Sim
Shalom
Magyarul Annual Report 2002
Growth
Overall membership has approximately doubled in the last two years. This
is evidenced in the following numbers. Attendance at Kabbalat Shabbat
Services is now 10-20; twice what it was last year. Partly as a result
of invitations sent to all members, there were 100 worshippers for Rosh
Hashanah, 120 people for the Pesach Community Seder, and 50 for the Yom
Kippur day service, also at least double last years attendance. This
last is a real change for people not used to making Yom Kippur an
all-day event. The afternoon Shiur was a strong attraction followed by a
short Neilah and breaking the fast together.
New Programs and Activities
Major new programs in the past year included a residential family
weekend camp attended by 80 people; three new monthly program series on
Mixed Marriages (run by member Judit Burg and psychologist Gyula
Kapussy), Jewish Identity (member Klari Laszlo) and Sephardic Music
(Judit Burg and Miklos Budai) The Balint Haz lecture series on the
Reform approach to various Jewish topics continued through June, and
attracted many new members to Sim Shalom. A Youth Group was founded last
fall with 14 founding members, and has an active biweekly program of
events. Kabbalat Shabbat services were continued throughout the summer
for the first time, with help from Sim Shalom members and Rabbi Jonathan
Black to lead the service. Rabbi Black also brought 40 members of
the Hertsmere Progressive Synagogue to Budapest last spring for a joint
Hertsmere-Sim Shalom Kabbalat Shabbat service on a Danube river boat.
The total attendance was 120 and the evening was a huge success. The
10th anniversary of the start of the popular Torah Study program
coincided with the end of the reading of Genesis, and was celebrated
with a heavily attended Sijjum. The Havdalah Club instituted a Jewish
Arts and Crafts program for pre-teens, lead by Aniko Kardos and
accompanying parents program lead by the Rabbi. An English language
section was added to the Sim Shalom website.
Life Cycle Events, Visitors and Travel
One conversion of a Sim Shalom member took place at the Barcelona
European Region Conference, which the Rabbi attended. Last fall saw two
adult B”nai Mitzvah ceremonies. Beautiful B’nai Mitzvah certificates
were designed and printed by Sim Shalom member Eszter Kass. As a
followup to the Rabbi’s attempt to participate at a congregant’s
funeral, the Orthodox/Neolog Rabbinical leadership has instituted a new
policy that they will supply a Rabbi for all funerals, even when none is
requested by the family. This is to ensure that Rabbi Kelemen does not
participate at any Jewish funeral.
In addition to the above-mentioned visits by Rabbi J. Black, Rabbi Joel
Abraham from New Jersey brought his confirmation class to our services
last spring. Many other individuals from the U.S, United Kingdom,
Israel, and Europe attended Shabbat Services or holiday celebrations.
Rabbi Colin Eimer from London was in Budapest twice to consult with and
support Rabbi Kelemen.
Future Plans and Needs
The Family Camp was so successful that it will be repeated this year.
The Youth Group is in the midst of plans for an International youth
weekend in Budapest, culminating in a Purim Ball, to take place on a
Danube riverboat. A series of Shabbat Teaching Services is planned as
well as a continuation of liturgical music workshops The first
Progressive Hungarian Kabbalat Shabbat Siddur will be completed and
printed, and work will commence on prayers for special occasions.
Continuing our program of producing ritual art objects like our new
Torah Ark and B’nai Mitzvah certificates, artist member Eszter Kass has
plans for a Ketubah, for artwork on our homepage, and for the new
Siddur. To broaden our members’ experience in Jewish matters, it was
decided to award Study Grants to active members and potential leaders to
attend the Limmud and JCM Bendorf Conference.
The main problem we face, with expanding membership and program
offerings is a growing lack of space. We badly need to find the
financial resources to buy larger premises. Our finance committee is
busy on this, but it is a daunting task.
Honours
Rabbi Kelemen was featured in a video interview shown at the Jewish
Women Exhibition at the Budapest Jewish Museum.
Above all, the current Sim Shalom Board members are to be congratulated
for their diligence and for the very considerable progress that is
reported above. It is in large part the fruits of their work.
George Hajnal
vice-president at time of report