Stern, Samu (1874 - 1946)

Banker, Jewish community leader, president of the Jewish Council throughout its entire existence. Stern’s started his career as a wholesale food distributor, later he became the chief executive of one of Hungary’s largest financial institutions. He became involved in Jewish community life in the interwar period. In 1929, he was elected president of the Pest Israelite Congregation and in 1932 of the National Office of Hungarian Israelites. After the German occupation of Hungary in March 1944, Stern was appointed head of the Jewish Council by the Nazis. He led the organisation until the Arrow Cross takeover in October 1944. Although he was officially president of the Fourth Jewish Council as well, he spent the last months of the war in hiding. In 1945, he was charged with collaboration and an investigation was initiated against him, but the case did not come to trial.