IN 2000 - A B'nai B'rith Budapest Páholy

PUBLISHER’S FOREWORD“I have never shared the opinion that anti-Semitism is created by Jews. Anti-Semitism is created by anti-Semites and not by Jews. At the same time I have tosay that it is also not the Jews but the non-Jews who must fight against anti-Semitism. Our task is to line up the non-Jews.” This was said by Stephen Rothat B’nai B’rith’s 1992 conference, held in Budapest, on combating anti-Semitism in a democratic society. We are trying to take Stephen Roth’s advice.Founded in New York in 1843, B’nai B’rith became over the years theworld’s largest Jewish organization. (B’nai Brith means “Sons of the Covenant,”with the term “covenant” referring to the alliance between God and theJewish people, a key concept in Jewish tradition.) The organization’s fundamentalprinciple – the creation of unity among Jews – was declared upon itsfoundation and is still valid today. B’nai B’rith places special emphasis on thehistorical identity and common fate of the Jewish people. Action against racismand especially anti-Semitism is closely connected to the organization’s universalobjectives.B’nai B’rith’s Hungarian member organization – the B’nai B’rith BudapestLodge – was established in 1990. It is registered as an association.The Executive Board of the B’nai B’rith Budapest Lodge,• sensing that anti-Semitic voices have become ever louder since the politicaltransition;• sharing the rightful indignation and concern of its members as well as ofother Jewish organizations and personalities;• complying with the widespread demand to take public action against thisunsettling phenomenon;• mindful of the heavy burden carried by the previous generation;• realizing the risks inherent in remaining silent,decided to hold up a mirror to all those who are affected by or interested inthe phenomenon in order to make it more visible. Therefore, in late 1999 theBudapest Lodge of B’nai Brith established the Jewish Documentation Center(ZsiDoK) in Budapest.The Center is doing pioneering work in Hungary. Its objective is to monitorand document Hungarian Jewish life including:• the public activities and publications of Jewish organizations;• scholarly research related to Jews and Jewish life;• public statements concerning Jews;