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22 Teves 5761 - January 17, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
New Stamp Celebrates Budapest Reform Temple
by S. Fried

The Israel Postal Authority along with the Hungarian Postal Authority has recently issued a stamp with the picture of the most luxurious reform temple in Europe.

The issue was inaugurated at a festive ceremony held simultaneously by satellite hookup in Israel and Hungary. The subject of the stamp is the Dohany synagogue in Budapest. The Postal Authority told the press: "This is the largest, most luxurious synagogue in Europe. Since its dedication in 1859, it has served as the spiritual center for the Jewish community in Hungary." The Postal Authority failed to note that the edifice has been serving as a Reform Temple since its founding.

In Hungary, Reform is referred to as "Neologic." In Neologic temples, the traditional prayer liturgy was never changed and there is also a special women's section. However, the temples have organs, which are played on Shabbos. Gedolei Yisroel fought against this serious deviation, and have ruled that it is forbidden to enter such places. In response to a question on the subject, HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l, said that a temple in which an organ is played on Shabbos is considered a beis avoda zora.

Hungarian activist HaRav Naftoli Krausz told Yated Ne'eman that a few years ago when it was decided to renovate the building -- which had been neglected during the Communist regime -- the Reichman family offered a huge sum on condition that the organ be removed. Members of the community rejected the offer, saying that it is was impossible to violate a 120 year-old tradition.

They apparently forgot about our 3000 year-old tradition.

Money to renovate the building was eventually donated by an American Jewish actor. The building is currently a popular Budapest tourist attraction.

The large building contains various institutions, among them a museum for Jewish art. A few years ago many valuable items were stolen from the museum. They were later recovered. It is understandable that the Hungarian Postal Authority was interested in commemorating this building on a stamp. Such a stamp is good for tourism and brings in foreign currency. But one might expect that the Israel Postal Authority should have been much more sensitive to the feelings of Jewry at large.

In response to the question of Yated Ne'eman, spokesman of the Israeli Postal Authority Yitzchok Rabichiya replied: "The administration of the Hungarian Postal Office approached our Postal Authority and asked that a stamp with the picture of the Dohany synagogue in Budapest be issued jointly. The Postal Authority Stamp Department transferred the request to the Israeli government through the Ministerial Committee for Ceremonies and Symbols for approval. Upon receipt of the government's approval, the joint issue was carried out."

 

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