What an amazing experience it has been in Budapest. As my time here quickly comes to a close, I am starting to reflect and understand the importance of our time here at the Lauder Javne High School and with the larger Jewish community in this city.
In terms of the teaching, it has been wonderful to see the interest that these Hungarian children have about the United States. From wanting to understand the approach of President Trump, to how our government works, how a President can win without winning the popular vote, to intricacies about redistricting and Gerrymandering, these teenagers have been engaged and curious. It really made me understand the concept that when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. Everything my country does or says has a huge impact on the lives of people around the world. This was an important lesson for me, and hopefully for our country’s leaders as well, that we have a responsibility beyond our borders. We heard about the importance of our leaders actions directly when the Charge d Affairs for American in Hungary (essentially, our deputy ambassador, since a new ambassador has yet to be appointed), spoke to us about the relationship between Hungary and the USA.
Beyond the teaching, learning about Jewish life in Budapest and Hungary has been a real education. From working with the last remaining, functioning shteibel(small prayer room/group) to meeting with Holocaust survivors at an old age home, we had the unique opportunity to see how the Jewish community was so deeply affected by the Shoah but also how it is rising from the ashes of the Holocaust to try and renew and revive itself.
I look forward to our relationship with Lauder Javne High School continuing and deepening in the years to come. I hope we are able to welcome teachers and students from the school to de Toledo High School and know that together, we can strengthen Jewish life, culture and practice here and at home.
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