Jewish Congress Coming to Hungary Amid Anti-Semitic Surge
The World Jewish Congress will hold its annual assembly in Budapest to show solidarity with Hungary?s Jews who are facing ?exceptionally strong? anti-Semitism, organizers said.
?This will be the first time in a very long time that the WJC will hold its congress outside Jerusalem,? said Peter Feldmajer, president of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities, or Mazsihisz, one of Hungary?s leading Jewish groups. During the 2013 General Assembly, representatives of WJC will express their solidarity with Hungary?s Jewish community, which recently has faced ?exceptionally strong and aggressive anti-Semitic voices,? he said.
The congress, to which some 500 delegates are expected, will take place in early May, although the exact dates have not yet been decided, a Mazsihisz spokesperson told the French news agency AFP.
In the last year, the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has had to answer criticism that it is not doing enough to counter anti-Semitism and the rise of far-right extremism in Hungary.
Last week, a state honors list included a prominent TV presenter and an archeologist both known for anti-Semitic views.
In November, a deputy of the far-right Jobbik party also caused uproar by proposing in parliament drawing up a list of people ?of Jewish origin (who) present a national security risk to Hungary.?
In June, Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel returned Hungary?s highest state honor because of what he called a ?whitewashing? of history in the European Union member state.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
