We have a duty to our fellow human beings, and the assumption of responsibility within the family or community is even more important to be observed, reflected Shlomo Köves. The chief rabbi of the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (EMIH) was responding to a question on 168.hu’s “KeljFelJancsi” program with János Fiala as to why EMIH has provided support to the Jewish community in Ukraine. Among other things, the religious community offered financial assistance, accommodation, and the evacuation of people trapped in Ukraine. The chief rabbi said that the Jewish community is one big family and that they have been approached with many requests for help since the early days of the war.
Shlomo Köves noted that the number of Jews in Ukraine ranges between 200,000 and 300,000; there are 160 active rabbis and at least 70 schools available to the Jewish community in the country.
The leader then commented on the ambivalence towards the Jewish community in Ukraine.
„The Ukrainian national line has strong antisemitic voices, yet the country has a pro-Jewish president”
– Köves pointed out. He then discussed the parallels between the war in Ukraine and the aggression against the Jewish community during World War II:
„I am anti-war; the analogy of comparing a war to a conscious, racially motivated genocide risks that we can only imagine both the war and its end at the level of absolute solutions. This implies the total subjugation of the other side. As a layman, I say that this story will end at the negotiating table, but with Hitler it would have been unthinkable. Such an analogy is therefore dangerous.”
János Fiala then asked Shlomo Köves about Tibor Franka’s medal.
„I agree with you, I have the same indignation and indignation about this issue as you do, but I also see that the watershed against antisemitism in the last 20-25 years, which was once thought to be clear, is nearing complete erosion.”
– the chief rabbi said of Human Resources Minister Miklós Kásler’s commendation of Tibor Franka and the antisemitic right-wing politicians on the opposition list.
„We have allowed the fight against antisemitism to become just a political tool.”
– Köves said, underlining the flawed approach of recent years and the need to demarcate what constitutes antisemitism and how this card should and should not be used, especially when referencing past horrors. He added that
efforts must be made to draw clear boundaries.
The full conversation is available here in Hungarian starting at 1:49:30.
