'New York Times' launches Hungarian anti-Semitism survey

Survey to help paper deepen its coverage of anti-Semitism in Hungary after EU survey finds high level of racism in country.

By JTA
TRAFFIC SPEEDING by the New York Times building 370 (photo credit: Reuters)
TRAFFIC SPEEDING by the New York Times building 370
(photo credit: Reuters)
The New York Times is conducting a survey of Hungarian Jews to help deepen its coverage of anti-Semitism in that country.
The survey, published online Tuesday, asks respondents whether they experienced anti-Semitism and considered emigrating as a result, among other questions.
“An openly anti-Semitic political party has gained power in Hungary’s Parliament in recent years, fueling fears that the Eastern European nation is experiencing a rise in anti-Jewish sentiment,” the paper wrote in an introduction to the online survey form.
“The Times will be taking a deep look at anti-Semitism in Hungary this coming year. As we report on this issue, we are hoping to hear from Hungarian Jews on their experiences,” the paper wrote.
Questions include: “What, if anything, are authorities in your community doing to curb or encourage anti-Semitism?” And: “What, if anything, are authorities in your community doing to curb or encourage anti-Semitism?”
Ninety percent of 517 Hungarian respondents to an EU survey on anti-Semitism conducted last year said anti-Semitism was either a “fairly big problem” or a “very big problem.”
Hungary, which is believed to have 100,000 Jews, also led in the number of Jews who said they had considered emigrating because of anti-Semitism, with 48 percent of Hungarian respondents replying in the affirmative, compared to 18 percent in Britain and a 29-percent average overall.