!NEWS I Hungarian Reforms May Bring Anti-Semitism RUTH E. GRUBER Special to The Jewish News T --FENBY-STEIN [ 553-9966 Jerry Fenby Sunset Boulevard Mirage The Tim Hewitt Band Breezin Loving Cup Krosswinds Talent Agency Rare Blend Classix Seasons Sound Impressions Sterling Perfect Blend After Hours Donna Marie and Motion Higher Ground Fenby-Carr Shelby lee George Benson Jazz DJs including ERIC HARRIS tering, Gemologists, Inc. , " -ilea -am., DIAL 354-GEMS • Within the Onyx Plaza Bldg. 29777 Telegraph, Suite 1371 Mon. Fri. 10 5:00 Thurs. 10-6:30, Sat. 10-2 North of 12 Mile Rd. - Al Kaftan Jerry Moss Formerly of Al Kay Jewelers 42 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1989 111111111111111111/ UI imi ■ suonsi isiro ■■■• Jr .•••• A' 1 11111111111111rni. ■ ■■■ ' 11 ••• 111•1111112111•1111111, •11 •MBIONONIIIIM N NIIM 11•6111. • . 111511111•8• 11' 1 .1••• ■■ ••• ■ ■ ■ I Custom Designed Jewelry Nwe' Where integrity means as much to us as value means tii3Tou" • Appraisals • Diamonds • Remounts • Repairs • Watches • Fashion Jewelry • Free Layaway - 411112Mmall11• ■► ,•■ ••••o ■ meme. 1iso• ■ eS ■ 11 ■ ■■ is181111111111 ■■■ 110 ■ 111. atunl•n• ■■e■■ 1111 ■ oi .111111811•841111•11111/111111111s ismr011111111111•111M111 se ■ so ■ ssomefirimellini MOISNIUM - Give every NEWBORN the advantage March of Dimes he story of the Jews- in Hungary is one of tragedy and renewal. If anything can be con- sidered certain, it's the fact that things change. Today, in the midst of an unprecedented post-war revival, partly fostered by the sweeping social and po- litical liberalizations throughout the Hungarian system, Jews — like other Hungarians — are keeping a wary eye out for future, less positive, developments. Despite Hungary's newly reforged diplomatic links with Israel, despite the renaissance of interest in Jewish life and education, despite a new government policy which guarantees religious freedom, many people are concerned both that the Hungarian reforms could fail, and that anti- Semitism could begin again to flourish. - "This is a country in the midst of crisis," Deputy So- cial Services Minister Istvan Banfalvy said in Budapest at the opening of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee's first East European office. "In a country where there is social and economic hard- ship, xenophobia could in- crease," he said. "We all know what tragedy this br- ings to communities exposed to prejudice." Said a Hungarian-born journalist: "The Hungarian govern- ment is all for the Jews; the Hungarian people, no." These concerns were echoed at a seminar in Vienna on anti-Semitism in Hungary. The seminar at- tendants were told of a boom in Jewish education, Jewish children's camps, direct flights between Budapest and Tel Aviv, Jewish Cultural Association ac- tivities, the popular Hungary-Israel Friendship Society and other aspects of Jewish renewal. But they also heard that only a relatively small frac- tion of Hungary's 80,000 Jews actually take active part in Jewish life. Most are fully assimilated. "Hungarian Jewish life did not die, but it is very different now and not too strong," Budapest Professor Tibor Englander said at the seminar. "Both over- pessimism and over- optimism have to be criticized," he said. "Years ago, many Jews thought an- ti-Semitism had died, now many think it is reborn," he said. "Anti-Semitism is wearing a mask. We have to recognize the mask and rec- ognize who is wearing it." Englander said there were two big illusions about anti- Semitism among Hungarian Jews and "both are very dangerous." One was that "the old Communist regime would save us from rightist anti-Semitism. The second is that a new democracy would save us from Communist an- ti-Semitism." In fact, some Hungarians say that as they have become more open about Some Hungarians say that as they have become more open about their Jewish identity, overt anti- Semitism also has grown. their Jewish identity, overt anti-Semitism also has grown. One faction of the largest opposition party, the Democratic Forum, has been accused of being anti- Semitic, in part because its political roots are nation- alistic, rural, populist and steeped in Christian beliefs. Daniel Lanyi, an activist at the Democratic Forum headquarters in Budapest, denied the party was anti- Semitic per se. "Some of our members are first- generation intellectuals with a rural background," he said. "There probably are peo- ple in the Democratic Forum who are anti-Semitic," he said, "but it's very difficult to trace back. The politics of the forum are very tolerant. I reject the allegation that the Democratic Forum is an- ti-Semitic. There might be people in it who are, but its broad politics are not." Before World War II, Hungary had about 825,000 Jews, amounting to 5-8 per- cent of the local population. Communities flourished in towns and villages around the country as well as in Budapest, although the government between the world wars was extremely anti-Semitic. -,4 •■ 4 ..- 4 ti 4 •