Horváth László szerk.: Mátrai Tanulmányok (Gyöngyös, 1999)

J the potential candidates for this solution. It is very hard to guess their number, since many of them first moved to Budapest, where, confronted with the available opportunities, they decided to go to Israel. At least more than 100 Gyöngyös Jews found their home in Israel. The third option was to emigrate to the West; out of the estimated 50 Gyöngyös emigrants the great majority were either educated intellectuals (doctors, lawyers, engineers), or people wanting to complete their university studies abroad. Some others, who had had economic or professional connections in the countries concerned, joined this group. Although not in every case consciously, this decision meant the election of middle class values as opposed to the left-wing limitations on those who stayed in Hungary, or as opposed to going to Israel. The first three strategies in many cases overlapped, and many people were forced to try out more than one. But it was the fourth strategy which was most adventurous, the most hopeless: to stay in Gyöngyös and live through the decades following the war. Although religious life restarted and associations were revived, during the communist era everything was controlled by central offices. First the religious community's autonomy was taken away, later even their buildings were sold without their knowledge by the central power. These outrageous steps resulted in the further dwindling of the Gyöngyös Jewish community, which counted approximately 400-500 people even after the war. The process was not halted by the opening on 13 September, 1964 of a characterless, small house of prayer, in the place of two wonderful historic churches, sold previously. The number of those leaving their religion was incredibly high, the number of mixed marriages rose steeply; those who kept their religion grew too old, moved away or died. Inside this new, humble building an even more humble religious life was going on. The local Rabbi, the last in Gyöngyös, Weisz Dávid was, however, recognised country wide; this is borne out by the fact that he taught in the Hungarian Institute for the Education of Rabbis. Until his death in 1982, on every Friday evening and on Saturday without exception, religious service took place in the Gyöngyös synagogue. In those days there were comparatively high attendance at the celebrations of the Seder and at the annual memorial celebrations of the martyrs. By the end of the 1980s, the line of Israelites keeping and observing their religion came to an end in Gyöngyös. From the beginning of the 80s, Protovin Armin was chairman of the Community, cantor and the substitution for the Rabbi in one person. He did his utmost to keep the flame with superhuman energy. He did the administration, made arrangements, organised religious services, and attempted to solve the problem of the neglected cemetery. In 1991, when Protovin Armin was 92 years old, he stated that about 100 persons of Israelite origin üved in Gyöngyös, about 20 of whom still attended service according to Uncle Armin. But he did not give up. He believed and hoped that Israelite institutions can and should be made young again. He wanted to attract young people to Gyöngyös by available housing and other opportunities. He wanted a young successor, who knew Hebrew. But in this not even he succeeded. By this time, the candles have burnt to stumps in Gyöngyös.