Editorial

Hungarian Jews still feel Holocaust's sting

The effects of the Holocaust have a way of lingering, often in ways that are sad and troubling, which makes one achievement of the Jewish population of Hungary such a milestone.

Before World War II, there was a sizable Jewish population in Hungary, including a large community of Orthodox Jews. During the Holocaust, 600,000 Hungarian Jews perished. Today, about 100,000 Jews live in the country, but only a few hundred are practicing Orthodox Jews.

Last week, Hungarians got their first Orthodox rabbi since the end of the war. The chief rabbis of Israel and Russia were on hand to install 23-year-old Shlomo Koves.

"We are turning a new page," said Rabbi Boruch Oberlander of Budapest, said of the celebration.

With the pain comes a reason for joy.

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