Cake Waving
Radbam February 19th, 2009
Budapest 2/19/09
A good guide strikes the right balance between insight and accessibility, depth of knowledge and knowing when to stop sharing it. The really good guides sprinkle telling, poignant and personal stories through their standard, potentially stagnant rap, bringing a place to life beyond the limited benefits of a Let’s Go audio book. Our guide Julia had just such a story.
European Union Flag, sans frosting.
As we passed the Hungarian Parliament, taking note of the European Union flag waving from the building’s façade, Julia recalled the day in 2004 when Hungary joined the Union. Her friend threw a party, celebrating a much-awaited and much appreciated stability after centuries of Imperial, Fascist and Communist tumult. The host baked an ersatz flag cake, of yellow stars on a blue marzipan field, stoking the sumptuousness of the moment from mere national pride to sensuous sweetness.
As the pieces were passed, the host reached Julia’s father, a native Hungarian Jew who had perhaps earned the most reason to rejoice after enduring the darkest days of the 20th century. Cake came with a side of apology for a slice lacking a coveted yellow star of the New Europe. The old man demurred that he had had enough of yellow stars for a lifetime during the war.
In that one moment, in its time and as retold, the paradox and struggles, the inexorable move forward and the intractable ties to history that are the enigma of Europe and the human condition emerged in stark, inevitable relief. A short tale, a brief moment and a precious lesson. Perhaps missed by most of my charges. I hope noted by some.
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