 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |  |
|
|
Jewish Identity Evolves for Hungarian: From Christmas Tree to "The Szarvas Life"
In the final years of Hungary's Communist regime, then 7-year-old Fredek first encountered his Jewish heritage during a discussion with his mother about Christmas trees. In one moment that would steer the course of his life, he learned that he was Jewish and decided that he wanted to do things only in a typically Jewish way.
The results were practical: his family decided not to get a tree, and Fredek enrolled at the Lauder/JDC International Jewish Summer Camp in Szarvas, Hungary, as soon as he was old enough. Though it was his first time away from home and he cried the entire two weeks, he insisted on returning the following summer. "Of course I wanted to go," he says. "I wanted to see my Szarvas friends and was too young to meet them alone during school." As the years passed, Fredek looked forward to camp with growing anticipation. Each summer was unique – a different camp theme, new faces, and new opportunities to learn and have fun while nurturing his Jewish identity. Fredek developed a cadre of Jewish friends with whom he maintained contact year-round and admired his counselors who served as positive role models. He soon enrolled in one of Budapest's Jewish schools, which Fredek readily admits would not have happened without the exposure to Jewish tradition he had experienced at Szarvas. And it was only a matter of time before he signed up for the JDC-organized training seminar for counselors and returned to camp as a madrich. "I'll never forget the first time I sat down with my group," he recalls with a smile. "My stomach shook the whole time." But the major change for Fredek came when he became a unit head for Hungarian campers and began to play a role in the training of new madrichim. "It was a big jump, but I really cared about Szarvas life and I knew I could influence it," he reflects. Now 24, Fredek still comes to camp each summer as a unit head, and his Szarvas connections continue to impact his life outside of camp. He is an active participant in the JDC-sponsored Szarvas Empowerment Initiative, a three-year training cycle for young leaders with a proven commitment to the camp and to their communities. Fredek also assists with JDC programming at Budapest’s Balint Jewish Community Center. "After Szarvas, I wanted to know more about Jewish life and to grow up around Jewish people," Fredek says. "I know it's all because of camp. Otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today as a Jew." |
