Toleration and oppression .281790.E2.80.931847.29 History of the Jews in Hungary

móric ullmann (1782-1847), hungarian jewish banker, trader, founder of pesti magyar kereskedelmi bank (pesti hungarian commercial bank).



neoclassical architecture used synagogue in szeged.

the jews of hungary handed petition, in boldly presented claims equality other citizens, king leopold ii (1790–1792) @ vienna on november 29, 1790. sent following day chancelleries of hungary , moravia opinions. question brought before estates of country on december 2, , diet drafted bill showing intended protect jews. decision created consternation among enemies of latter. nagyszombat (trnava) addressed further memorandum estates (december 4) in demanded diet should protect city s privileges. diet decided in favor of jews, , decision laid before king.

the jews, confidently anticipating king s decision in favor, organized splendid celebration on november 15, 1790, day of coronation; on january 10, 1791, king approved bill of diet; , following law, drafted in conformity royal decision, read judge stephen atzel in session of february 5:

the jewish cemetery in city of timisoara, part of romania.

in order condition of jews may regulated pending such time may elapse until affairs , privileges of various royal free towns relating them shall have been determined commission report next ensuing diet, when majesty , estates decide on condition of jews, estates have determined, approval of majesty, jews within boundaries of hungary , countries belonging shall, in royal free cities , in other localities (except royal mining-towns), remain under same conditions in on jan. 1, 1790; , in case have been expelled anywhere, shall recalled.

thus came force famous law entitled de judaeis, forms thirty-eighth article of laws of diet of 1790–1791. de judaeis law gratefully received jews; not afforded them protection, gave them assurance affairs regulated. still, although diet appointed on february 7, 1791, commission study question, amelioration of condition of hungarian jews not effected till half century later, under ferdinand v (r. 1835–1848), during session of diet of 1839–1840.

in consequence of petition of jews of pest, mover of dr. philip jacobovics, superintendent of jewish hospital, general assembly of county of pest drafted instructions delegates on june 10, 1839, effect if jews willing adopt magyar language should given equal rights other hungarian citizens. on attention paid teaching of hungarian in schools; moritz bloch (ballagi) translated pentateuch hungarian, , moritz rosenthal psalms , pirkei avoth. various communities founded hungarian reading-circles; , hungarian dress , language more , more adopted. many communities began use hungarian on seals , in documents, , liberal rabbis began preach in language.

at sessions of diet subsequent of 1839–1840, in various cities, decided antipathy—at times active , @ times merely passive—toward jews became manifest. in sharp contrast attitude of baron józsef eötvös, published in 1840 in budapesti szemle, prominent hungarian review, strong appeal emancipation of jews. cause found friend in count charles zay, chief ecclesiastical inspector of hungarian lutherans, warmly advocated jewish interests in 1846.

although session of diet convened on november 7, 1847, unfavorable jews, latter not continued cultivate hungarian language, willing sacrifice lives , property in hour of danger. during revolution of 1848 displayed patriotism, though attacked populace in several places @ beginning of uprising. on march 19 populace of pressburg (bratislava), encouraged antipathies of citizens—who aroused fact jews, leaving ghetto around pressburg castle (bratislava castle), settling in city itself—began hostilities continued after days, , renewed more fiercely in april.

at time expulsion of jews sopron, pécs, székesfehérvár, , szombathely demanded; in last 2 cities there pogroms. @ szombathely, mob advanced upon synagogue, cut torah scrolls, , threw them well. nor did jews of pest escape, while @ vágújhely (nové mesto nad váhom) suffered brutality of mob. bitter words against jews heard in diet. jews advised emigration america means of escape; , society founded @ pest, branch @ pressburg, purpose. few left hungary, seeking new home across sea, majority remained.