As our bus made its way to the Lauder-Javne school this morning, I became more and more excited to meet our partner colleagues, see the students and school facilities, and start working. Our group began the morning in the school’s library, learning about the fascinating history of Hungarian Jewry in the modern period. The rich lecture given by Andras brought to light the complexity of living a Jewish life in modern Hungary. I’ve come to understand why the destruction of the Holocaust and the Communist regime serve as obstacles on the way to Judaism. But while the details of their history are unique and so different than those of Israeli Jews or Las-Vegas Jews, Hungarian Jews struggle with the same dilemma with which my Adelson students find themselves struggling: how to create and sustain a meaningful connection to our Jewish roots. Despite the distance, it seems we are not so different, Adelson and Lauder-Javne. The energy in the school was wonderful — it felt alive and comfortable. 
Our afternoon was spent visiting the area of the Jewish ghetto and taking a closer look at Hungarian Jewry prior and during WW2 and the Holocaust. I was most touched by the mass graves near the big Synagogue and by the impressive Weeping Willow memorial. After a nice dinner, we had a chance to walk around in the city, and take in the beautiful sites. Overall, it was an exciting and educational day. I cannot wait to teach my first class tomorrow.
