Expert’s opinion about the concept and script of Hause of Fates, named Etz Hayim
The concept and script are the products of a long, coordinated work, several historians and experts took part in it. The structure and the vision of the exhibition is clear. I agree with it. But I don’t want to praise the concept. I concentrate only to the disputable points, where I propose some corrections, or supplement.
Prelminary I sign a remarkable lack in the text of the concept. It’s evident, that there is several points in the main text of the Gallerys and of the shelf too, what must be „enlarged”, explained in detailed way, for whom having enough time for a longer visit (60 minutes or more) in the House of Fates. The visitor may be informed about the disputed or not enough known details (biographys of persons, events, storys, identification of places, etc.) by touching them in a screen. This modern technics combine the suggessive visuality of the modern museum with the „encyclopedia on the wall”.
It would be important to see the references-notes together with he main texts, but they are not signed any way. Without them it’s not easy to write an expert’s opinion. As far as me, together with the corrections I propose some suplementary texts, too. In the period which is my speciality, the post-holocaust period, I will join to my opinion a paper in Hungarian. From this paper, concerning the events in Hajdunánás during the revolution of 1956, I’m ready to make a shortened version, a reference-note for the exhibition, if you agree.
And now let see the texts of the Gallerys.
Supplement
1.5. Tiszaeszlar. Blood libel in Hungary p. 45
First of all: we need to comment the picture, like in other place, too. (Scene of the trial in Nyiregyháza, Moricz Scharf is witnessing.) And it’s important to join a reference-note to the the expression: blood libel. As a comment, it’s not enough
what is in the text: „The false myth of ritual murder and scapegoating typical of the Middle Ages”.
With reference it’s necessary to write about the bood libel a short masspsychological interpretation. We must enumerate the places and dates in Hungary, mentioned in the contemporary newspapers, where and when blood-libel hysterias occured, till 1944 and even after. Average intellectuells are still confonding the blood-libel trial (in Hungary only in he case of Tiszaeszlar, 1882-83), and the frequent hysterias, without any or few legal consequences, based on the agitation and the fear of christians from the Jews. I’m ready to write a note to this reference.
Missing source of quotation
2.4. Treaty of Trianon p. 59.
Source is missing under the quotation under the text: “We, Hungarian Jews [...] wish to take part [...] in the reconstruction of our beloved Fatherland!”
Who wrote it? Vilmos Vázsonyi? Or somebody else? (All other quotations are tributed to historical persons or to newspapers.)
Supplement
2.5 First legal discrimination against hungarian jewry p. 61
Text: September 26, 1920: The Numerus Clausus Law, restricts the number of Jewish students and other ethnic minorities admitted to Hungarian universities. The law implementation orders unprecedentedly considered Jews an ethnic group, resulting in a sharp decrease of Jews studying in higher education, falling from over 30% in the prewar years to under 8% in 1927. Due to international pressure and political considerations, the law was revised in 1928. But the leadership of universities could applicat the limitation the number of jewish students, based on their decision. The formal modification of the law caused numberless demonstrations, organised by antisemitic student-organisations and politics.
According to my opinion, this supplement is necessary to the main text. Also a reference-note is needed to the expression Numerus Clausus (and Numerus Nullus).
Repetition
On he shelf p. 86
September 19, 1939: The coordinating committee for Jewish Self-Help in Warsaw is established. It unites the various Jewish welfare and aid organizations.
September 21, 1939: Reinhard Heydrich, SS security chief, orders the establishment of Jewish Councils ( Judenraete), consisting of 24 Jewish men to be personally responsible for implementing German orders. All Jewish communities in Poland and with populations of less than 500 are to be dissolved.
See:
3.3. Poland: first ghettos established p. 89.
September 19, 1939: The coordinating committee for Jewish Self-Help in Warsaw is established. It unites the various Jewish welfare and aid organizations.
September 21, 1939: Reinhard Heydrich, SS security chief, orders the establishment of Jewish Councils ( Judenraete), consisting of 24 Jewish men to be personally responsible for implementing German orders. All Jewish communities in Poland and with populations of less than 500 are to be dissolved.
Supplement
3.6 Jewish refugees in Hungary p. 97.
Text: Autumn 1942: Rabbis, public activists and refugee representatives, establish the Rescue Committee (Va’ada), for clandestine rescue efforts. The Commitee’s efforts include successfully smuggling Jews from Poland and Slovakia including famous hasidic rabbis like Rav Aharon Rokeach, (Belz); aiding and hiding illegal refugees in Hungary, and preparing plans, in 1944, for
the selfdefense of Hungarian Jewry. From 1942 onward, several rescue and relief organizations and projects are established. The jewish rescuers cooperated with some moderate politics of the Hungarian gouvernement, like Ferenc Keresztes-Fischer, the minister of interior. His men, Laszlo O’svath and Jozsef Antall confronted the radical antisemites, behind the scenes.
According my opinion, this supplement is necessary to the main text. Also a reference is needed, in the form of biographies of Keresztes-Fisher, O’svath and Antall. Supplement
3. 8. Murder in Khamenetsk-Podolski p. 99
Text: From July to August 1941 Hungary brutally deports approximately 18.000 Hungarian Jews who “officially cannot prove” their Hungarian citizenship to German-occupied territories. The first mass murder of Hungarian Jews takes place at Kamenets-Podolski between 27–30 August by German mobile killing units murdering some 20,000 victims, including local Jews. These killing units (Einsatzgruppen) follow the German troops invading Soviet territories and conduct mass murder operations throughout. Only about 2-3000 Jews succeed to come back to Hungary from Galicia. Further deportations were stopped, due partly to the intervention of Margit Sclachta, count Erzsébet Szapáry, dr. Imre Szabó és György Appponyi at the governor, Miklós Horthy.
This supplement is necessary to the main text. Here references and notes (the biography of this four persons) are also needed.
Mistakes
4.6 Hanna Szenes a symbol of jewish resistance p. 127 instead of resilience
In the text content: She becomes a symbol for Jewish resistance and heroism.
4.9 D-day”: a turning point of the war p. 136
In the text content: …. weakening the German army’s resistance. instead of resilience
4.14 Starred houses in budapest – initial isolation
In the text content: ….. 2,681 designated buildings, called “Starred Houses” mistake, written: stared houses
Contradiction
4.17 Unsuccessful armistice - Appointment of Ferenc Szálasi p. 153
Text content: Deportations and death marches resume on October 21.
Only the second is true, the first is false. Correction!
4. 21 Death marches to the west p.163
Text content: On November 6, the first death marches organized by the Arrow Cross began
5.5. Where and how to continue p. 177.
On he shelf:
July 1946: Pogrom in Miskolc. Instead of that:
The 30 July and the 1 August in Miskolc: antisemitic worker-demonstrations and lynchages of three Jews.
This changing is important, reference-note is needed. I’m reeady to write it. Mistake
5.8 Postwar hassidic jewish renaissance p. 183
mistake in name of Rebbe
Quote: “If we rebuild and raise a proud Jewish generation, we will have triumphed.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneersohn (zz”l) ?
Missing source of quotation
On the shelf p. 191
“… The Holocaust, as per the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, is considered an outrageous crime by us all, a crime, that is a burden on our communities and our
history, and urges us not only to remember, but also to ask for atonement. …in this tragedy, not only the representatives of this unreasonable wickedness are guilty, but also those, who claimed themselves to be the members of our churches, but due to personal fear, cowardice or opportunism did not raise their voices against the mass humiliation, deportation and murder of their fellow Jewish countrymen. For this failure that took place during the Catastrophe 50 years ago, we apologize now in front of God. … In the spirit of the gospels, we must do our best to form real humanism, and to cease, once and for all, the antisemitism, all sorts of discrimination, so that the crimes of the past shall never repeat themselves.”
Quotation from whom? Signed only 1994 Budapest Supplement
5. 12. 1956 Revolution p. 196
Text: On October 23, 1956, a nationwide revolution breaks out against the Communist regime There was a strong fear among Jews in Hungary and abroad that the revolution will lead to antisemitic riots countrywide. It did not happen, but in Hajdunánás, in East-Hungary, a pogrom took place the 26 October, without fatalities. The brutal count down with the local Jews was prevented by the president of the local council, and armed revolutionary students. The revolution unleashes a wave of anti-Jewish incidents. The events resulting in 2,500 Hungarian fatalities and 200,000 refugees fleeing, among them 20,000 Jews. Many orthodox. By January 1957, the new Soviet-installed government brutally suppresses opposition. After the revolution many of the reestablished Jewish communities cease forever to exist.
This supplement is important. Here, of course, reference and note are needed. Contrary with the previous, mentioned references and notes (concerning the blood-libel, the events in Miskolc, etc.) which are probably prepared, the complet history of the Hajdunánás pogrom in 1956, with his special background is unknown and original. I will publish the first study about it in the prestigious review named Hitel (October of 2021)
I join the text in Hungarian in the following link. His title: Hajdunánás 1956. I ’m ready to shorten, make a reference-note, if you like it.