The Hungarian Minister of Religious Affairs, Miklós Schultes, arrived at noon (Sunday) for a special visit to the office of the Chief Rabbi and President of the Grand Beit Din, Rabbi David Lau, accompanied by Rabbi Shlomo Kovesh, the rabbi of the Jewish community in Hungary.
The visit was conducted as a follow-up to the Hungarian Prime Minister's visit to the Chief Rabbi several months ago.
The Hungarian Minister of Religious Affairs told the Chief Rabbi about the collaborations currently taking place, together with the Orthodox Jewish communities in Hungary.
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The minister also spoke about a number of new laws that have been passed recently and are aimed at assisting Jewish communities in preserving religious life - including a law aimed at simplifying the procedures for renovating and preserving ancient synagogues scattered throughout Hungary.
The Minister of Religious Affairs also announced that concessions have also been made for transferring territories to Jewish communities.
The Chief Rabbi spoke with the minister about the need for assistance from the Hungarian government regarding access to ancient cemeteries and more.
The Chief Rabbi thanked the guest: "I appreciate your effort to preserve the Jewish community that continues the tradition. I would like to thank you and Prime Minister Viktor Orban for your assistance in the past as well as for your plans for the future. The path to a better world will be if we all know how to appreciate each other's past and care for their future.".
At the end of the visit, the Chief Rabbi told the Minister of Religious Affairs about his grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau, who was rabbi in the city of Prešov in Slovakia, which is now part of Hungary, and added that when he visited the place some time ago, he saw that the condition of the large synagogue where his grandfather served was very bad.
The minister immediately announced that as soon as he returns to his country, he will investigate and ensure a renovation and preservation plan for the place, so that the memory of the Jews who lived there will be preserved forever, and he will also ensure the commemoration and memorial of his grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau, the Rev.
