Hungary then and now

I was surprised by Alexander Goldberg’s response in last week’s paper to my recent piece (The Jews of Hungary do not Live in Fear, JC November 16) in which he claims antisemitism in Hungary is so bad that Hungarian Jewish students must come to British universities to “feel safe”. 

We hear on a regular basis about how Jewish students are harassed and abused on our university campuses — especially where there are strong Muslim student organisations, allied with leftist fellow travellers — and where pro-Arab speakers are welcomed but pro-Israeli ones are no-platformed. If the UK is where they come to feel safe, heaven help them. But who knows, perhaps his own Surrey University is a bastion of harmony and philo-semitism.

I would take issue with him, however, on a vital point of history. Hungary’s wartime leader Nicholas Horthy may well have been an antisemite of the old school, all too common throughout most of Europe, but it wasn’t he who deported the Jews. The Jews of Hungary were deported only after the country was occupied by the Nazis in the spring of 1944. In fact, the Hungarian government’s failure to deport them was one of the chief reasons for the occupation. Once the Wehrmacht and the Gestapo and Adolf Eichmann had arrived, Horthy became little more than a figurehead, powerless to stop deportations. 

Monica Porter
London

I probably visit Hungary as often as your correspondent Monica Porter, and could not disagree with her more. Antisemitism is very much alive. This is what Mr Orban said during the March 2018 election campaign, aiming at Soros:

“We are fighting an enemy that is different from us. Not open, but hiding; not straightforward but crafty; not honest but base; not national but international; does not believe in working but speculates with money; does not have its own homeland but feels it owns the whole world” — echoes, perhaps, of Protocols of Zion?

As to Hungarians’ “long memories”, it is most disappointing that the famous “shoe memorial” does not mention Jews (only “victims”)and the inscription on the Holocaust memorial (subject of year-long protests by the local Jewish community) translates to “Memorial to the Victims of German Occupation” — again no mention of Jews. 

As to the Wallenberg sculpture, it was a privately sponsored memorial, from former American Ambassador, Nicolas M. Salgo, and not originating from the Hungarian government.

Thomas Komoly
Wilmslow, Cheshire

Grim picture

I read with dismay about the sale at Sotheby’s of an important part of the Ben Uri collection.

I have been a trustee of the Jewish Museum for many years. Some ten years ago, it became obvious that the Jewish community would be best served by a merger between the two organisations.

We had detailed discussion with David Glasser and his fellow trustees, which ended when he felt that they would have a better future on their own in a prestigious central London location.

After our discussions came to nothing, the Ben Uri bought a crucifix by Chagall and one or two other works. These seem to have been outside the remit of the gallery as having nothing to do with their main objectives.

The change in direction with the main focus now being towards dementia and art would appear to be a long way from the stated mission of the Ben Uri.

The dismantling of the collection, which started last week at Sotheby’s, was the beginning of a slippery slope.

The resignation of the most distinguished of their advisory committee and the subsequent statement by the Arts Council have driven more nails into the coffin of a once venerable Jewish organisation 

Jonathan Gestetner 
London NW3 

Turbulence-free

I was utterly disappointed reading your negative report of the El Al flight from New York that was diverted to Athens due to the advent of Shabbat. This was based on unreliable hearsay subsequently contradicted by an official statement of the El Al CEO.  Your report failed entirely to dwell on the many positives which would gladden the heart of your readership, admiring the resilience of our people and the fraternity shown by such a diverse group. 

Credit and congratulate El Al for alerting their Athens ground staff to make hasty arrangements for the large number of passengers; arranging hotel accommodation at the airport; the mathematician (or wizard) whose computation enabled all to sleep soundly; Chabad of Athens for preparing some 300 Shabbat meals at four hours’ notice as well as setting up an on-site synagogue complete with Sefer Torah and prayer books; the joy, happiness, collective singing, the comradeship and that rare commodity, unity.

Mrs T(zipora) Sufrin
London N14

Agree with whom?

I refer to the Comment piece by Maya Ilany (This move affirms Israel’s legitimacy, JC, November 23)  about Airbnb’s recent decision to remove its listings for Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

My attention was drawn to the last paragraph in which she says that “the only way that Israel has a safe future as a Jewish and democratic state is by ending the occupation and reaching an agreement with the Palestinians.”  

I fully agree but with which Palestinians?  The current leaders have no interest in reaching any agreement with Israel.  Indeed, Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish homeland.  

The Palestinians’ leaders need to be ready to reach an agreement with Israel,  a state that, at present, they don’t recognise as having any right to exist!

Stephen Miller
Borehamwood

Not every mid-East state

The pardon granted to Matthew Hedges in Dubai is good news. His case was a gross injustice and human-rights violation yet the left’s anti-Israel ranters responded to it with total silence. 

Even the BBC’s World at One referenced other, similarly unjust convictions and harsh sentencing in Dubai and  “throughout the Middle East” without mentioning that this applies only in Arab states and not in Israel, where no such problems have ever arisen.  Once again, the hypocrisy and double standards of the anti-Israel left are shockingly obvious.

Steven R. Harvey,
Cheadle Hulme,
Cheshire 

 

Humane choice needed

With regard to the letter from Dr Stanley Jacobs (JC, November 23), on the slaughter of chickens, I am what I consider a traditionally observant community member who keeps kashrut. 

As a child, I was taught that, by keeping kashrut, we cared for the welfare of birds and animals. With chickens, we only have one choice — those kept in small cages, factory reared and fattened and slaughtered  in a few days,

The non-kosher world, since Jamie Oliver intervened, has supermarkets that stock free-range and organic chickens. We get no real  choice.
I have become further dismayed by reading recently in the newspapers warnings that, by buying non-organic animals, we are increasing our resistance to antibiotics and the new dangers this threatens us all with.

Surely our religious leaders should be showing the way, when the maintenance of shechita is under pressure, by stating we are in favour of the humane treatment of our ritually killed animals,letting the Jewish public have a proper choice,  and leading the fight against people who are against shechita

Paul Spector
Bournemouth

No UK in ChanUKah?

With Chanukah upcoming I went on to Amazon.com to email my nephews in New York an Amazon gift voucher each, in dollars.

How delighted was I to find at least eight different Chanukah  gift-voucher cards to choose from? Job done.

I then decided to send another Amazon gift voucher card to a friend in England.

I went on to the Amazon.co.uk site to do this, but no. No Chanukah cards.

With every other religious holiday or event represented and available as a card, I was disappointed and then shocked to find discrimination on Amazon.co.uk. I am truly surprised.

Angela Wayne   
London W9