Language:
English
Year of publication:
2003
Titel der Quelle:
Transversal; Zeitschrift für Jüdische Studien
Angaben zur Quelle:
4,2 (2003) 3-34
Keywords:
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
;
Jews Cultural assimilation
;
Numerus clausus
;
Jews History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Stresses that the "numerus clausus" law of 1920 was the sole significant anti-Jewish legislation in post-World War I Hungary and that the relatively lenient government policy did not attempt to eliminate Jews from positions amongst the economic, professional, and managerial elites. Nevertheless, it began to put an end to the assimilationist drive among Hungarian Jews. The latter had previously been welcomed by Magyars for the Jewish contribution that was considered crucial in maintaining Magyar supremacy at a time when they were rulers of a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional society. The 1920 law was a shock to Hungarian Jews, whose identity underwent critical changes, including attraction to Zionism, communism, and other leftist ideologies. The Jews were scapegoated during this period for being both "profiteering" capitalists and leading revolutionaries. The Hungarian counter-revolution legitimized anti-Jewish political violence, while the ideological adoption of a "Christian course" indicated that the Jewish contribution to Hungary was not welcome.
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