The Hungarian Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community (MAOIH) held a general assembly on Wednesday, where the membership elected a new president and a new secretary general. Mr. Róbert Deutsch has been replaced as president by Mr. Gábor Keszler, and R’ Tamas Somlai (Zev Páskesz) has been replaced as secretary general by Rabbi Oirechman Shmuel, effective immidiately.
The Assembly also made important changes to the Statutes of the congregation, which will make the organization more effective than previously.
In his speech after his election, Mr. Gábor Keszler stressed the importance of revitalizing the long-established congregation, especially in the fields of education, religious life and religious tourism. The new president said that the newly elected leadership would take
„long-awaited steps to restore the traditional Hungarian community to its former glory”.
Rabbi Shmuel Oirechman, the newly elected Secretary General and rabbi of Vörösmarty Street Synagogue (Pesti Shtiebel), said in his speech following his election that
The new leadership intends to cooperate more closely than ever with the EMIH – Hungarian Jewish Association, while preserving the traditions of Hungarian Orthodoxy and not deviating from centuries-old traditions, neither in liturgy nor in customs.”
„I have been an active participant in the revival of the EMIH, while I have watched the erosion of the MAOIH with a heavy heart.
I believe it is natural that the two Hungarian traditional communities should work closely together to revitalize Hungarian Jewish life”
– said the new MAOIH Secretary General, who regretted that „some people have sought to put pressure on rabbis and members for their own self-interest”. „In order to achieve their goals, they did not hesitate to deceive and even intimidate great rabbis. Only to prevent the necessary steps to strengthen the community and the Orthodox Jewry in the country”.
The Secretary General also thanked the outgoing President, Róbert Deutsch, for his dedicated work.
„We are not afraid of anyone or anything. Whoever wants to obstruct the values of Judaism and the goals of the community will not succeed. Our way is the way of fellowship and unity, and we will resolutely defend the values of Judaism.”
– said the new Secretary General.
Towards the end of the assembly, the member of the Executive Board, Rabbi Bernat Menase, also thanked the members for „holding on to the heritage of the traditions of our ancestors” and wished that Hungarian Orthodox Jewry would regain its old glory.
