Proud of my Naarishe heritage

(Photo by Roman Vishniac)


I had this typed up for a while, yet only got to post this now:

I made mention of the fact that my Ungarishe Kup didn't see as a given the fact that the story about the Rebbe's library in 770 being flooded due to neglect on Shturem was related to BLevine's recent war against BLazar in the FSU. Berl, CH made me aware of that, and he saw it as a no-brainer. Some of you, especially those who don't understand the nuances and cultural differences that are present in the Ungarishe/Heymishe Velt, might be surprised at that, knowing what some of our Hungarian brethren in Williamsburg are quite capable of for generations, and what our Rumanisher/Bukoviner/Marmurisher brethren in Bnei Beraq (I mean you Vizhnitz) have shown recently. Why then would I point to my Hungarian heritage as the culprit for my naivete'? Isn't it pretty simple and almost second nature to me? The aswer is quite simple, my friends. You need to understand that just like in Kabboloh we say that all Eser Sefiros are themselves made up of ten, so too are Hungarians/Heimishe made up of very different types, and one should never be confused with the other.

The Hungary I speak of is not the dusty Transylvanian towns that Eli Wiesel speaks of, no siree. It's not the corn-bread eating Jews with beards and Peyos that spent all of Elul preparing to spend Rosh Hashonoh with the Rebbe. It's not the ones who would immerse each day in the Mikveh and wear two pairs of Tefillin at Shacharis. It's not the ones who would be consumed with talks about this Rebbe and that Rebbe, and this Meyfes and that Meyfes. No Shtramel/Bekishe for them, although the German Tzilinder (Homburg hat) held an equal amount of importance to them. My ancestors were Jews who lived strictly by the letter of the law, without the extra trappings that Chassidim added to their daily practice, part of which later became fighting with other Chassidic groups over BaalBatishkeit in towns and cities, and fighting over which Chassidishe Nusach should rule in their town. These Jews, being that they were Temimus'dik and knew little Chochmes, were known as Ungarishe Naaronim. They were the Jews of Hungary proper, of Miskolc and Niregyhaza, of Pressburg and Erlau, although they're more Austria than Hungary.

Most of the dirt that goes on in the Heimishe Velt today can be traced to the other Hungarian Jews. Not the Naaronim, but the Chazeyrim, the Ganovim, those who you needed to watch your pockets from, well at least you had to in Di Alte Heim. Most of it can probably be traced back to the strong power wielded by Satmar, and the want and need by the other, much smaller groups to find favor in Satmar's eyes. The small Hungarian groups go about their business, earning a living while being Kovea Itim and supporting institutions of Torah. They have no time for fighting, unless they become more "Chassidized." A proud Hungarian Jew would turn his nose at his Marmurishe brethren, much like a MO would do to a Chossid with a dirty Tallis Koton and Rekkel on the train in 95 degree heat, not that I advocate that hate. He would call him a Rumanisher Chazzer/Ganiff and didn't trust him for a split second. Where does all this lead, and what does it accomplish? not much, if anything at all, it just serves as an educational tool, teaching our unfamiliar brethren about the differences in Jewish culture.

NOTE: TODAY THE 22ND OF SIVAN IS THE YOHRTZEIT OF THE KEDOSHIM OF THE KEHILLOH OF SAJOSZENPETER, HUNGARY, HOME OF MY PATERNAL ZEIDE AND BOBBE'S FAMILIES. THEY WERE EXTERMINATED IN AUSCHWITZ DURING THE TERRIBLE SUMMER OF 5704/1944. MAY HASHEM AVENGE THEIR BLOOD, SPEEDILY IN OUR DAYS.