HUNGARY page 74

Name
Places to go. People to see. Things to do.
We're an active, friendly retirement community Address
State
Zip
that provides a flexible transportation service City
Phone
seven days a week. Just make a reservation with
our concierge and we'll take you places like the
grocery store and the bank. No one offers you a
greater quality of services or goes the distance more
Mail to: 24111 Civic Center Dr., Southfield, MI48034
than we do. To find out more, call (810) 352-0208.
(810) 352-0208
CELEBRITING 5 YEARS IS PREMIER RENTAL RETIREMENT COMM( wry

\'e are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity - throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative
advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color.-religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

r

have an Extra
$51: 00 per person

•. ,

Attention!

On Your Next Cruise!

• Home Owners
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(7 days or more)

with this ad

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THE CRUISE SHOPPE

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29214 Orchard Lake Rd. • Farmington Hills

S. of 13 Mile Rd. Between Kinkos and Burger King

Frameless Shower Enclosures

Designed & Installed By Our Glass Specialists

Providing the Best
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DAVID BIBER

541-4133 • (810) 656-9500 Crestview Cadillac

22223 Telegraph Road

GLASS

A Clear Reflection of Quality
Since 1964

NO VEMBER

Herzl was bar mitzvah. My first
real glimpse of Budapest revealed
a city brimming with life and
commerce. Shops filled with mod-
ern, Western goods lined the
streets. Many pedestrians spoke
on cellular phones as they hur-
ried to work. Set against the of-
ten impressive architecture of
Budapest (once known as the
"Paris of the East"), the scene was
impressive.
A closer look, however, re-
vealed a less attractive reality.
The fruits and vegetables for sale
at the many street-side stands
were mostly withered and sickly
looking. Many people window-
shopped but few bought any-
thing. I later learned that
inflation, alcoholism, joblessness
and divorce were problems on the
rise throughout the country.
Hungary was one of the first
East European nations to shirk
communism when the Iron Cur-
tain began falling five years ago.
The country initially enjoyed a
boom in industry and trade. Since
that time, however, Hungary has -
encountered many unpleasant
realities. The recently elected so-
cialist government is imple-
menting economic reforms to get
the economy on track. Many
Hungarians told me that they are
just not fully prepared for the rig-
ors of a free market.
The main question on my
mind, however, was: How did the
post-Communist era bode for
Hungarian Jews? I sought the
Dohany Street synagogue in
hopes of finding a clue.
The Synagogue of the Heroes,
so named in honor of Hungarian
Jews who perished in World War
I, stood partially hidden behind
a web of steel poles and ladders.
Rising above metal and wooden
scaffolding were onion-shaped
domes, displaying Stars of David
emblazoned black on gold.
I found an unlocked door and
entered a dimly-lit hallway. I
walked on, opened another door
and stepped into what was the
most ornate and marvelous sanc-
tuary I have ever seen. The ceil-
ing arched high above rows of
wooden seats facing the bimah.
Brilliant stained-glass windows
lined the walls depicting various
Jewish symbols and Hebrew
words. Against the far wall stood
a massive anon kodesh.
A voice rang out in Hungari-
an, startling me.
"Jo napot (good morning)," I
replied, with the little Hungari-
an I knew at my disposal.
A young-looking, casually
dressed man approached. He
wore a black kippah. In English,
the man asked if he could help
me. I told him I wanted to speak
with the rabbi. "I am the rabbi,"
he said.
Fifteen minutes later, we sat
in the rabbis's study. Bookcases
filled with Hebrew and Hungar-

(South of 9 Mile Road)

for a limited time!

•.

4)414VIRONANIMIND

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