48 Friday, January 6, 1978

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Development and Collapse of -Hungarian Jewish Industry

RAMAT GAN—From the nomic collapse coincided dustry investigated.
Thus the researchers
with the Holocaust.
early 1920s to 1935 the role
The
first:
and
one
of
the
have
been working on the
of Jews in Hungarian in-
most difficult tasks the in- compilation of an index run-
dustry
and
finance
reached
-
vestigating team has en- ning from 0 to 100 which in-
a peak possibly unprece-
countered, was to deter- tends to measure the
dented anywhere
mine who was a - Jew for weight of Jews in the man-
gradu-
world . From then it in the
pufpose of the research. agement. Firms are re-
ined till the coif
ally declined
In the 1920s-30s. Budapest have as "Jewish" which
towards
the
end
of
la
had the second-largest Jew- have an index of 50 or
World War II.
ish population in Europe more.
The role of Jewish capital
The researchers have
(over 250,000) and probably
and enterpreneurship in the
the
third-largest
in
the
computerized
more than
economic development of
Hungary during the later world after New York and 6,000 names which cover vir-
Warsaw. At certain periods, tually the total Hungarian
phases of its industrial revo-
Jews numbered close to 30 business aristocracy for the
lution is being investigated
years 1934 and 1941.
percent of the population.
by Prof. Yehuda Don, of
This unique list has en-
the Bar-Ilan University de- - However. the. rate of con-
abled them to analyze the
version,
particularly
among
partment of economics,
the upper-middle and high- characteristics of Jewish
who was himself born in
business behavior. With the
er classes, was very high.
Hungary. He is working in
same material they have
The
rate
of
mixed
mar-
close co-operation with Dr.
also been able to study the
riages in Budapest at cer-
George Magos, a former
impact of anti-Jewish laws
Hungarian scholar now liv- taro periods was more than
on both management and in-
dustry in general.
rich Jewish industrialists
Thir
e analys is begins
From the 1920s to 1935,
after World War I with the the rate of conversion was
establishment of the rode- probably close to 50 per- Jews controlled a very high
cent. For the purpose of the proportion of light industry
pendent tariff boundaries
research, those who con- and were heavily represent-
for Hungary proper. Until
then a customs union exist- verted were regarded as of ed in heavy industry too.
The_ir role in the promotion
ed between Hungary and Jewish extraction.
the country's economic
The
research
team
has
-
of
the more heavily industrial-
development was tre-
-
been
working
with
a
list
of-
ized Austria and Bohemia.
mendous.
about 800 firms. These in-
This, in effect, blocked the
When the Jews were elim-
elude all limited companies
development of many in-
Mated, from 1939 onwards,
with
a
balance
sheet
of
dustries, mainly light;
no substitutes could be
about $200,000 (a million
which could not compete
found since the Hungarian
Hungarian
pengo)
or
more.
with the production of the
Gentile middle class pre-
_
The
problem
of
definition
Austrian industrialists.
ferred civil service and safe-
resulted in the elaboration
Three periods have been
guarded salaried positions
of
a
quantitative
method
investigated-1920 to 1935,
which took the manage- to the risks of enterpreneur-
the time of a reasonably lib-
ment of each company and ship and independent busi-
eral attitude towards the
weighed
each member of it, ness.
economic activity of Jews;
The same applied to posi-
Jews and Gentiles alike, ac-
1935 to 1941 when discrimi-
tions in science and tech-
cording to the various roles
natory legislation was grad-
nology. When Jews were
ually implemented, and they fulfilled, taking into ac-
driven out of universities by
count
the
relative
impor-
1941 to the end of World
the numerus clausus legisla-
tance
of
each
firm
in
the
in-
,
War H when industrial eco

t contraction which led
tion from the early 1920s, bidding Jews even to dis-trial
to a total collapse h towards
tribute newspapers.
their places in chemistry.
From the details at their the end of World War H.
physics. engineering and
Even during the Nazi oc-
medicine were not taken by
disposal fro 1941, the re-
cupation. the authorities
Gentiles and an absolute de-
searchers have found that
cline in enrollment to these ' even right-wingers in Hun- had to admit silently the in-
gary realized that it was im- evitable necessity of Jewish
faculties was observed.
management. They quietly
possible to implement these
- As Prof. Don says: "With-
out the Jewish initiative,
laws fully, especially in the promised Jewish managers
safety at first. This went on
technical and skilled per-
large industry.
Strange compromises until the collapse in the au-
sonnel, one could hardly
conceive a reasonable take-
were made. Firms used tumn of 1944.
off of industrialization in
front men as chairmen.
Only a quarter of Hun-
Hungary after the estab-
with the former Jewish
garian Jewry survived the
lishment of independent tar-
chairmen remaining as ordi-
war. Of the great indu-•
iff boundaries."
nary board members but in
.e
fists, many escaped
During the second period.
fact exercising the main
last minute and most of
1935 to 1941, there was a. control. To overcome the re--
their remaining property
gradual implementation of striction that firms had to
was expropriated by the
discriminatory measures.
employ a sufficient ratio. of
government. Few went
and from 1938 also legisla-
Gentiles. boards were arti-
back to Hungary. Those of
tion which was supposed to
ficiallv inflated.
.
the industrial giants who es-
eliminate Jews from major
caped with some of their
After
1941,
in
the
third
pe-
and small business activi-
property did well in the
riod
investigated,
there
was
ties. These laws were often
West. Few came to Israel.
a gradual process of Indus-
absurd, such as the rule for-

Above is shown a general view in 1934 of MN (Hungarian - Cotton Industries), one of the
most extensive textile operations under Jewish influence.

•
•
•
•
Israeli Scientists Are Advancing in Water Management

product; a purified effluent
tral control room and equip- fectively meets the de- operate than the present
that can be sold to farms
both the efficiency with ' ped with a computer and re- mands of most plants be- system, and offers an
lead-
HAIFA—Israel's
factories."
ership in the field of water which water is used in Is-
mote sensing control de- cause the irrigation takes energy saving of about 30 and
In fact, several industries
rael, as well as the amount
systems management is
place almost continuously percent.
vices•"
Prof. Rebhun's method is in the Haifa area have .al-
of water available to the na-
due to "the generous and
and at a low level, so there .
disarmingly simple; he sim- ready set up purifying sys-
tion.
Shamir notes that the
farsighted commitment on
is no oversaturation or
ply reverses the process terns based on Rebhunls
the part of the government
automated irrigation sys-
drought. Tractors can be
Shamir points to the adap-
method, and treated waste
to subsidize scientific work
tems have a number of MI-
used at any time, and fertili- used in the present system.
tation of advanced agricul-
water from one of these fac-
in the area," says Uri Sha-
portant
advantages;
valu-
The
present
system
relies
zers
can
be
spread
without
methods
as
tural l irri
ricbueltiunrgaluseladndtos
rige asteis naogw
able
work
hours
that
were
a
cstael
ti o r ri
mir, a professor of Civil En-
thbeiolowgi
ent
on
a
hindering the irrigation sys- primarily t of
one area where Israeli
once
spent
operating
the
6neering at the Technion-
trrei a t m
water-use technology has
tem."
system in the fields are
Israel Institute of Tech-
water, in which micro-or- in the nearby Jezreel val-
made fantastic -strides in
Another
important
area
saved;
and
the
automated
ganisms are introduced ley.
nology.
the last several years.
Rebhun says
sas that "in
system allows for greater of advance in the last sever-
which
digest and oxidize
"This
is
extremely
impor-
al years has been in the
corn- many countries there is a
Prof. Shamir also praised tant because 80 percent of cultivation in border areas,
reclamation and reuse of the organic matter. The . psychological
barrier
the "close cooperation and
where it is often too dan-
harmful ino rg
coordination of projects" be- the nation's water is con-
gerous to send workers into liquid sewage.
then destroyed against reclaiming waste
pounds
are
sumed
by
agriculture,"
Sha-
tween the universities and
through use of a special water, but in our tiny semi-
the fields for long periods.
Developments in this
desert country, we have no
research institutes working mid points out.
area
are
crucial,
since
Is-
.
•
In the past, .- precious
in the area and the three na-
Prof.
Rebhun process.
uses the choice but to use it."
Recently, the nation has
rael is already exploiting physical
chemical
Rebhun adds that he and
tional bodies with responsi- progressed in automating water was lost due to unob-
over 90 percent of its fresh
bility for water: the water its drip irrigation tech- served breaks or leaks in
other Israeli scientists are
water supply. Scientists be- physical
chemical
process
first,
and
the
biological
sec-
office;
the system. Today, any mal-
commissioners
pushing ahead with further
lieve that through recycling end. He says that, "If used
TAHAL, the public water nology.
function causes a bell to
pysical chemical refinements in the methods
of treated waste water, the
planning company, and
"About 75 per cent of Is- ring in the central control
used in waste wad
nation can increase its first, the h
MEKOROT, the national raeli irrigation is at least room and the problem can
version, and the i
stock of usable water by 25- process
takes
out all of . plus
the
inorganic
compounds
company (to partly automated," Shamir be located and diagnosed
watch
bright.
30
percent.
50-60
percent
of
the
organic
which Shamir is attached says, "ranging from sequen- immediately.
"In time we plan to make
Prof. Menahem Rebhun matter."
Prof. Shamir says the
recycled waste water fit to
as a permanent consult- tially operated quantity con-
Thus,
in
Rebhun's
meth-
system,
irrigation
of the Technion has devel-
ant).
trolled valves, to fully auto- drip
od, the work load placed on be consumed as drinking
oped a method for cleaning
water," he says.
According to Walter,Ruby mated computer controlled which is constantly being re-
the biological process is
waste water to the point
fined and applied to new
Israeli scientists and engi
in Israel Digest, in recent systems.
much
less,
and
the
result
is
im-
where
y ere it is of sufficient pu-
t
"The drip irrigation crops, has revolutionized in-
neers continue
continuo
years, Prof. Shamir and col-
"a
purified
effluent
with
a
to be available for re-
i
ress
portant
leagues at the Technion systems on a number of kib- creasing the ratio of crop
leagues
much
higher
reliability
and
cycling into a variety of ag-
exploration,
groundwater
exploration,
de
have refined techniques
butz and moshav farms are yields to water input.
constancy."
ricultural and industrial
"The drip system more ef-
that have greatly increased
now operated from a cen-
Rebhun believes that his velopment, and manage
uses, and for recharging
method can be instrumental ment, and in the effort tc r
the ground water supply.
in cutting down on sea and make the desalinization
By comparison, the liquid
river pollution because sea water economically fea
sewage treatment in use
"adaptation of my method sible on a large scale.
throughout much of the
Says Uri Shamir: "Dui
can make the installation of
world today is not good
ing the last decade, over ;
a
good
anti-pollution
system
enough to allow for agricul-
thousand research activitie
'profitable for industries.
tural and industrial reuse of
This
is
because
the
waste
involving
various aspects e
the water. According to
water were comlpeted i
water is the potential
Rebhun, the new method is
Israel."
source of a valuable cash
about 40 percent cheaper to