For the first time in more than a century and for the second time in the history of Hungarian Jewry, a “Pydon Nefesh” (saving of lives) emergency action has been proclaimed by the orthodox rabbinate for the week of Selichoth, the week of penitential prayer preceding Rosh Hashonah which began Saturday night.
The proclamation, signed by the chief rabbis of Budapest, Eger, Gyor, Debrecen, Kisvarda, Mako, Chorna, Ujeherto, Szombaly and by 128 orthodox Jewish communities, urges every Jewish family in Hungary to give at least one pengoe during Selichoth services to help solve the economic problems which have arisen through Hungary’s law restricting participation of Jews in the nation’s life. The last “Pydyon Nefesh” was proclaimed in the early nineteenth century by the famous rabbi Moshe Sofer, known as “Chasam Sofer,” when the Jews of Bratislav were threatened with expulsion.
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