I was full of conflicted emotions on the last day of our program in Budapest. We spent a good portion of the late afternoon and evening on Saturday walking around the city, learning about the history of buildings and the people that lived in them. By the time we got to the controversial World War II monument in Freedom Square, some of us were hungry, some of us were tired, and all of us were cold. Here we were, staring at a statue whose purpose is to historically absolve the Hungarian government of any involvement in the horrors and atrocities of the Second World War while at the same time minimizing the significance of the crimes committed against the country’s Jewish peoples. This monstrosity, erected by Hungary’s current government, is a reminder that we must still be vigilant, as the fight against evil and tyranny is still not over.
We followed this visit by making Havdalah at the Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial. It was possibly the most emotional religious ceremony I have ever experienced. It was cold and windy, but we huddled together as Rabbi Soskil led us in prayer. The experience felt like both the ultimate tribute the Jews who were slaughtered on these banks and the ultimate act of resistance against those who committed this horrendous act (and those who would do so again).
Fortunately, our next stop was one that allowed us to warm up, relax a bit, and reflect on the day. As we were taking a boat tour of the Danube river, I settled down a bit and I got to thinking about when I was asked to join this program. I had never been asked to participate in an educational program with such global scope and importance. Accepting the offer meant that I would have to pull myself away from my regular teaching routine and challenge myself as an educator and as a person. Being asked to participate in this program by SOS International and Beth Tfiloh’s Director of Education, Mrs. Zipora Schorr, will go down as a highlight of my career.
Thank Hashem I said yes! Had I not embarked on this journey, I would have never met so many extraordinary people, such as Gergo, an actor and tour guide, who only learned he was Jewish at age 12 and who has been searching for his Jewish identity ever since. I would never have met Mikaela, the archivist from Romania, a country who’s once-thriving Jewish population was devastated by the holocaust and is still struggling to re-establish itself. I would have never been able to establish a connection with the teachers at Scheiber Sándor, nor would a bond exist between me and the young Jewish students who reside in the school’s hallways and classrooms. And I certainly would have not been able to share this most amazing experience with my fellow colleagues of Beth Tfiloh, all who are master teachers and taught me so much on this journey.
This trip has been a dream come true for me. Thank you to Alan and Glynis of SOS International for your passion, leadership and guidance; thank you to my fellow Beth Tfiloh teachers who showed me great kindness and support this past week; thank you to my new colleagues at Scheiber Sándor and all of my new students; and thank you to each and every person I met during my visit to Budapest. I am looking forward to working with you all again in the near future!
