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Jewish Budapest
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Jewish Budapest
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The former Jewish Quarter in the VII district has a quaint atmosphere with characteristic smells, people, striking contrast of crumbling buildings and shiny new apartments blocks and unique monuments. Take your time to absorb this sometimes secluded part of Budapest! Jewsih Sights in Buda and Óbuda
Jewish Sights in Budapest
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The first Jewish settlers (German merchants) arrived on the Castle Hill of Buda in the 13th century upon King Béla IV's invitation to make up for the loss of population caused by the Mongol invasion (1241-42). Their houses stood on the western side of today's Szt györgy Square which were pulled down during the construction of the first Royal palace.
The Small Synagogue and the medieval Jewish Prayer house at 26. Táncsics utca, reminds us the everyday life of the Castle District's Jewish community.
Remains of the synagogue built in 1460 was excavated in 1964 part of which operates as a museum exhibiting Jewish relics and gravestones (opening hours: summer: Tue-Fri: 10.00-14.00, Sat-Sun: 10.00-18.00).
The other part of the remains was reburied; its archaelogical excavation and restoration are planned to be done in the next couple of years.
During the 150-year Turkish reign the Jewish community of Buda vanished almost entirely.
In the 17th century German and Czech Jewish settlers established homes in Óbuda, Buda and Pest didn't permint settlement of Jews until the end of the 18th century.
Under the patronage of the noble Zichy family the the Jewish colony of Óbuda developed into a prominent community. In the 19th century the Reform Movement fought for giving equal rights to Jews too.
As a result of the movement's efforts Jews were free to settle down anywhere in Hungary including Pest and Buda.
The Synagogue in Óbuda (Lajos utca 163., III. district) was built in 1820-21 in Classicist style, today it houses a TV studio.
Moses Muncz (1750-1831) was the rabbi of the community at that time whose grave you can see in the beautiful Jewish cemetery in Óbuda (Külső Bécsi út 369., III. district).
The memorial stone on the former Óbuda brick factory's site marks the spot from where thousands of Jews were deported and sent to death under the terror of the Arrow Cross Party in 1944-45.
A nice garden surrounds the building of the secular Jewish Lauder Javne School (Budakeszi út 48. XII. district, bus No. 22. from Moszkva tér) built in 1996. While you're there take a look at the building of the old Jewish kindergarden next to the school.
In the 19th century Pest became the center of Jewish Budapest. Their religion, hoildays and unique traditions made them form a community.
A Jewish quarter started to form in Erzsébetváros and Terézvaáros (VI. and VII. districts in Budapest)
Map of the Old Jewish Quarter in Budapest
Three synagogues were built in the quarter the most impressive of them is the Great Synagogue in Dohány Street built in 1859 in Moorish-Byzantine style.
Tip: If you have only limited time make time for visiting the Great Synagogue and its surroundings. The two-towered temple can occupy 6000 people. It is a neolog synagogue meaning that the men and women sit in separate araes within the church the service is in Hebrew, and the 5000-pipe organ provides music.
Names of victims disappeared or died during the nazi terror are engraved on almost each of the 30,000 leaves of the Tree of Life in the Raoul Wallenberg Park (named after the Swedish diplomat who helped many Jews to escape from deportation in 1944-45)
The Jewish Museum on the left of the Great synagogue has a collection of religious relics, historical documents along with temporary exhibits. An arcade connects the museum with the moder-style Heroes' Temple.
A small plaque on the Wesselényi street side of the synagogue marks the spot where once the gate of the Budapest ghetto stood in 1944-45. Not far from the plaque stands the small garden of rememberance where those who died in the ghetto were buried during 1944-45. Their names are engraved in the stone gravestones.
Until the 2nd half of 1944 Budapest was reluctant to cooperate with the Nazis to collect and sent Hungarian Jews into concentration camps, though the Hungarian government (lead by Miklós Horthy) stood on the side of the Germans.
Adolf Eichmann arrived in Budapest in December 1944 to carry out the deportation and execution of Hungarian Jews and Roma people. A ghetto was established between Király utca nad Dohány utca.
At 10., Dob utca in a small you'll find the Carl Lutz Memorial standing againts a white wall on a tiny plaza. Lutz (1895-1975) as a Swiss diplomat had great connections with the Germans and Palestine thus he was able to help many Jews to flee form the terror.
The quote from the Talmud engraved on the metal plaque next to the monument says: "He who saves but one man is as if he had saved the whole world"
From Dob utca turn left on Rumbach utca where another striking Synagogue stands completed in 1872.
The Rumbach Street synagogue
Walk along Rumbach utca then turn right into Király utca, walk until you reach Kazinczy utca on your right. There stands the synagogue of Budapest's Orthodox Jewish community.
Kazinczy Street Synagogue
From Kazincy Street turn right into Dob utca. You'll reach a large park with a playground, Klauzál tér. Locals relax and chat on the benches while looking after their kids.
Entrance of the market at Klauzál Square
Restaurants & Cafes in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest
If you're tire dof walking have a rest and a few bites in one of the numerous eateries (both kosher and non-kosher) situated in the area.
Fröchlich Confectionery
Address: Dob utca 22., VII. district
Tel: (+36 1) 267-2851
Their flódni is fabulous: a cake with layers of walnut, poppy seed and apple fillings.
Cafe Zenit
Address: Károly körút 3/a., VII. district
Tel:
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| The great Synagogue reflects in the window of Cafe Zenit | Relaxing atmosphere in Cafe Zenit where you can drink coffee made from fresh coffee beans and munch a cake with it. |
Nelson Cafe
Address: Dohány utca 12., VII. district
Tel:
Kamara Cafe
Address: Dohány utca 1/b ., VII. district
Tel: 266 3147
A cozy place with terrace serving coffee, beers, pastries.
Cream Cafe & Restaurant
Address: Dohány utca 28., VII. district
Tel:
An upscale but still casual retsuarant and cafe with live music on the evenings.
Kék Nefelejcs Restaurant
Address: Dohány utca 10., VII. district
Tel:
A high-priced kosher restaurant aimed at tourists visiting the Great synagogue.
Osteria Fausto's
Address: Dohány utca 5., VII. district
Tel: 269 6806
An exclusive Italian restaurant with top quality food. Always reserve a table.
Fekete Szakáll (Black Beard) Restaurant
Address: Dohány utca 5/b., VII. district
Tel: 269 6549
A mid-priced resturant with international dishes.
Shailmar Indian Restaurant
Address: Dob utca 50., VII. district,
Telephone: (+36 1) 352 0297, 352 0305
Read more about Shalimar on our Indian Restaurants in Budapest page.
More Jewish Sights in Pest
Next to the synagogue in Páva Street opened the Holocaust Memorial Center (Holokauszt Emlékközpont) in 2004.
Address: Páva utca 39., X. district, M3 metro, trams 4,6 Ferenc körút
stop
Opening hours:
Tue-Sun: 10.00-18.00
Admission: 1000 HUF, audio guide in English and in Hungarian: 500 HUF
The building of the Holocaust Memorial Center - a combination of classical and modern architecture
The Center's permanent exhibition titled From the Deprivation of Rights to Genocide depicts the persecution, suffering and massacre of Hungarian Jews and Romas committed in the name of nazi ideology.
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