Budapest is home to the largest Jewish community in Hungary and
in Eastern Europe, where most Hungarian Jews reside. There are
23 synagogues and shuls, two colleges, three secondary schools,
three kindergartens, one hospital, an old people's home and several
cemeteries in the city. All of the national Jewish institutions
are located in Budapest. This is an overview of the most important
places that no visitor should miss. Jewish communities have been
in Budapest since the 3rd century, leaving many marks on the city.
There is so much to see in connnection with Jewish life and experience
of Budapest that we organize it here in three separate walks.
1st walk -the former ghetto
The greatest number of sites of interest for Hungarian Jewish
history and culture are to be found in Dohány Street and
its neighbourhood.
The Synagogue -construction started in 1854 - is the largest of
its kind in Europe and the second largest in the world, allowing
for 3,000 worshippers. The temple has been beautifully renovated
recently, and is a masterpiece of a romantic Byzantine-Moorish
style. The Hungarian Jewish Cemetery and Heroes' Cemetery are next
to the Synagogue, with a Ghetto memorial in the back, which recalls
the past with a wall that has remained from the ghetto. The Emanuel
Foundation Holocaust Nemorial is also to be seen here, a weeping
willow made out of metal, with every leaf bearing the name of one
of the victims of the Holocaust. Just a stone's throw from Dohány
Street, Budapest's only ritual bath operates with "live water"
(of natural origin), in line with religious requirements in Kazinczy
street.
2nd
walk - other parts of Pest
The bank of the river Danube has a series of memorial plaques
dedicated to Jewish victims of World War II. All the same, the
two most famous plaques are for non-Jews: the Swedish diplomat
Raoul Wallenberg, and the Italian philanthropist Giorgio Perlasca,
who between them saved several thousands of Jewish lives during
World War II. The Library of the Hungarian Academy of Science is
home of the Oriental Institute where highly valuable Hebraicas
are definitely worth a look. The world-famous Kaufman Collection
is also on display here. The Hungarian National Museum has many
original Jewish gravestones from Roman times. And if you are interested
in more, then make sure you find Tüzér street, where
the matzo bakery was built and where the unleavened bread for Passover
is still being baked today.
3rd walk - Sites related to Jewish history on the Buda side of
the river
The Buda side of the city is relatively poorer in Jewish memories,
compared to Pest. However, the Buda castle quarter is definitely
worth visiting - which no tourist would miss anyway - because it
hides a medieval synagogue, discovered during excavation work in
1964. Part of this is currently a state museum and the rest has
been recovered. A Jewish memorial collection and the remains of
stonework are on display here. Also in the Castle quarter, the
Budapest History Museum has two red marble gravestones dating from
the 13th century.
If you feel that you have had your fill of attractions but are
ready for some cultural delights, then try to catch a concert by
the Budapest Klezmer Band, or Vodku v Glotku, which is an ensemble
that specializes in Jewish tavern music from Odessa. In addition
to these, the Jewish Summer Festival is traditionally held between
August 26 and September 2, with a huge array of cultural feasts.
