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."
