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First Hungarian GA Showcases Local Jewish Revitalization
Hungary recently hosted the first-ever Hungarian General Assembly (GA) for more than 1,000 participants — a landmark event in the development of the country’s Jewish community, which has endured the hardship of both Nazi and Communist rule. Modeled on the American and European GA, the four-day event comprised presentation sessions on topics such as Education, Religion, Philanthropy, Youth, and Cultural/Community Development. The monumental gathering, from November 17th-20th, was organized by the Hungarian Jewish Forum — the coalition of 18 organizations that JDC helped to create as a component of its Community Building work in the country.
"Visibility from last year’s European Council of Jewish Communities (ECJC) General Assembly in Budapest planted a seed for the local Jews to believe that it was possible and desirable to organize such an event for the Hungarian Jewish community itself," noted Jorge Diener, JDC Country Director for Hungary and Bulgaria. More than 100 volunteers of all ages and from various organizations helped to make the event possible. 
While the entire assembly was open to all Jews, approximately 200 of whom attended each of the individual sessions, the main plenary session focusing on the future of Hungarian Jewry proved truly extraordinary in Diener’s eyes. "It gave, for the first time, the opportunity for citizens of the Jewish Community — with a capital ‘C’ — to come and express themselves openly — and they are actively choosing to take this right!"
In a session on Community and Resource Development, a middle-aged gentleman shared the story of how he returned to the Jewish community in the early ‘90s just after the fall of Communism and ensuing changes. Finding few opportunities for himself, however, he had left and in the meantime spent time in Israel. "I was looking to have a positive experience, and the GA here in Hungary was the first time I felt that I was called and asked to come," he said. The community welcomed him back with open arms. "Through this conference we are building a new momentum probably similar in some ways to the renaissance of the early ‘90s — but this time more focused on creating new and appropriate frameworks a healthy, open and inclusive Jewish community," Diener explained. In fact, a substantial effort focused on reaching out to the general society and in developing a positive new image for the Hungarian Jewish Forum. Local television and radio stations as well as other media were tapped to cover the event, and a special issue of the local magazine "Time-out style" was spread all around the city, inspiring newcomers and those already involved in the community to participate. Among the 18 organizations brought together by JDC to produce the Hungarian GA were representatives of all streams of Judaism — Orthodox, Neolog, Conservative, Reform, secular — as well as interests, and included the Mashihisz, JDC, JAFI, Bna’i Brith, and Wizo. "It is the most comprehensive alliance of Jewish organizations that ever came together in Hungary to do something together," Diener proudly highlighted. Much planning ensured that the issues were presented with a pluralistic approach. "This collaboration process of preparing with leaders of all these organizations in a way was as important as the event itself." 
A symbol of the bridges that JDC is helping to build among the Jewish community in Hungary and throughout Central and Eastern Europe took place on Friday evening as three separate Kabalat Shabbat services were offered in adjacent rooms — Orthodox, Reform, and secular. Upon completion of the Reform service, a young Neolog Rabbi who has worked at the Lauder/JDC International Summer Camp at Szarvas, Hungary, commented, "I didn’t know this was so nice and still so Jewish!"
Further progress ensued with Diener’s development of a Hungarian Jewish Forum VIP Club for local donors and potential leaders. "The idea was to reach people with the capacity to give who share the values of the Forum and involve them not just for the event, but for building a long-term relationship," remarked Diener. A special recognition dinner was organized for the VIP Club members, many of whom are Jews who previously had no involvement in the Jewish community. "There are many new faces, many new people coming back, a lot of ideas, sharing and emotional experiences," Diener said following the Hungarian GA. "This has been a step forward in helping Hungarian Jews take their future into their own hands." December 2005 |
