies

Last December in the Polish city of Katowice, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a brief speech about climate change. In his speech Arnold called President Trump meshuga. The Yiddish word means crazy and the audience responded with applause. Arnold grew up in Graz, Austria as a son of a one-time Nazi party-member policeman. I don’t think that he heard much Yiddish at […]

by · April 5, 2019 · Politics
Polgár Zsuzsa

Susan Polgar (Polgár Zsuzsa) was inducted into U.S. Chess Hall of Fame

On March 18 Susan Polgar was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in a special event in St. Louis. She gave an inspiring speech to chess players and supporters of the chess community. Polgar is the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. She joins Bobby Fischer, Edward Lasker and founding father […]

by · April 2, 2019 · Culture
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