Security of the Jewish community is guaranteed in Hungary

The European Jewish Association held its annual conference in Budapest. On the first day of the event, the results of a two-year study analyzing the security of Jewish communities throughout Europe were presented – and Hungary proved to be one of the safest places. Slomó Köves, Chief Rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) – Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ), said at the conference that he is pleased the study confirms the experiences of Hungarian Jewry.

2022. 06. 21. 17:51

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The study evaluated surveys from the past few years and ranked European countries where Jewish communities feel safest, factoring in government efforts, size of the Jewish population, and their living standards. Among these, Hungary came in second to Italy.

Moreover, Hungary witnessed the lowest number of antisemitic attacks and the Jewish community feels safest in Hungary; also, Hungary also had good results in terms of religious freedom.

“Hungary is one of the safest countries in Europe — possibly even the safest — for Jews,” said Zsolt Semjèn in his speech at the conference. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that “Hungary maintains zero-tolerance against anti-Semitism, regardless of whether they are connected to the extreme right, extreme left, Jihadists or anti-Israeli sentiments… Relations between Jewish organizations and the Hungarian government are in perfect order: the state financially supports all Jewish institutions, preschools, schools, hospitals, and social institutions just as it would public ones.”

“Hungary maintains zero-tolerance against antisemitism; the Holocaust is taught in schools and of course it has a memorial day; the law against hate speech guarantees that the Holocaust cannot be denied or relativized,”

– said Zsolt Semjén. He added that “anti-Israeli sentiments are viewed as a form of anti-Semitism,” and that “our government represents this position both in Hungary and in European Union forums, where Israel can count on Hungary.” He confirmed that “Hungary vetoes any measures that unfairly attack Israel.”