Israeli Tourist in Budapest Encounters Hebrew Graffiti and Historical Reflections
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israeli author Carmit Sapir Veitz discovered Hebrew graffiti in Budapest, including "Beitar" and "Shoah le Maccabi," prompting reflections on Jewish history and the present. She attempted to engage locals and observed the city's culture, contrasting it with Israel. Veitz reported the graffiti to the Israeli Ambassador, who contacted the local municipality. The experience underscored for Veitz the impossibility of separating from her historical Jewish consciousness while in Budapest.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli author Carmit Sapir Veitz found Hebrew graffiti in Budapest reading "Beitar" and "Shoah le Maccabi."
- The graffiti also included the number 1312, representing the phrase "All Cops Are Bastards."
- Veitz reported the graffiti to Maya Kadosh, the Israeli Ambassador to Hungary.
- The Ambassador contacted the local municipality, which reportedly responded quickly.
- Veitz struggled to avoid historical Jewish thoughts during her visit to Budapest.
- She described a 1938 German board game called "Jews Out!" as part of her historical reflections.
While visiting Budapest, Israeli author Carmit Sapir Veitz found herself unable to escape historical Jewish thoughts, even amidst contemporary observations. Her experience was punctuated by discovering Hebrew graffiti on a wall, reading "Beitar" and "Shoah le Maccabi" (Holocaust to Maccabi), along with the number 1312, an abbreviation for "All Cops Are Bastards." The author noted that the exact timing and authorship of the graffiti are unknown, suggesting multiple individuals may be responsible.
Veitz described her attempts to engage with locals in Budapest, using a heavy Hungarian accent while speaking Hebrew, but found little reaction from the reserved Hungarian population. She observed the city's punctuality and clean facilities, contrasting them with her native Israel. Her reflections often turned to the historical context of Hungary, particularly during the Holocaust, mentioning the "Jews Out!" board game from 1938 and the atrocities committed by the Arrow Cross Party on the Danube River banks in late 1944.
Her journey included a Danube cruise and a visit to a local hummus restaurant, where she noted a "Kosher branch" sign, further reminding her of the Jewish presence and history. Veitz sent a photograph of the graffiti to Maya Kadosh, the Israeli Ambassador to Hungary, who then contacted the local municipality. The municipality of District 7 reportedly responded quickly, addressing the situation partially, though Veitz stated her initial goal was to spend an hour in Budapest without historical Jewish thoughts, which proved impossible.
The author also shared a personal game she invented, involving speaking Hebrew with a Hungarian accent and creating fictional family trees for strangers, highlighting her constant connection to her Jewish identity and history even while traveling.