Hungary’s Largest Jewish Group Expels Rabbi Who Said Zionism Is Causing Another Holocaust

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Rabbi Peter Finali speaks at a Budapest synagogue in 2016. (Peter Finali/YouTube)

BUDAPEST (JTA ) – Hungary’s largest Jewish group expelled a rabbi who has accused Israel of appropriating the money of Holocaust victims and putting Diaspora Jews in danger.

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The rabbinical council of the Mazsihisz umbrella announced in a letter to Israeli Ambassador Yacov Hadas-Handelsman that it was “terminating its relationship” with Rabbi Gabor Finali. The letter said it was “an indefinite suspension” of Finali, 43, who since 2017 has served as the resident rabbi of a Mazsihisz-affiliated congregation, the Ohel Avraham Synagogue in Budapest.

It’s an unusual development for Eastern and Central Europe, where leaders of Jewish communities are rarely expelled and seldom express acrimonious public criticism of Israel.

The most controversial remarks by Finali, who supports multiple left-wing causes, came in July on his Facebook page.

“Israel took all the benefits and most of the compensation from Germany for the death and suffering of our relatives,” he wrote. “The chaos that Israel has been causing since 1948 is the reason for most, if not all, attacks on Jews in the Diaspora. The money spent on security until recently (2018) was because we suffer the consequences, we’re the soft targets … Herzl’s mission failed because it didn’t stop the Holocaust, but soon it will lead to a new one.”

Finali apologized for and retracted the post, but Mazsihisz in its letter to the ambassador last week said it was cutting its ties with the rabbi because he “is more loyal in his writings to the enemies of Israel than to Israel.”

Finali belongs to the Neolog denomination of Judaism, a stream that evolved in Central Europe in the 19th century and is similar to Masorti, or Conservative, Judaism.

In a 2018 interview with the Szombat Jewish magazine, Finali said: “The state of Israel lives and thrives thanks to God, I wholeheartedly support its existence,” but added he doesn’t consider it to be “a pure virgin.”


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Moshe in NJ
Moshe in NJ
3 years ago

There is nothing remotely from “Conservative” or Masorti Judaism in this misguided man’s comments and opinions.

Leslie Satenstein
Leslie Satenstein
3 years ago

Every coin has two sides, and an edge that is between. He has chosen to represent the conservative view that a lasting peace with a two state solution is not possible if Israel unilaterally annexes Judea and Samaria.

I don’t know enough of the situation in that area to choose one view over another. I am on the edge.

The world has gone crazy and getting crazier
The world has gone crazy and getting crazier
3 years ago

Why wasn’t he tar n feathered then run out of town. He’s a typical conservative left wing apologist
Maybe it’s time to get real rabbis that discuss true Judaism and are apolitical

lazy-boy
lazy-boy
3 years ago

freedom of speech is not so free. Express opinions that are not in line with the mass and you pay dearly…..

Triumphinwhitehouse
Triumphinwhitehouse
3 years ago

Soros can speak with him in hungarian

Anonymous
Anonymous
3 years ago

He happens to be more or less right on the money, may G-d have mercy.

Almost everything in this statement he made, as quoted, is exactly right:
““Israel took all the benefits and most of the compensation from Germany for the death and suffering of our relatives,” he wrote. “The chaos that Israel has been causing since 1948 is the reason for most, if not all, attacks on Jews in the Diaspora. The money spent on security until recently (2018) was because we suffer the consequences, we’re the soft targets … Herzl’s mission failed because it didn’t stop the Holocaust, but soon it will lead to a new one.””

One mistake he made is that Herzl’s mission in promoting the identity theft of Zionism was not to save Jews from gentiles. Rather, Herzl’s mission was to remake Jews into gentiles, no matter what. Not only was this the Zionist mission over a century ago, it has remained the same ever since, and it has proven rather deadly for Jews in WW II, including both Zionist actions and inaction during WW II.

He also implied that the chaos caused by Israel is only since 1948. While technically true, since Israel formally came into being only that year, pre-State Israel/Zionists were (intentionally) causing chaos for decades prior.

That’s more than enough…

Danny Duberstein
Danny Duberstein
3 years ago

We are B”H witnessing many the prophesies expressed in the Tanach. (Amos chapter 9 verse 14:) “I will return the captivity of my people Israel, and they will rebuild desolate cities and settle them…..” You can look it up if you want to see the rest. To me, it is obvious that the Zionist dream was prescient and Herzl maybe a bit of a Navi.

Open your eyes. We are living in the time of open miracles.

PureSatmar
PureSatmar
3 years ago

Never ever have I dreamt that I’ll agree with a viewpoint of a Neolog, nevertheless he’s right on all counts….

Rabbi Kolakowski
Rabbi Kolakowski
3 years ago

they caused the first one also – i am lucky I am a rabbi who works for non-Jews so I can say the truth

Mrs. Mintz
Mrs. Mintz
3 years ago

Neolog is Reform; conservative is Status Quo