Extracts from the Nov 2006 Journal
A Central European tragedy
This month marks the fiftieth anniversary of a Cold War tragedy, the suppression of the Hungarian uprising by Soviet troops in November 1956. This can perhaps be seen as the last in the series of violent episodes that convulsed Hungary from 1918; even allowing for the current bout of political turbulence, Hungary has in the main settled down peacefully since 1989, becoming a dutiful new member of the EU, a tourist hotspot and a purveyor of fiery red wines to the dinner tables of Western Europe. [more...]
Elections in Austria
October's parliamentary elections in Austria proved a mixed blessing for opponents of the Austrian far right. The ruling coalition of the centre-right ÖVP (Austrian People's Party) with the far-right FPÖ (Freedom Party) was defeated, and the FPÖ left the government, as the two parties no longer controlled a majority in parliament. Good riddance! At the time of writing, it seems likely that the SPÖ (Social Democrats), now the largest party, will form a new coalition government with the ÖVP. [more...]
Point of View - Every Jew's Duty
Six million Jews died in the Holocaust and that is why the State of Israel was born. Herzl did not create Israel; nor did Ben-Gurion. There would be no Israel but for Hitler and the other Nazi criminals. Israel was created by the United Nations in 1947. The purpose was to give a homeland to Jews from all over the world. A total of 33 countries voted in favour, 13 against, 10 abstained. Israel was born from the ashes of the Holocaust victims of Europe - our families - who went to their deaths without knowing that they were about to give birth to a new country. [more...]
The undesirable schoolboy becomes desirable
In June 2005 I was a member of a group sent to Vienna by the London Jewish Cultural Centre to speak at schools in that organisation's Holocaust education programme. One of the schools I went to was the Amerlinggymnasium, from which I, and 70 other Jewish boys, was expelled in April 1938. [more...]
Arts Notes (review)
Rodin's sensuality as a sculptor is self-evident, but for all the romance of his famous Kiss, in which the embracing lovers emerge seamlessly from the rough stone plinth, the sculptor also demonstrates a darker, more introspective talent. Balzac, John the Baptist and the Burghers of Calais reflect the emotional depth which indicates how his monumental public works not only broke with tradition, but introduced a more naturalistic humanity. [more...]