There’s no “test” for ancestral trauma; some people aren’t convinced it even exists. But on a trip to Hungary, I saw how it might be running my life in subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways.
Thank you for this candid insight into what it’s like to visit Hungary now as an American. I was there in the early 90s with my FIL and his brother and remember feeling the undercurrents of Jewish history there. It sounds like there’s still a façade of “we are ok with the Jews” from the food advertisement with the Socialist highlight of a time past that isn’t going away. Did the undercurrents of being Jewish ? It feels confusing to me that they have the almost token memorials next to the Angel statue yet are telling its citizens watch out for the Jews with the Soros billboards. Definitely the threat exists of, “You are Hungarian before anything else.”
How do you identify here? American Jewish Hungarian or American Hungarian Jew? Or all equal? Even though I’m a 3rd- 4th generation American I still hid my Jewish part in most places. It’s ingrained in me to be careful.
Anyway, I would love to discuss this sometime and I appreciate your exploration! I’m writing a piece now on what it has meant to be Jewish in a Buddhist community. Thanks, Seth!
I can’t edit the comment but realize that I didn’t finish my thought on the undercurrent of being Jewish there.. did you feel like you had to hide being Jewish there like here?
Thank you so much for the reflection and questions! I did there, in ways I never really had to think about here. That was kind of the biggest shock: That I suddenly WAS something in others' eyes, and I had no say in the matter. Humbling.
This is how it is with Jews everywhere. The world thinks it gets to tell us who we are and they project what they like onto us. We are so much more than their projections. We are individuals with varied experiences.
Very compelling read...especially considering our political turmoil and the authoritarian proclivities of the right in this country.
The parallels are...not great.
I know, right? Ugh.
Thank you for this candid insight into what it’s like to visit Hungary now as an American. I was there in the early 90s with my FIL and his brother and remember feeling the undercurrents of Jewish history there. It sounds like there’s still a façade of “we are ok with the Jews” from the food advertisement with the Socialist highlight of a time past that isn’t going away. Did the undercurrents of being Jewish ? It feels confusing to me that they have the almost token memorials next to the Angel statue yet are telling its citizens watch out for the Jews with the Soros billboards. Definitely the threat exists of, “You are Hungarian before anything else.”
How do you identify here? American Jewish Hungarian or American Hungarian Jew? Or all equal? Even though I’m a 3rd- 4th generation American I still hid my Jewish part in most places. It’s ingrained in me to be careful.
Anyway, I would love to discuss this sometime and I appreciate your exploration! I’m writing a piece now on what it has meant to be Jewish in a Buddhist community. Thanks, Seth!
I can’t edit the comment but realize that I didn’t finish my thought on the undercurrent of being Jewish there.. did you feel like you had to hide being Jewish there like here?
Thank you so much for the reflection and questions! I did there, in ways I never really had to think about here. That was kind of the biggest shock: That I suddenly WAS something in others' eyes, and I had no say in the matter. Humbling.
This is how it is with Jews everywhere. The world thinks it gets to tell us who we are and they project what they like onto us. We are so much more than their projections. We are individuals with varied experiences.