OMRI DAILY DIGEST
No. 173,  6 September 1996


EUROPE'S LARGEST SYNAGOGUE REOPENS IN HUNGARY. Thousands of people,
including former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, attended a
ceremony 5 September celebrating the reopening of the world's second
largest synagogue after five years of renovation, Hungarian and
international media reported. The synagogue was built in 1850 and served
as a shelter for thousands of Jews during World War II. "The
reconstruction is a clear indication that the present Jewry of Hungary
is confident in the future, that it can again build a prosperous life,"
Peter Feldmajer, president of the Hungarian Jewish Communities, said
before the ceremony. So far the renovation has cost 1,250 million
forints ($8.3 million). The Hungarian government paid 80% and the rest
came from international donations. The reconstruction is due to be
finished by next autumn. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

THOUSANDS PROTEST HUNGARIAN-ROMANIAN BASIC TREATY IN BUDAPEST. About
10,000 to 20,000 people demonstrated against the Hungarian-Romanian
basic treaty outside the Parliament building last night, Hungarian media
reported. Catholic Bishop Jozsef Tempfli of Oradea, Romania, and
Hungarian Calvinist Bishop Lorant Hegedus gave speeches saying the
treaty the two governments are about to sign will not help
reconciliation between the two nations. A speaker from the opposition
Smallholders' Party said the cabinet is committing "treason" by signing
the document. The demonstration was also supported by the far-right
extra-parliamentary Hungarian Justice and Life Party. -- Zsofia Szilagyi

[As of 12:00 CET]

Compiled by Janet Hofmann