0.00
Introduction
0.27
Land speculators have been drawn into the Jewish quarter of Budapest. Historical buildings, some of them more than 200 years old are being pulled down.
Now, all that is recognisable are the outer walls.
0.40
What was once an Art Nouveau building, is now a car park.
This is Hungarys post Communist modern style.
The citizens initiative OVAS, together with German objectors, are resisting the disintegration of the sector.
0.57 OT Ursula
I am very unhappy about this. We are tearing down buildings which have survived the Holocaust, the insane modernisation projects under communism, the Hungarian Revolution of 1958. Now that we live in peace, the rich history of this area has suddenly become irrelevant. It breaks my heart to see this.
1.24 Openly
1.30
While the splendid Boulevard Andrassy Ut has been classed as a World Heritage Site, the Jewish quarter directly behind it has merely been allocated a protected area status. A worthless attribute, considering that in UNESCO protection zones, ostensibly safeguarded monuments are being demolished practically daily.
1.50 Openly
1.52
Erzebethvaros, Elisabethstadt. The Jewish quarter has been named after the Austrian Empress Sissy. It is one of the oldest parts of the town.
In the nineteenth century, when Jews granted the freedom to trade, several small industries and artisan workshops thrived.
Ot Ursula
The majority of people here worked in small businesses: a silversmith, a grocer and a furrier. Unfortunately we were unable to salvage the silversmiths workshop. This house now stands in its place.
2.36
Today there are barely three synagogues left.
2.40 Openly
Having said that, the largest synagogue in Europe is also here.
During the Nazi occupation, 400,000 Jews were deported to Auschwitz, most from the outlying rural areas. Most of the Jews in the capital survived.
3.06
OT . Turan
Adolf Eichmann and his already depleted army marched into Budapest in 1944. They wanted to exterminate Hungarian Jews too. Eichmann wanted the expulsion to be enforced in two steps. First, Jews from the countryside would go, and then those who were in Budapest. Luckily for us, the Nazis ran out of time to put the second wave of deportations into operation.
3.36
Today between 100,000 and 150,000 Jews live in Budapest. The exact number is not known.
3.45 Openly
3.47
Even though the kosher butcher closed down a long time ago you can still find Jewish shops in Erzebethvaros grocers, confectioners, bakers .
4.03
We are calling on Kari Mamma. The faithful go to her bakery on Fridays for Sabbath bread.
4.13
Ot Baker Kari Mamma
Several Jews emigrated after the 1956 revolution, including my parents. But I wanted to stay, so I did!
4.25
And what do you think of the controversy over the Jewish Quarter?
4.28
OT Baker Kari Mamma
Once old buildings disappear, the towns history will go the same way.
4.34
The largest building contractor in the quarter is the company Autoker, which, paradoxically, is led by a young Israeli investor. He proudly exhibits his showpiece project the Gozdu Hoefe refurbishment. Does it not seem inappropriate, though, that it is a Jewish speculator who is pulling down the Jewish quarter?
4.53
Ot Ehud Amir, investor
What you are claiming is not quite right. Jewish investors like me take old buildings and renovate them. For example my company has voluntarily renovated eleven houses here in the town centre
5.17
Furthermore, it is not the duty of investors to care for protected monuments. Politicians should do that.
Many residents blame the administration of the council, accusing its head of corruption. In spite of several repeated requests we are not granted an interview.
5.40
Ot Ursula
Individual councils can now take many decisions. It is understandable after fifty years under communism we no longer wanted any central authority or administration. However that has led to every district becoming like a small kingdom with every council leader its king
6.02
The council is the largest landlord in Erzebethvaros. No one else owns as many buildings. With every demolition, large amounts of money changes hands. Destroying is cheaper than restoring. Also, there are no centralised building rules and regulations to be followed.
6.19
No one feels responsible when the newly refurbished Kiraly Strasse is once again dug up by builders trucks. Even paving stones differ from one district to another..
6.36 Openly
6.39
Apartment inspections in the Jewish Quarter. Their price has doubled over the last five years and has quickly reached central Vienna levels.
6.50
Ot Estate Agent
This flat has an area of 223 square metres. We are asking 540,000 Euros for it. That works out at 2,400 Euros per square metre. The flat had been neglected and run down. Now it is in prime condition.
7.13
Most of the houses look different. House owners are aware of the state of dilapidation and hope for demolition.
The photographer Istvan Javor is attempting to preserve memories of these buildings through his pictures.
7.30
OT Istvan Javor photographer (to be read very slowly)
The houses look so derelict because, since World War 2, no one ever bothered to maintain them
7.46
A visit to Eva Kraus. The entrance is not welcoming.
7.52
Ot Eva Kraus, tenant
Look over there. The roof is disintegrating. Every month a piece of the wall falls on whoever may be walking under. See how dangerous it is.
8.09
I think this wall was last painted at the beginning of the last century. You can no longer identify any colour.
8.18
Eva has lived in this house since she was born.
8.25
Just as her mother and grandmother did.
By some miracle, they survived the Holocaust.
8.34
Under communism, houses were nationalised. Eva became a joint-owner of the tenancy.
Then the building came under a protection order. Now it is to be sold to a speculator and demolished. The tenants have not been offered an option to buy.
8.45
OT Janos Arato, tenant (in German)
Now they want to sell the house without (permission?) ..They would like to, in addition
8.54 (Woman)
That came as a shock for us. You live in a house for years and then are abruptly turned out. It is no longer yours. You have to leave it.
9.07
It is Friday evening and the Jews of Erzebethvaros are celebrating the Sabbath. Eva Krausz too lights the Sabbath candles, as on every Friday. But she has no way of knowing how long she can continue to do so in her own flat.
Introduction
0.27
Land speculators have been drawn into the Jewish quarter of Budapest. Historical buildings, some of them more than 200 years old are being pulled down.
Now, all that is recognisable are the outer walls.
0.40
What was once an Art Nouveau building, is now a car park.
This is Hungarys post Communist modern style.
The citizens initiative OVAS, together with German objectors, are resisting the disintegration of the sector.
0.57 OT Ursula
I am very unhappy about this. We are tearing down buildings which have survived the Holocaust, the insane modernisation projects under communism, the Hungarian Revolution of 1958. Now that we live in peace, the rich history of this area has suddenly become irrelevant. It breaks my heart to see this.
1.24 Openly
1.30
While the splendid Boulevard Andrassy Ut has been classed as a World Heritage Site, the Jewish quarter directly behind it has merely been allocated a protected area status. A worthless attribute, considering that in UNESCO protection zones, ostensibly safeguarded monuments are being demolished practically daily.
1.50 Openly
1.52
Erzebethvaros, Elisabethstadt. The Jewish quarter has been named after the Austrian Empress Sissy. It is one of the oldest parts of the town.
In the nineteenth century, when Jews granted the freedom to trade, several small industries and artisan workshops thrived.
Ot Ursula
The majority of people here worked in small businesses: a silversmith, a grocer and a furrier. Unfortunately we were unable to salvage the silversmiths workshop. This house now stands in its place.
2.36
Today there are barely three synagogues left.
2.40 Openly
Having said that, the largest synagogue in Europe is also here.
During the Nazi occupation, 400,000 Jews were deported to Auschwitz, most from the outlying rural areas. Most of the Jews in the capital survived.
3.06
OT . Turan
Adolf Eichmann and his already depleted army marched into Budapest in 1944. They wanted to exterminate Hungarian Jews too. Eichmann wanted the expulsion to be enforced in two steps. First, Jews from the countryside would go, and then those who were in Budapest. Luckily for us, the Nazis ran out of time to put the second wave of deportations into operation.
3.36
Today between 100,000 and 150,000 Jews live in Budapest. The exact number is not known.
3.45 Openly
3.47
Even though the kosher butcher closed down a long time ago you can still find Jewish shops in Erzebethvaros grocers, confectioners, bakers .
4.03
We are calling on Kari Mamma. The faithful go to her bakery on Fridays for Sabbath bread.
4.13
Ot Baker Kari Mamma
Several Jews emigrated after the 1956 revolution, including my parents. But I wanted to stay, so I did!
4.25
And what do you think of the controversy over the Jewish Quarter?
4.28
OT Baker Kari Mamma
Once old buildings disappear, the towns history will go the same way.
4.34
The largest building contractor in the quarter is the company Autoker, which, paradoxically, is led by a young Israeli investor. He proudly exhibits his showpiece project the Gozdu Hoefe refurbishment. Does it not seem inappropriate, though, that it is a Jewish speculator who is pulling down the Jewish quarter?
4.53
Ot Ehud Amir, investor
What you are claiming is not quite right. Jewish investors like me take old buildings and renovate them. For example my company has voluntarily renovated eleven houses here in the town centre
5.17
Furthermore, it is not the duty of investors to care for protected monuments. Politicians should do that.
Many residents blame the administration of the council, accusing its head of corruption. In spite of several repeated requests we are not granted an interview.
5.40
Ot Ursula
Individual councils can now take many decisions. It is understandable after fifty years under communism we no longer wanted any central authority or administration. However that has led to every district becoming like a small kingdom with every council leader its king
6.02
The council is the largest landlord in Erzebethvaros. No one else owns as many buildings. With every demolition, large amounts of money changes hands. Destroying is cheaper than restoring. Also, there are no centralised building rules and regulations to be followed.
6.19
No one feels responsible when the newly refurbished Kiraly Strasse is once again dug up by builders trucks. Even paving stones differ from one district to another..
6.36 Openly
6.39
Apartment inspections in the Jewish Quarter. Their price has doubled over the last five years and has quickly reached central Vienna levels.
6.50
Ot Estate Agent
This flat has an area of 223 square metres. We are asking 540,000 Euros for it. That works out at 2,400 Euros per square metre. The flat had been neglected and run down. Now it is in prime condition.
7.13
Most of the houses look different. House owners are aware of the state of dilapidation and hope for demolition.
The photographer Istvan Javor is attempting to preserve memories of these buildings through his pictures.
7.30
OT Istvan Javor photographer (to be read very slowly)
The houses look so derelict because, since World War 2, no one ever bothered to maintain them
7.46
A visit to Eva Kraus. The entrance is not welcoming.
7.52
Ot Eva Kraus, tenant
Look over there. The roof is disintegrating. Every month a piece of the wall falls on whoever may be walking under. See how dangerous it is.
8.09
I think this wall was last painted at the beginning of the last century. You can no longer identify any colour.
8.18
Eva has lived in this house since she was born.
8.25
Just as her mother and grandmother did.
By some miracle, they survived the Holocaust.
8.34
Under communism, houses were nationalised. Eva became a joint-owner of the tenancy.
Then the building came under a protection order. Now it is to be sold to a speculator and demolished. The tenants have not been offered an option to buy.
8.45
OT Janos Arato, tenant (in German)
Now they want to sell the house without (permission?) ..They would like to, in addition
8.54 (Woman)
That came as a shock for us. You live in a house for years and then are abruptly turned out. It is no longer yours. You have to leave it.
9.07
It is Friday evening and the Jews of Erzebethvaros are celebrating the Sabbath. Eva Krausz too lights the Sabbath candles, as on every Friday. But she has no way of knowing how long she can continue to do so in her own flat.