The
Board of the WFHJ holds a meeting at 29.12.2004. The
members of the Board had discussed the next topics:
Chairman’s report
President’s report
Treasurer’s report
Proposal for the new Board for 2005 - 2006
Other matters.
The
Board discussed the above mentioned points and the Board
made the next decisions:
1.
Chairman’s report
Dr.
David Moskovits, the Chairman of the WFHJ gives a report
about the activity of the organization and his
negotiations that he continued with the Hungarian
authorities and the World Jewish Congress.
In
2003 the new board of the WFHJ discussed the challenges of
the Federation, particularly its rejuvenation and its
future. In the last Annual Board Meeting, (at 29.12.2003.)
the Board clarified the goals and tasks for the future
functioning of WFHJ. In 2004 the WFHJ solved some tasks
which were decided at the last Annual Meeting.
The WFHJ is an acknowledged organization by the World
Jewish Congress and also by the Hungarian official
authorities. In 2004 the officials of the WFHJ continued
negotiations with the leaders of the WJC and some
members of the Hungarian Government. E.g. Minister of
Cultural Heritage, State Secretary of the Hungarian
Government (this State Secretary is responsible for the
Hungarians, living abroad), the President of the
Government Office for Hungarian Minorities Abroad.
The Board has decided last year: "We intend to
represent the Hungarian Jews’ interests world-wide in
solving the restitution problems": In this matter
(Gold train – Reclaiming of Jewish personal property,
Community and heirless property, the cemetery problems
etc.) Dr. David Moskovits continued some important
negotiations, in Budapest, Brussels, Jerusalem and New
York.
The result of the negotiations: The WFHJ is an
acknowledged organization in this topic. The WFHJ is a
part of an international body, which will continue the
negotiations about the property and claims questions.
Dr. David Moskovits gave an interview about this topic
–with Israel Singer together – to The Jewish Week. The
interview has been published in the 24.12.2004 issue. A
part of this article was published at our news portal as
well. (
The WFHJ official news portal, the World Hungarian
Jewish Observer, which was placed in the world-wide-web
in 2003, to be accessible to the youth worldwide as well
at the address of
www.whjo.org. Our
news portal has shown news from Hungary, Israel, US
and from other countries as well. The Hungarian
Government Office for Hungarian Minorities Abroad
has accepted this news portal and published it in its
own web site, as an official partner site. The news
portal had visitors from New Zealand, to Argentina. The
editor has got letters mainly from Europe and US. We can
help our readers with important information. E.g. the
classmate meeting of Budapest Jewish High School. We
answered reader’s question about the Cemeteries, and the
Synagogues in Hungary. We published photos in our
photo-gallery. E.g. the Tokaj meeting of the American
Jews. We opened a new picture gallery on the web site.
(picture of Imre Kertesz Nobel-prize winner writer, Hugo
Schreiber: Rabbi)
2.
President’s report
Iby Farkas, the
President of the WFHJ has given a report about the New
York activities of the Federation.
The New York
Chapter of the WFHJ continued negotiations with the New
York Heritage Museum. We asked for a place in the Museum
to present the heritage of the WFHJ. Sorry to say, the
Museum can give place for us, only if we would be ready
to pay a larger donation as a contribution to the
exhibitions. Unfortunately the federation has not enough
sources for this project. The members of the WFHJ`s New
York and Florida Chapter does not support this efforts
of the President of the Federation..
Unfortunately the
members of the WFHJ`s New York Chapter do not want to
support the efforts of the Hungarian, only those of the
Israeli projects of WFHJ.
3.
Treasurer’s report
Istvan Kaldor, the
treasurer and vice-president of the WFHJ has given a
report about the donations and the costs. The World
Federation of Hungarian Jews is a not-for-profit
organization. We asked for supports for the future
activity of our organization. We sent letters to our
members, we published in the web site our request for
donations. Much to our regret this action was not
successful. In 2004 only two New York based persons gave
donations in cash, in value of 2700 USD. One Hungarian
company gave us service free of charge, in value of 4500
USD (this company covered the cost of the news portal from
October 2003 till now.)
About the costs: The
web-design and software cost were 1700 USD. The
maintenance cost of the news portal was 300 USD / month.
(15 * 300 = 4500 USD) The cost of the readjust of the
office was 150 USD. The phone invoice in 2004 was 500 USD.
Altogether the
donations were 7200 USD, the cost were 6850 USD.
We awaited the help
of the members of the New York chapter to help others, but
this effort was unfortunately inefficient.
4.
Proposal for the new Board for 2005 – 2006
To
take the conclusion of the unsuccessful fund raising
activity, the Board decided that they would strengthen the
Board of WFHJ. It will reorganize the International Board
and the Board of the New York Chapter as well. The Board
will seek some other influential members, who could help
lobbying and outsourcing the interest of WFHJ.
5.
Other matters
Proposal for the project of Holocaust Museum. This Museum
is the only one museum about the Holocaust in Central and
Eastern Europe.
The
President of the Board of the Budapest Holocaust Museum
proposed a project and a plan for the remembrance of the
Hungarian victims of the Holocaust.
The proposal:
These
are some possibilities for starters:
We would like to
organize a permanent traveling exhibition around Hungary
to a comprehensive view about the deportations for the
visitors. (I think this needs circa. 50,000 USD) This
exhibition would be held either in houses or in
transport vehicles. Furthermore this exhibition could be
extended and it could give a comprehensive view not only
about the deportation, but about the whole Holocaust.
We could plan a
whole day programs for visitors of the Holocaust Museum
geared for students between the ages 16-22. This program
needs a rented bus and traveling expenses because there
are some out-of-the-way townships that are far from
Budapest. (A similar program could be geared for
graduates of the police academy as well as Army
officers)
We plan to
organize retraining for educators, First of all for
teachers of History. I think it could be organized for
all teachers in Budapest and political and lay leaders,
too.
We could also
attempt to collect the names of the victims of the
Holocaust beyond the present borders (Slovakia,
North-Transylvania). The arising expenses include the
paying-out the collaborators there, copying the
documents and ensuring the other searches.
Mementos of the
Holocaust could be issued in books or other publications
according to the idea of a sponsor who pays the
expenses.
We could undertake
any other work linked with the Holocaust. If and when a
sponsor stands behind the research and or publication of
the subject.
Decisions of the Board:
The
Board of WFHJ authorized Dr. David Moskovits, Chairman, to
continue the negotiations in the next topics:
To
strengthening and reorganizing the Board for 2005 – 2006
with Hungarian, Israeli and other Hungarian origin
persons worldwide.
In
the restitution problems, in the properties (e.g.
Gold-train) questions.
In
the Holocaust Museum project.
In
the Cultural Heritage and the Education project.
Discussions of the challenges and the future of the
WFHJ. In the frame of this, we continue the work of the
web news portal.
The
leaders and the members of the WFHJ believe that the WFHJ
has a task to recognize the problems of the Hungarian
origin Jews and also we have to represent the interests of
these people and we have to inform them. When the
Hungarian origin Jews will enjoy the information and read
events from Jewish perspective and Jewish values and
teaches their family members about the Jewish world,
Jewish people will then be richer. Therefore the WFHJ have
to continue its efforts.
New
York, 29.12.2004.
Dr. David Moskovits
Chairman
The
report of the Board 2003.
Annual Board Meeting 29.12.2003.
In
the beginning of 2003 the board members of the World
Federation of Hungarian Jews, discussed the challenges of
the federation, particularly its rejuvenation and its
future. We must clarify the impediments, goals, and tasks
for the future functioning of our organization.
The first step must be to reorganize and reestablish the
corroboration of the Emmanuel Foundation and World
Federation of Hungarian Jews under a new agreement.
We
then intend to aggregate, safeguard and give over the
Hungarian Jewish heritage for the future generations,
worldwide.
We
have already embarked on this mission. In the past few
months we have taken the following steps toward our
goals:
A
new dynamic leadership was established this past May
with fresh and innovative principles. The Board of the
organization asked Dr. David Moskovits, President of the
Endowment for Democracy in Eastern Europe, to accept the
post of Chairman in the World Federation of the
Hungarian Jews. David Moskovits accepted this post.
David Moskovits achieved much through efforts in education
and social development for our brethren, the Hungarian
Jews. He was appointed by Governor Pataki to serve on the
Restitution Committee for Swiss funds, as well to
represent New York State and New York City in economic
development, also greatly benefiting our brethren in
Hungary. The Israeli, Hungarian and American governments
have recognized his achievements with awards and honors of
the highest caliber.
We
reclaimed and reinstituted our office in the 136 East 39th
Street New York.
In
the new millennium a new mentality is imperative.
Therefore, we established a news portal, the World
Hungarian Jewish Observer. This news portal was
placed on the world-wide-web to be accessible to the
youth worldwide as well at the address of
www.whjo.org. To successfully
reach the youth we are currently published in both
Hungarian and English.
Our news
portal brings
news from
Hungary, Israel and from abroad. We would like to inform
our readers of contemporary Hungarian Jews in Hungary and
around the world. For more details, please write us a
letter by post or by e-mail. This news portal has been
accepted by the Hungarian Government Office for
Hungarian Minorities Abroad.
The
Board has asked Dr. Tamas Barat to fulfill the post of
Editor-in-Chief and he has accepted. Dr. Tamas Barat is
the Vice-President of the European Public Relations
Confederation and the Vice-President of the CERP
Europartners (Body of PR professionals in Europe). He is
also a well-known journalist in Hungary and an accredited
foreign correspondent in the US State Department and the
United Nations. He is a management and PR consultant, as
well as an associate professor in various Hungarian
universities and colleges. He is the author of 16
different professional books in communication. Dr. Tamas
Barat has received a number of high ranked honors and
awards for his professional work.
Our organization participated in the signature of the
agreement for the attendance of the Hungarian culture in
North-America. The agreement was signed by the Minister
of Hungarian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the
Committee members of the Hungarian Education in North
America. This agreement was signed by our Chairman, Dr.
David Moskovits.
The current Board of the WFHJ has recognized its
responsibility and constituted the Mission Statement of
the Federation:
·To
help and support the subsistence of the Hungarian Jewish
Heritage all over the word.
·To
establish mutual understanding and to develop the mutual
beneficial and fruitful relationship among the Hungarian
Jews living in Hungary, in Israel, and around the world.
·To
represent the worldwide interests of the Hungarian Jews.
·To
gain its rightful place amongst the international bodies
in order to realize the mission of the WFHJ.
We
would like to ask your support for the future activity of
our organization. As you know the World Federation of
Hungarian Jews is a not-for-profit organization. The World Federation of Hungarian Jews and the World Hungarian Jewish Observer relies on you,
our loyal readers, for your support.
We
believe that when you enjoy the information and
up-to-the-minute news about the Hungarian Jewish People,
read about events from a Jewish perspective and Jewish
values, and teach your family members about the Jewish
world, you will then be richer. We ask for your help.
According to our calculations, to attain our objectives
and aims we must collect $ 260,000. Your support is
needed. Your donation helps sustain and expand the World
Federation of Hungarian Jews.
Your
name, company, or organization will be celebrated in the
exclusive webpage of honor on our news portal when you
donate $1500 or more. The names of all donors will be
displayed on our website amongst our supporters.
We
hope that the World Federation of Hungarian Jews will
serve you and your family as you support our efforts. We
are awaiting your help to help others.
The official news portal of
the World Federation of Hungarian Jews