Magyar Egyház, 1990 (69. évfolyam, 3-6. szám)

1990-11-01 / 6. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

11. oldal

reformer Martin Luther or of his brother Jakob. In Berlin, retired business executive Günter Luther runs the Luther Descendants’ Organization. The current (13th) generation reportedly includes a Hamburg terrorist, Angela Luther. Most descendants named Luther live in the United States, and about the same number in Germany (most in the eastern part). Descendants also reportedly include six Italians and six Finnish families. [£PS]

THE SYNOD OF THE REFORMED CHURCH OF HUNGARY ISSUES STATEMENT ON RELATIONS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND JEWS

The Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary, meeting June 11 and 12, discussed the relationship between the Reformed Church and Jews. The resulting statement stresses the rich history of pursuing the similarities between Christianity and Judaism. Our Jewish brothers and sisters are brought close to us by the history of our nation as well as the destiny of our church. The church of the 16th century Reformation often compared itself to the Jewish nation, thus drawing parallels between her historical trials and the destiny of the chosen people. The close feelings of the Hungarians and the Jews inspired the church’s suggestion in 1881 that Jews be considered a religious community possessing equal rights with other denominations. Outstanding Reformed theologians, notably Mór Ballagi, enriched the spiritual life of the church through their comparative method.

The statement also mentions 20th century persecution of the Jews, with particular mention of the Holocaust. Except for the Good Shepherd Mission and the Scottish Mission in Budapest shinning light into an age of darkness through their evangelical rescuing activities, our church must confess with repentance avoidance of the question posed to Cain, “Where is your brother?” (Genesis 4:9.)

In 1946 repentance was manifest in the Synodal Council resolution and the subsequent Hungarian Reformed Free Council statement, which declared:

“Under the burden of our responsibility for the sins commited against the Jews, although being late, nevertheless we now ask the Hungarian Jews to forgive us in the pressence of God.” (Budapest, 1946. VII. 1.)

Now we are grateful for newfound opportunities created through establishment of the National Jewish Christian Council initiated by our church.

The statement emphasizes four points:

1. Let there be peace in the Holy Land among religions accepting the Old Testament as Scriptures.

2. We are joyful that our country has established diplomatic relations with Israel, thus declaring support for the national independence of the Jewish state.

3. Motivated by our Christian conscience, we declare that we stand by the Jews living in our country and are ready to cooperate with them.

4. We condemn both the concealed nad covert manifestations of anti-semitism, including the desecration of tombs, in the most definite way.

(Hungarian Church Press)

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD

Dr. Andrew S. Grove, the president and chief executive officer of Intel Corporation [Santa Clara, CA], and the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, Peter Zwack, will be honored by the American Hungarian Foundation at its 29th annual George Washington Awards dinner on Thursday, November 29, 1990, in New York City at The Waldorf- Astoria. (Reception begins at 7:00 p.m. and dinner at 8:00

p.m.)

In symbolism the George Washington Award was inspired by the statue of Washington erected in the City Park of Budapest, Hungary, 84 years ago through the funds raised by Hungarians living in America.

The Award honors persons whose eminent contributions are in the broad field of human knowledge, the arts, commerce, industry, the sciences and understanding among men and nations. Amog the recipients of the George Washington Award are Nobel laureates Elie Wiesel, Dr. Dennis Gabor, Dr. Eugene P. Wigner, Dr. George de Hevesy, Dr. Georg von Bekesy, Dr. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, all born in Hungary. Other Washington Award laureates include Yehudi Menuhin, James A. Michener, Chet Huntley, Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, Antal Dorati, General Robert Wood Johnson, Michael Korda, Dr. Tibor Fabian and Ambassador Nicolas M. Salgo.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Grove is being recognized for the eminent leadership he has given not only to Intel Corporation, but also to the industry and to the scientific world along uncharted path of research, technology and management. He is a graduate of City College of New York and received his Ph.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He holds several patents on semiconductor devices and technology and is the author of Physics and Technology of Semiconductor Devices; High Output Management; Oneon-One With Andy Grove and writes a weekly column on management.

Ambassador Peter Zwack is being honored as a distinguished international leader, humanitarian, businessman and as Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary. In 1989 he was elected chairman of the Hungarian Government’s Foundation to structure and develop the financing of small and mediumsized private enterprises, and he has served as an advisor for international economic affairs. He received his professional education in New York and at the University of Milan. In 1970 he became Director of Zwack & Co. In 1987 he returned to Hungary and in 1989 became co-owner of Zwack Unicum Ltd., the re-established firm that his family owned prior to the end of the Second World War.

Founded in 1954, the American Hungarian Foundation is devoted to furthering the understanding and appreciation of the Hungarian cultural heritage in the United States. In New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Foundation has established a new building, the Hungarian Heritage Center, with its museum, library, visitor’s center, conference and research facilities. The Center was opened in 1989. An extensive archival and museum collection dealing with the history of Hungarians and their contributions to American life since colonial days is maintained by the Foundation at the Center. The Foundation’s library collection of over 30,000 volumes is an affiliate library of Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey.

A non-profit, tax-exempt organization, the American Hungarian Foundation has its national headquarters in the Hungarian Heritage Center at 300 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.