President of Hungary Honors Head Shliach

In honor of Independence Day and the founding of the State of Hungary on 20th August, the President of Hungary, Mr. Janos Ader granted the “Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic” to Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, head Rav of the Chabad community in Hungary. The award was granted last Thursday by Minister Zoltan Balog in a special celebration.

“Order of Merit of the Hungarian Republic” is one of the most prestigious medals of the State of Hungary. Rabbi Oberlander – who came to Hungary with his wife Rebbetzin Batsheva in 1989 – received the medal in recognition for serving as rabbi of Budapest for more than twenty years, and for being the one who started the revival of Hungarian Judaism.

Jewish community leaders and the Jews in Hungary expressed their appreciation in being granted this important medal, and wished Rabbi Oberlander and his fellow Shluchim and Rabbis much success in the holy work they do in Hungary as emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, OBM.

It should be noted that in the recent weeks three pairs of rabbis and educators were added to Chabad team of Budapest, including Rabbis Yehoshua Fuchs and Shmuel Oirechman who will serve also as slaughterers and inspectors in the slaughterhouse of the Chabad community.