Israel Katz: "It is a Great Joy that after October 7, the Hungarian Jewish Denominations United"

The support of Hungarian Jewry and the Hungarian government is very important to us, stated Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on an official visit to Budapest on 17 June. He had talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó and discussions with the representatives of the Hungarian Jewish denominations.

The Israeli foreign minister and his entourage were welcomed at the entrance of the Dohány Street synagogue by representatives of the Hungarian Jewish denominations.

Israel Katz was accompanied by the Israeli ambassador to Budapest, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman and his deputy, Moran Birman, as well as by the foreign minister's chief advisor, chief of staff, spokesperson and several political advisors.

Dr. Róbert Frölich, Dr. Andor Grósz, Israel Katz, Tamás Mester

The guests were received and greeted, among others, by Dr. Andor Grósz, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary - Mazsihisz, dr. Róbert Frölich, National Chief Rabbi, Tamás Mester, president of the Budapest Jewish Community (BZSH) and vice president of Mazsihisz, Gábor Keszler, president of MAOIH, and Jonatán Megyeri, rabbi of EMIH.

Jonatán Megyeri, Gábor Keszler, dr. Andor Grósz, Israel Katz, Jákov Hadas-Handelsman, Tamás Mester and dr. Robert Frölich

In the synagogue, the minister listened to a lecture on the history of the temple and talked with dr. Róbert Frölich about the Hungarian Jewish community. After that, the delegation paid their respects at the Emanuel Memorial Tree, and then the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his entourage continued to a meeting with the Hungarian Jewish leaders in the ceremonial hall of the Síp Street headquarters.

Dr. Andor Grósz introduced the activities, institutional network and religious life of Mazsihisz, the largest Hungarian Jewish denomination. He stressed that it was a great honor that the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited the synagogue on Dohány Street, as the building testifies on the one hand the prosperity that the Hungarian Jewish community enjoyed before the Holocaust, and at the same time embodies the fact that the descendants will carry on in a dignified way the heritage, tradition and faith of their ancestors.

Dr. Andor Grósz

The president of Mazsihisz explained that there are three Jewish denominations operating in Hungary, and although there are differences of opinion between them, when it comes to Israel and Judaism, the differences of opinion are immediately put aside.

He added as a proof of this cooperation that just a few days after the attack by Hamas on October 7, a service and event of solidarity were held in the Dohány Street synagogue in order to show support for Israel. The Hungarian head of state and the leadership of the other two Jewish denominations also took part to the event.

Dr. Andor Grósz mentioned also that Mazsihisz and BZSH organized fundraising for the Beeri Kibbutz after October 7th, and the President of the Federation handed over the donation personally to the kibbutz representatives in Israel.

Reacting to the president's words, Israel Katz stated that he was very happy to hear that the Hungarian Jewish denominations united in support of Israel after the seventh of October, as the support of Hungarian Jewry and the Hungarian government is very important to them.

He praised at length the Hungarian government's pro-Israel policy, and as he said, Hungary was the only state in the European Union that consistently stood up for Israel even against the other 26 member states. Israel Katz pointed out that it was a big disappointment for him when a European politician told him something different in private and something completely different in public, which is not the case with his Hungarian colleague.

Referring to the meeting with Péter Szijjártó, he pointed out that the main topic of his visit to Budapest was related to the upcoming Hungarian EU presidency, and that negotiations are necessary in this regard in order to determine how the country and the Union will fight against the anti-Israel tendencies in the next six months.

Jonatán Megyeri

Jonatán Megyeri, the rabbi of the EMIH, also welcomed the foreign minister, emphasizing that Hungarian Jewry has a special responsibility to strengthen the country's influence for the sake of Israel; while Gábor Keszler, the president of the MAOIH, underlined, among other things that anti-Semitism has reached enormous proportions in Europe and throughout the world, it has also flooded higher education, so the leaders of Europe should issue a joint statement against these alarming phenomenas.

Gábor Keszler. Photos: P.T. / Mazsihisz