by Judie Jacobson

WOODBRIDGE – “The Rapid Rise of the Fascist Jobbik Party in Hungary: 2010-2015” is the subject of a talk by Katalin Baltimore on Sunday morning, Dec. 6 at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Woodbridge.

Born to Holocaust survivors in Hungary, Baltimore escaped with her family to the U.S. after the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. A resident of Orange and volunteer librarian at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven, she researches and frequently lectures on the frightening rise of this radical right wing political party. Recently, the Ledger spoke with Baltimore about her upcoming talk.

JL: Tell us about the Jobbik party.

KB: Originally established in 2002 by a group of Catholic and Protestant university students, Jobbik was founded as a political party in October 2003, and later relabeled Jobbik, the Movement for a Better Hungary. It is a Hungarian radical nationalist political party that describes itself as “a principled, conservative and radically patriotic Christian party,” whose “fundamental purpose” is the protection of “Hungarian values and interests.” In 2006, 28-year-old Gabor Vona became party leader. By 2014, Vona had won 21 percent of the vote and Jobbik became the third most popular party in Hungary. This year, the Jobbik took away Prime Minister [Victor] Orban’s super-majority in Parliament, becoming the second most popular party in Hungary.

JL: What is the size and state of the Hungarian Jewish community today?

KB: There is considerable debate and discussion about the number of Jews in present-day Hungary. Estimates range from as high as 120,000 to as low as 35,000. The most consistent number of self-identifying Jews is around 48,000. The great majority of Jews are unaffiliated. Some 80 percent live in Budapest. The community has a high proportion of Holocaust survivors. About half the Jewish population is over the age of 65. Intermarriage is widespread  (more than 60%).

There have been 23 reported cases of antisemitism this year. In 2013, 48% of those questioned said that they had considered emigrating because of the antisemitism. So far, this year, 129 people made aliyah. It is not clear how many other Jews left for other countries.

JL: How has Jobbik affected Hungary’s Jews?

KB: There has been the usual vandalism of cemeteries and Holocaust memorials, swastikas on Jewish houses of worship and Holocaust denial. In 2012, Jobbik members of Parliament demanded a list of Jews serving there, accusing them of possible dual loyalty — Israel over Hungary. There were also some horrendous public political comments about the Jews, and some ugly demonstrations. In the past year, public comments by officials have all but disappeared, as Vona aims for victory in the 2018 elections. He wants to be seen as the future leader for all. Throughout most of its history, antisemitism seems to have been part of the psyche of the Hungarians, so the antisemitism is nothing new. It is just more open. The present government (the Fidesz party) has declared that Hungary is a Christian nation. So it seems to be very well aligned with the Jobbik in terms of religion.

JL: Why is Jobbik of particular concern right now?

KB: It is of concern because it is a young movement, with young leaders who have nothing in common with the older ex-Communist Socialists or Fidesz, both guilty of massive corruption. It is savvy about using social media, has its own newspapers, TV and radio stations. It promotes nationalistic, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-Jewish and gypsy propaganda. It is gaining in popularity among the educated youth, as well as the peasants, and may just be able to pull off a victory in 2018. It is being funded by Russia, along with Greece, Bulgaria and France.

JL: Why should American Jews be concerned?

KB: The Jobbik party is gaining acceptance among those who, several years ago, would have distanced themselves from it, including government officials here and abroad. It has an amazing organization to mobilize people in the remote parts of the country. It has formed formal alliances with some other European countries, which share its beliefs. It plays into the fears of the uneducated or under-educated population, knowing that by creating fear of the outside it can better unite supporters within the country — such as the refugee crisis. They may be downplaying their anti-gypsy, anti-Jewish agenda, but once elected they may turn Hungary into a National Socialist state, with other countries to follow.

Katalin Baltimore will speak Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m., at Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge. For more information visit www.bnaijacob.org.

CAP: Katalin Baltimore