Synagugues of Budapest By Guy Shachar

1
?????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????
???? ????????????. ??? ??? ??? ????? ???????,
?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ??
??. ?????, ????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????
??? ????? ?????. ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??
??????, ??????? ???? ???????? ????...
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is an
interesting city, rich with architectural
treasures. As in many big European cities,
domes and towers of its cathedrals and public
buildings rise high in the skyline. However, a
significant contribution to the urban landscape
of Budapest is made by its synagogues. Lets go
out to tour some of Budapests synagogues the
frequented ones, as well as less familiar ones...
2
(No Transcript)
3
"??? ????? ?????", ????? ???????. ??? ?????
??????? ?????????? ????? ????. ???? ????? ??????,
????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ????. ???? ??????
?????? ?????? ???????, ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????.
The Great Synagogue is the biggest of its kind
in Europe. One of the most popular sights among
tourists. Located in Dohány Street, in the Jewish
quarter right in the busy city center. The
Jewish community establishments are situated
nearby, for the service of several tens of
thousands of members of the Jewish community.
4
?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????, ?? ??
?????. ??? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???????
????'????, ????? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ????
???? ????? ????, ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?????.
If the synagogues architectural form is
reminiscent of a mosque, that is not a
coincidence. It was designed under influences of
the Ottomans who left their mark on this area
long after they were defeated.
5
And there it is from the inside. What does it
look like this time ??
???? ??? ????? ????? ! ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??
6
??, ??? ???? ???????. ????? ?? ????? ????? ???
???? ????? ? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???
????????? ???? ????. ??? ?? ????? - ????? ????
???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ??????????
????? ??? ????? ???? ? ??, ??? ??? -??? ?????
????? ?"? ?????? ?????? ?????. ???? ????? ????
?-19 ????? ????? ??????.
Well, some similarities to a cathedral can be
identified... Theres a pipe organ high above,
and the two side stands are also not exactly
typical to synagogues. Well, do you expect the
cantor to shout while people in the back of this
huge hall are chatting ? By the way this
synagogue was designed by an Austrian Catholic
architect. It was built in the middle of the
19th century, and was renovated during the 1990s.
7
OK. There are 22 synagogues in Budapest. I think
it's about time to explore some of those that are
not frequented by tourists.  Maybe something
interesting will unfold ?
???. ?? 22 ??? ???? ???????. ??? ?? ???? ?????
???? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ? ????
???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ?
8
This synagogue is located on Rumbach Street, just
two minutes walk from The Great Synagogue. It is
also decorated with Islamic motifs, which is
actually not surprising, bearing in mind that
both in Judaism and Islam, figures and statues
are out of the question.
??? ???? ????? ???? ????? ?????, ???? ?? ??? ???
????, ????? ?????. ?? ??? ???? ??????? ????
??????? ??????? ????? ???????, ????? ?? ?? ?????,
?? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? "????
?????".
9
???? ????? ????? ????...
And here is its glorious facade ...
10
Unfortunately, this synagogue is neglected and
closed. But rumors say that it is about to be
renovated.
????? ????, ??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????,
???? ?????, ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????.
11
????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??????. ??,
??? ?????? ????? "???", ???? ??? ???? ????? ????,
?? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????, ??? ???? ????? ???
?? ??? ????. ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????
?????? ?????, ??? ??? ?? ???? ??????, ?? ?????
???? ?????.
Lets walk a little bit further to Kazinczy
Street, where we encounter another beautiful
synagogue, just near the Hanna kosher
restaurant. Its not easy to admire the facade,
since on the other side of the narrow street
theres a building. In order to enter the
synagogue, the guard should be found first, but
hes not seen around, so well come back later...
12
In the meantime lets take a bus to Árpád Street,
on the banks of the Danube on the Buda
side. There, on the corner of Kavics Street we
encounter an interesting sight...
??????? ???? ???????? ????? ?????? (??? ???
?????? ??, ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????? ????
???'????), ?? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ????. ???
???? ???? ??????...
13
A beautiful synagogue is locked within an
apartment building courtyard.
??? ???? ????? "????" ???? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??
?????.
14
The courtyard should be entered quietly, so as
not to disturb the neighbors...
??? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????
???? ??? ?????? ??????...
15
The sight of the synagogue from one of the
balconies is impressive, with the Danube in the
background.
???? ??? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? (??? ???? ??
??? ??????) ???? ??????, ?? ?????? ?????? ????
?????? ????.
16
????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ??????. ????? ????
????, ????? ?? ??? ?????. ???? ????? ????? !
And now back in the synagogue of Kazinczy
Street. The guard reluctantly unlocks the door,
and what a pleasant surprise !
???? ??? ????? ????? ?????, ?? ???????? ???.
The synagogue is modestly decorated, but with
distinct esthetics.
17
The hour is Gimel and Nun-Beit minutes.
???? ???? ????-??? ????.
18
???? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ???????, ???????'??
?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???????.
Pay attention to the Star of David decorations on
the chandeliers, the vitrages on the arched
ceiling, and the five-branched version of the
Menorah.
19
And this vitrage is located above the ark.
????, ???????' ???? ???? ???? ?????.
20
?????? ?????? ???????' ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??
?????
We conclude this presentation with a picture of
the vitrage located on the central dome of the
roof.
21
600,000 ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ?"? ?????? ????
????? ????? ?????. ???? ?? ?????? ?????.
600,000 people of the Jewish community of Hungary
were murdered by the Nazis at the end of World
War II. This presentation is dedicated to their
memory.
22
???? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ???????
Note the new domain name and upgraded site
http//www.guyshachar.com
??? ??? Guy Shachar 9/2003