Subcommittee Hearing: Anti-Semitism: A Growing Threat to All Faiths

2/27/2013 – Watch the video of the Subcommittee Hearing: Anti-Semitism: A Growing Threat to All Faiths. Tamás Fellegi, Ph.D., Managing Partner of EuroAtlantic Solutions (Former Minister of National Development Government of Hungary) represented Hungary on the distinguished panel.

Dr. Fellegi discussed issues related to anti-semtism in Hungary, including the far-right Jobbik party and steps the government has taken to combat xenophobia and racism which run “contrary to the historical values” of Hungary. He remarked that there is a clear line of demarcation on the issue between Jobbik and all other mainstream parties in Hungary. See the timeline on his remarks (and all remarks relevant to Hungary) below.

• [click here] to access video of PART II of the Subcommittee hearing.
• [click here] to download a PDF transcript

TIMELINE: 00:02:39 – 00:09:01
Dr. Fellegi’s statment

TIMELINE: 00:56:17 – 01:00:50
Mr. Smith asks questions on re-dedication of Obuda Synagogue, Jobbik, and the renaissance of Hungarian Jewry.

TIMELINE: 01:00:53 – 01:02:40
Additional comments on Hungary by Mr. Andrew Srulevitch, Director of European Affairs, Anti-Defamation League. While the Hungarian Government has made statements against anti-semitism, Jobbik is a major concern. While Kuruc.info is an issue, Holocaust denial and other anti-semitic propaganda can be found on Jobbik’s site. While more progress can be made (especially in terms of targeting Jobbik), we must recognize the progress that has already been made. He cited the fact that the government sent representatives to the civil demonstrations against anti-semitism.

TIMELINE: 01:02:46 – 01:04:53
Dr. Fellegi responds and agrees with Mr. Srulevitch’s assessment that more needs to be done. He repeated PM Orban’s statement against Gyongyosi and explains that “xenophobia and racism” are against deomcracy and the historical values of Hungary.

Serving with Dr. Fellegi on the panel of witnesses were:

• Rabbi Andrew Baker
  Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, Office of the Chairperson-in-Office, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• Rabbi David Meyer
  Professor of Rabbinic Literature and Contemporary Jewish Thought, Pontifical Gregorian University
• Mr. Willy Silberstein
  Chairman, Swedish Committee Against Anti-Semitism
• Rabbi Yaakov BleichChief Rabbi of Kiev and Ukraine
• Mr. Andrew Srulevitch
  Director of European Affairs, Anti-Defamation League

Part I of the hearing included:

• Zudhi Jasser, M.D.
  President, American Islamic Forum for Democracy
• Katrina Lantos Swett, Ph.D.
  Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
• Ms. Elisa Massimino
  President and Chief Executive Officer, Human Rights First
• Mr. John Garvey
  President, The Catholic University of America
• Mr. Eric Metaxas
  Author and Commentator

[Click here] to access video of PART I of the Subcommittee hearing.

---

AHF REMEMBERS THE HEROES OF THE HUNGARIAN HOLOCAUST
The Federation takes this opportunity to remember Carl Lutz, Raoul Wallenberg and other foreign
diplomats as well as the Hungarian heroes who at great personal peril saved many Jewish lives.
The Hungarians include but, of course, are not limited to the following individuals:

• Janos Esterhazy opposed the Slovak Nazi puppet regime of Jozef Tiso.  At great peril to himself, he was the only member of the Slovak Parliament to vote against the law authorizing the deportation of Jews in 1942.  Later, Esterhazy personally saved Jews from the Holocaust.
• General Vilmos Nagybaczoni-Nagy who upon being appointed minister of defense by the Kallay government took measures to end the gross abuse threatening the lives of Jews and others in the auxiliary labor force;
• Tibor Baranszky who, as secretary to Monsignor Angelo Rotta, the Vatican’s ambassador to Budapest, saved many lives by distributing protective letters to Jews on forced marches and elsewhere;
• Roman Catholic Priest Ferenc Kallo who gave Jews life‐saving certificates of baptism and who was killed by the Arrow Cross on October 29, 1944;
• Jozsef Antall Senior, who as a member of the ministry of internal affairs for civilian refugees
  gave refuge to and thereby saved Jews and Poles and who enjoyed the support and confidence of Minister of Interior Ferenc Keresztes‐Fischer and Prime Ministers Pal Teleki and after his death Miklos Kallay.
• Prince-Primate Jusztinian Seredi, Bishop Laszlo Ravasz of the Reformed Church and Istvan Bethlen who communicated protests to Regent Horthy in 1944 against deportations following Nazi Germany’s occupation of Hungary; and
• Col. Ferenc Koszorus, posthumously promoted to the rank of General by Prime Minister Antall after the fall of Communism, who volunteered his services and mobilized the 1st Armored Division under his command to militarily intervene on July 5, 1944 to stop Laszlo Baky, a secretary of state in the Ministry of Interior for “Jewish Affairs,” from deporting the
  approximately 200,000 plus Jews from Budapest.2

The Federation believes that the extraordinary courage, moral strength and fortitude of these and
other individuals who despite overwhelming odds were willing to confront evil and act on behalf
of humanity serve as examples for all of humankind; they must never be forgotten.
________________________________________
1 When Minister of Interior Ferenc Keresztes-Fischer learned the details of these actions, he ordered them to be stopped.
2 On the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Holocaust, Congressman Tom Lantos (for whom one of the co-sponsoring organizations is named) referred to Col. Koszorus as “A Hero of the Hungarian Holocaust” and stated that “[a]s a result of his extraordinarily brave efforts, taken at great risk in an extremely volatile situation, the eventual takeover of Budapest by the Nazis was delayed by 3 1/2 months. This hiatus allowed thousands of Jews to seek safety in Budapest, thus sparing them from certain execution. It also permitted the famous Raoul Wallenberg, who arrived in Budapest on July 9, 1944, to coordinate his successful and effective rescue mission.” As is clear from Congressman Lantos’ remarks, had Col. Koszorus’ intervention not occurred, Wallenberg would not have had many lives to save. Neither would have Lutz.

---

[<< Back to All AHF News]