Dear Reader, Our magazine and travel guide addresses explicitly visitors from Israel. Packed with practical and upto-date information, it will serve you well during your entire stay in Hungary and Budapest. The shopaholic and the true gourmand, the chilledout café-lover and the family person will each find their penny’s worth in our booklet. From Jewish cultural-historical hotspots to an array of program possibilities, we come handy whenever, wherever. For further information, address the Jewinform office of the Budapest Jewish Community. Viszontlátásra! (Read on and you will understand the term!) Judit Markovitz Representative of Jewinform in Israel
Judit Markovitz
Jewinform Address: Budapest, Síp utca 12. Tel: +36 1 462-0477 Website: www.jewinform.hu and www.jewinform.co.il Email: info@jewinform.hu First steps….
Dictionary for the Clueless but Curious Hungarian language is quite tongue-twisting and has no connection with the main European languages such as English, German or French however using any of these simple expressions are warmly welcome by locals and who knows, it may come handy for you outside Hungary as well one day. Hello – Jó napot! Hi – Szia! How are you? – Hogy vagy? Thank you! – Köszönöm! Yes – Igen No – Nem
Please – Kérem / Legyen szíves Good – Jó All right / OK - Rendben What’s your name? – Mi a neve? Pleased to meet you. – Örvendek. Cheers – Egészségedre! Restaurant - Étterem How much is this? – Mennyibe kerül? Excuse me! – Elnézést! I don’t understand! – Nem értem! Where is…? – Hol van…? Street – utca Square - tér Help! – Segítség! Police – Rendőrség See you later! - Viszontlátásra!
Dear Reader
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TOP Free sights of the city Budapest in the past few years has become such a colorful and varied cosmopolitan city with a great choice of sights and architectural beauty scattered around in all parts of the city that wanderers can have a splendid time without having to enter any institution requiring a fee.
Chain Bridge and the Danube promenade The first bridge connecting Pest and Buda became a symbol of the city with the iconic lions watching over it on both ends. By today more bridges of the city were given floodlight but it is still Budapest’s most shining point in the evening. Taking a walk on the Danube promenade is an excellent choice to start or end a pleasant evening.
Heroes’ Square The most spacious square of Budapest with the magnificent Millenary Monument in its center was constructed to celebrate the thousandth anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian State in 1896. The monument’s statues include tribe leaders and prominent figures of Hungarian history.
Széchenyi Chain
Buda Castle area Narrow cobbled-stoned streets, a magnificent church, a bastion with the most perfect view , a palace in which kings used to live and monuments that date back to the middle ages make this part of the city the richest in sights, no wonder it was added to the World Heritage List in 1987.
Andrássy Avenue This splendid boulevard runs from downtown up to the City Park with gorgeous villas, palaces and decorated buildings lined up on both sides. The first metro line of the European continent is running exactly beneath the avenue. It is part of the World Heritage sights since 2002.
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TOP Free sights of the city
Buda Castle
Citadel on Gellért Hill Located on Gellért Hill nowadays it serves as the best viewpoint of the city where both sides of the Danube can be seen with the most important sights and bridges. Sights of the Gellért Hill include the 14 meter tall Statue of Liberty, the statue of Bishop St Gellért, the Gellért Hill Cave with Chapel in the rock.
Margaret Island This ideally located and easily accessible car-free island on the river Danube is a perfect venue for recreation, relaxation and fun all year long. Its main landmarks include medieval ruins, a small Japanese Garden, a tiny zoo, a music fountain, an open air theater, a lido and open air bars.
Some more tips: --Walking along the Margaret bridge - in the evening you can see the floodlit Buda Castle and the Parliament building. The latter is the greatest building in Hungary and the second largest Parliament building in Europe.
Fisherman’s Bastion
--The tomb of Gül Baba in Buda – visit the beautiful memorial place of this Turkish leader, this part of Buda is so hidden even locals might have never been there before. The tomb of “the Father of Roses” was built between 1543 and 1548. Address: District II, Mecset utca 14. --Market Halls - besides the Main Market Hall located next to the Pest side of the Liberty bridge the other smaller market halls are also worth a visit. They offer a peek into the locals’ every day life and a chance to grab some quick traditional meals like lángos – a deep fried flat bread traditionally eaten with grated cheese and sour cream. Other markets are in Hold u. (V), Klauzál square (VII), Lehel square (XIII) and Fény u. (II).
Top Sights requiring an entrance fee:
Margaret Island
--Thermal Baths are one of the most popular attractions of the city that both locals and tourists adore. The most popular baths are the Széchenyi (co-educated), Gellért (art-nouveau), Rudas (Turkish) and Lukács (with medical services). --Religious sights: Synagogues, Basilica and the Matthias Church. --Budapest Zoo – most exciting and romantic place in the heart of the City Park. --Parliament – largest building of Hungary (guided tours in Hebrew at 10.30 and 13.30).
Great Market Hall
TOP Free sights of the city
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What’s On? – Event planner All year long there are plenty of events around Budapest from jazz concerts to ballet performances and from exhibitions to large scale festivals. The permanent exhibitions and the guaranteed, regular programs make sure that whenever you visit Budapest you will be entertained. Below there are some highlights of the season but it’s worth going to the Jewinform Office at the entrance of the Main Synagogue in Dohány street for the latest up-to-date program tips and tickets. Ethnographic Museum
Exhibition highlights Museum of Ethnography Amazonia - Paths to the Indians 15 July 2011 - 24 June 2012 Budapest History Museum Museum in National Square – The National Theatre Opened 200 Years Ago 20 March 2012 – 30 September 2012 Hungarian National Gallery Rippl-Ronai – Pieces of Art from Hands of Old Collectors 26 October 2011- 23 September 2012
Hungarian National Museum
Franz Liszt Museum and Research Centre Liszt and Budapest 18 March 2011 – 01 October 2012 Ludwig Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art Robert Mapplethorpe 25 May 2012 – 30 September 2012
Ludwig Museum
Museum of Fine Arts Cézanne and the past 25 October 2012 – 17 February 2013
Buda Castle
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What’s On? – Event planner
Concert highlights Sting Concert – 26 June 2012 at Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena Bryan Adams Concert – 29 July 2012 at Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Morse Concert – 1 August 2012 at Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena
Festival Highlights VOLT Festival 27-30 June 2012 in Sopron Organized in the Western part of the country, home of quality red wine, this festival’s 2012 highlight will be the Skrillex nominated for 5 Grammies this year. Balaton Sound Festival 12-15 July 2012 in Zamárdi In the heat of the summer there is nothing better but a great festival right next to the lake. This successful and popular festival’s 2012 hit will be Björk’s performance.
Sziget Festival 6-13 August 2012 on the Óbuda Island The most popular youth festival of the city will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. On various stages during 5 days visitors from all over Europe enjoy freedom, great concerts and cultural exchanges. This year’s star group is The Stone Roses. The festival was voted as best at the European Festival Awards out of 25 great European Festivals in 2012. Jewish Summer Festival 26 August – 2 September 2012 Yearly held festival organized in the last week of summer to celebrate Jewish tradition and multicultural life with colourful program on gorgeous venues including the Dohány Street Synagogue. www.jewishfestival.hu For more information please visit the Jewinform Information Office in Budapest at the Dohány Street Synagogue (Herzl Square) or at the central office (7th District, Síp u. 12.). Tel.: +36-1-462-0477, jewinform@gmail.com, www.jewinform.co.il
What’s On? – Event planner
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Shopping and Souvenirs Regardless to your interest, Budapest offers a wide range of quality items for shopping such as fashion items of emerging Hungarian designers, traditional shoes, high quality porcelain, traditional food or memorable souvenirs.
Streets for Shopping In the past years several streets of the city turned into thematic shopping streets offering a large variety of quality stores and a convenient and enjoyable way of arranging shopping. The most prominent of all is the Andrássy Avenue that is a broad boulevard leading from downtown up to City Park. In the zone close to the Opera House are the stores of successful luxury brands as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry and many more. The downtown area marks the main shopping street of Budapest, the Váci street starting at the impressive Vörösmarty square and ending at the Central Market Hall. Its full length and many of the neighboring streets are pedestrian zones making shopping comfortable.
Ecseri market
Emerging Hungarian Designers’ Shops and Showrooms Abodi Dóra – District IX, Ráday u. 9. Je suis belle Showroom – District V, Ferenciek tere 11. (Párisi Udvar) - Tue-Fri: 12-19 USE Unused – District V, Szervita tér 5. Tóth Bori – District VI, Hajós u. 25. Imogen – at Black Box Concept Store, District V, Irányi u. 18. Nanushka Showroom – District I, Csónak u. 7. (by appointment) Anh Tuan Showroom – District VI, Rózsa u. 74. (by appointment)
Flea Markets The most important flea market of the city is called Ecseri laying on a 16 500 sqm territory. It offers visitors valuable paintings, furniture as well as junk and fun items. Large part of it is covered from rain and the busiest times are early Saturday
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Shopping and Souvenirs
Gouba
mornings. Visited by locals and tourists alike, it is a 25 minutes ride on the Bus no. 54 from Boráros square. Between spring and autumn the long passage way of the recently renovated Gozsdu Court in downtown is the venue of the Gouba – Gozsdu Bazaar market open every Sunday between 10 am and 7 pm.
Shopping Malls The largest shopping mall of the city WestEnd opened 10 years ago next to the Western Railway Station close to the center making the shopping comfortable especially in cold weather and topping shopping experience with other services such as restaurants and cinemas. The two most popular malls on the Buda side are the elegant Mom Park and the large Mammut that houses discotheques as well. On the Pest side people enjoy going to Aréna close to the Eastern Railway station built on the former venue of a racecourse and the brand new Allee and Corvin shopping malls that are easy to reach by tram no. 4/6.
Tips for Original Hungarian Souvenirs Any item of the two high quality Hungarian porcelain and ceramics manufacturer Herendi and Zsolnay can be a well appreciated gift available around town on several points. The model “Budapester” is known for high quality gentleman shoe lovers worldwide and handmade
shoes are available at Vass Shoe and other shoe manufacture stores around Váci utca. The most famous wine of the country is the Aszú dessert wine from Tokaj, a sweet wine made of handharvested grapes is a good idea for wine lovers. If you got the vibe of real Hungarian food you might get some ground “piros paprika” spice that is the base for most of the traditional Hungarian dishes - sold in a cloth sachet in markets and souvenir shops. Vince Publishing’s photo book collection includes one especially on Jewish Budapest with the photos of László Lugosi Lugo. Hungarian design souvenirs are available at the Gouba market organized in Gozsdu court each Sunday. Herendi Store – District VI, Andrássy út 16. Zsolnay Store - District XIII, Pozsonyi út 11. Ajka Crystal store – District V, Kossuth Lajos u. 10. Pálinka House – District VIII, Rákóczi út 17. Vass Shoe – District V, Haris köz 2. Central Market Hall – for souvenirs and paprika – District IX, Vámház körút 1-3. (on the Pest side of Liberty bridge)
Shopping and Souvenirs
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Hungarian Cuisine and Restaurants Goulash: served as a soup very rich in ingredients from beef to carrots, potatoes and paprika spice. Pörkölt: stew dish made of beef or pork served with noodle and sour cream, pickles Chicken paprika: chicken and paprika based dish thickened with sour cream and served with noodle Fish soup: traditionally prepared in kettle on open air from river fish with paprika spice – of course Stuffed cabbage: the leaves of the cabbage are filled with minced meat and served with sour cream Pancakes: either sweet or the version with minced meat is a popular local starter called “Hortobágyi” When visiting a confectionery try any of these local sweets: Dobos cake, Esterhazy cake, “Somló” sponge cake, Gerbeaud slice, strudel with all kinds of fillings and anything with walnut or poppyseed is regarded very Hungarian.
Traditional Hungarian cuisine is very varied, most of the dishes are meat based but there is a large selection of meat-free dishes, desserts and soups as well. Let’s have a quick view at the major traditional dishes you should try while in Hungary:
Goulash
Restaurants with Jewish Cuisine: Carmel – located in the heart of the Jewish district serving delicious glatt kosher dishes. Address: District VII, Kazinczy u. 31. Hanna Kosher Restaurant – orthodox kosher restaurant in the courtyard of the Kazinczy synagogue opened in the 60s. Address: District VII. Dob u. 35. Cari Mama Pizzeria – kosher pizza and pasta and bakery open from 7 am every day except Saturday. Address: District VII, Kazinczy utca 28. – opposite the orthodox synagogue. Hummus Point – hummus, falafel and sandwiches (glatt-kosher). Address: District VII, Dohány u. 1/b.
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Hungarian Cuisine and Restaurants
Fisherman’s Soup
Kosher Restaurant ’Carmel’
Meat Point – burgers, sandwiches, salads (glattkosher). Address: District VII, Wesselényi utca 16. Kosher Shop – District VII, Dob utca 16.
Restaurants of the Jewish Quarter offering non-kosher Jewish food and more Spinoza – available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this café-theatre-restaurant offers delicious Hungarian-Jewish food all day. Klezmer shows on Friday from 7 pm. Address: District VII, Dob u. 15. Yiddishe Mamma Mia – located in the renovated Gozsdu Courtyard laying between Dob and Király streets this restaurant offers the best of Jewish and Italian cuisine on one plate. Kádár Eatery – located next to the Market Hall on Klauzál square this eatery is a phenomenon famous for its cholent open only lunch time. Address: District VII, Klauzál square 9.
Confectionaries Frőhlich Kosher Confectionary – the only kosher confectionary East side from Zürich open since the 50s. Address: District VII, Dob 22. Café Noé confectionary – on the corner of Wesselényi street and Kazinczy street you can find this intimate coffee house offering delicious floudni, cakes and sandwiches. VII, Wesselényi utca 13.
Vegetarian Restaurants Falafel Faloda – salad bar and self service restaurant with soups, salads, falafel, vegetable dishes and sweets. Address: District VI, Paulay Ede u. 53. Hummus Bar – Delicious food from Israel in the heart of Budapest now on four venues. Addresses: District V: Alkotmány utca 20. (vegetarian) and Október 6. u. 19. (meat), Kecskeméti utca 1. (vegetarian) and District XIII, Hollár Ernő utca 6. (vegetarian)
Kék Rózsa (Blue Rose) – located right behind the Dohány street synagogue this restaurant offers delicious traditional Hungarian dishes on reasonable prices. Add.: VII, Wesselényi u. 9. Kőleves – open every day from noon until midnight on the corner of Kazinczy and Dob utca with a nice interior, reasonable prices and Matzo balls soup, hummus and cholent on their menu.
Jewish cuisine outside the district Rosenstein – family owned and managed Jewish restaurant where the owner is the chef. Proud of its familiar atmosphere, dishes and regular clientele.
Flódni
Fülemüle – traditional restaurant with homemade Central European Jewish and Hungarian dishes, and regular clientele managed by the Singer family. Address: District VIII, Kőfaragó utca 5. Symbol – located in Óbuda this complex is home to a sports pub, a fusion restaurant, café and lounge and a music club. Address: District III, Bécsi út 56.
Confectionary Fröhlich
Hungarian Cuisine and Restaurants
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Govinda Restaurant - Successful vegetarian restaurant chain already on three venues: near Chain Bridge in Vigyázó F. u. 4, near Elizabeth Bridge at Veres Pálné u. and in Buda at Budapest, Lukács utca 1. offering good quality and variety of healthy vegetarian dishes.
For traditional or Modern Hungarian Cuisine: Menza – with the reinvented Hungarian dishes, retro decoration and reasonable prices it is one of the most popular places for eating out on trendy Liszt Ferenc square.
Humus
Klassz – On splendid Andrássy Avenue this bistro style restaurant and wine bar offers great food for reasonable prices and includes a wine store within. Open Mon-Sat 11.30-23.00 and Sun 11.30-18.00. Gundel – traditional long established and prominent restaurant in the entrance of the City Park offering Hungarian cuisine and providing culinary experience for more than 100 years now. Kisbuda Gyöngye – located in Óbuda part this restaurant offers traditional Hungarian cuisine not only in food but in decoration as well with piano music. Bock Bistro – located on the ground floor of beautiful Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal and bearing the name of a famous local red wine producer from Villány and serving very Hungarian dishes. Costes – the first Michelin starred restaurant of Hungary close to Kálvin square with a perfectionist attitude that guarantees high and steady quality.
Restaurant ’Menza’
Onyx – part of the Gerbeaud building on elegant Vörösmarty square this restaurant is the finest example of tradition and evolution on a plate received a Michelin star in 2011. Borkonyha (Wine Kitchen) – this newly opened restaurant quickly became the new favorite for locals and visitors in seek of fine dining. Located near the Basilica in Sas u. 3. Restaurant ’Costes’
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Hungarian Cuisine and Restaurants
Alabárdos – one of the best restaurants of the city for years offering refined traditional dishes in an elegant environment close to the Matthias Church in the Castle area. Address: I., Országház u. 2.
Coffee Houses and Confectioneries: Gerbeaud – elegant location, gorgeous building, a great terrace to watch passers-by, offering a delicious cake bearing the name of its former owner Emil Gerbeaud.
Gerbeaud Confectionary
Centrál – traditional coffee house frequented by artists and intellectuals now in revival again with superb cakes and pastries. New York – the most luxurious coffee house with a richly decorated interior. It is part of the five-star Boscolo hotel. Művész – this café house opposite the Opera House on Andrássy Avenue evokes the times of the turn-of-the century with a salon like interior with large comfortable chairs and gold-plated frames.
New York Cafe
Szamos Gourmet House – the famous local marzipan maker family opened its brand new gourmet coffee house, chocolate salon and confectionary in the most beautiful new building of downtown: District V, Váci u. 1. Tips to eat like locals: --Lunch menus are available at most of the restaurants providing an economical way to enjoy lunchtime in a nice environment. Some tips: Gerlóczy Café and Restaurant, Ring Café on Andrássy Avenue, Menza Restaurant, Fausto’s Osteria close to the Great Synagogue, Centrál Coffee House, Culinaris close to the Parliament and many more. --At the market halls and still in some downtown butcher’s shop daily changing cheap lunch is offered, the most typical is sausage with bread consumed on foot.
Centrál Cafe
--Other cheap fast food options are: Frici papa’s kitchen in Király street, Momotaro Ramen for noodle dishes, Hummus Bar on four venues, Kádár Eatery next to the Klauzál Market Hall, Szeráj Turkish Restaurant opposite the Comedy Theatre open all night long.
Resto-bar Zones The most popular is the Liszt Ferenc square next to Andrássy Avenue. The longest is the Ráday street starting from Kálvin square. The latest block of bars and restaurants is the area of Mikszáth square behind the National Museum.
Hungarian Cuisine and Restaurants
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Nightlife and entertainment Folk Traditions Folk music and folk dance still has a large popularity in today’s Hungarian society due to the operating dance houses and concerts around town where people can watch, enjoy and try the moves. Venues are: Fonó Music House, Duna Palace and the Heritage House.
Classical Music The main institutions of classical music are the Franz Liszt Music Academy, the new impressive concert halls of the Palace of Arts and the stunning Opera House where today’s world famous Hungarian stars like Zoltán Kocsis and Iván Fischer usually perform. Palace of Arts: At the end of tramway no.2. Opera House: English guided Opera House visits daily at 3 pm and 4 pm. Liszt Museum: Concerts every Saturday at 11am.
Unique and rich entertainment options have become one of the main strengths of Hungary’s tourism appeal in the last years due to the international fame of the classical music performances and the booming ruin pub culture. Budapest is very proud of leading Lonely Planet’s “100 great bars of the world” with A38 Ship (number 1) and Szimpla Kert (number 2) venues – you should definitely visit them!
Classical music
Live Music Budapest’s nightlife is famous for the bars offering quality live music of different genres from jazz to blues and from swing to rock. Jazz music is one of the most popular and is available at bars like Budapest Jazz Club, Take Five, Jelen and Jedermann.
Having Some Drinks If you enjoy spending hours at a bar or a pub while having some drinks and a good chat with friends then Budapest is your place. If you enjoy good wine, visit the new and trendy wine bars of the city like Drop Shop, Dobló, Winebar, L’Enoteca and the new Innio wine bar. For those who prefer visiting classy cocktail bars try Bacardi Original Bar, Negro Bar, Minyon Bar, Bar Domby or Ba Bar Lounge Café.
Opera house
Let’s Go Dancing Those who not only enjoy listening to nice music but also feel the moves and like dancing will also find their options in Budapest. The so-called “Broadway of Pest” just off Andrássy Avenue is home to many dancing venues like Instant, Szilvuplé, B7 and Moulin Rouge. Close to the
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Nightlife and entertainment
Doblo
Gresham Palace there are two discotheque-like fancy bars called Ötkert and Creol both of them with dance floors and DJs every night. The most popular concert venues of the city include the downtown Gödör Club, the fun A38 Ship, the underground Dürer kert and the unusual Corvintető on the roof of a department store. Merlin and Mono are the best for electronic music. The new highlights of the Jewish district’s dancing venues are the recently opened Gozsdu Manó Klub (GMK) in Gozsdu Court, the Mika Tivadar Mulató in Kazinczy street and Doboz in Kaluzál street. In the summertime large discotheques are available on the Óbudai Island such as Studio, Dokk Club, Bed Beach and Pink. The large shopping mall on the Buda side, Mammut2 is also housing several discotheques where visitors dance until they can.
Quick guide for ruin bar hopping 1. Szimpla Kert – your journey should definitely begin in this authentic ruin pub, one of the first of its kind offering laid-back surroundings, live music, drinks and international clientele.
2. Szóda – named after the popular sparkling water of the locals, soda plus wine make fröccs (spritzer) a must-try of the Hungarian bar scene. Dance floor available in its basement. 3. Fogasház – more than just a pub it operates as a cultural venue with a contemporary gallery, concerts and film clubs. 4. Grandio – located in the internal garden of an old apartment house filled with trees and plants where strange statues, table tennis and backpackers all feel natural. 5. Kuplung – a successful mix of artists’ workshop and entertainment since 2004 with contemporary artists creating works daytime and organizing events for the night. 6. Sirály – offering the same laid back atmosphere this place is also known as the cultural centre for young Jewish locals with great theatre performances and civil events.
Nightlife and entertainment
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TOP Jewish Heritage Sights of Budapest Dohány Street Synagogue The largest synagogue of Budapest and the second largest in the world is one of the major tourist attractions of Budapest due to its size, beauty, good location and internal attractions. The synagogue has an important cultural role and is the main performance venue of the long established and internationally popular Jewish Summer Festival organized each year.
Jewish Quarter The Jewish Quarter of Budapest located in the 7th district’s inner part is getting more and more local and international attention due to its unique and incomparable atmosphere. Besides the Dohány Street Synagogue, there are two other synagogues, kosher restaurants and confectioneries, a mikveh, Jewish schools and institutions, trade shops and bars.
The history of Jewish communities of the city date back to the 13th century and the first synagogue was built in 1307 in Buda. In the 17th century the Turkish ruled Buda’s Jewish community was the most significant Jewish community in Mediaeval Europe. Between the two world wars there were more than 200 000 Jews and 125 synagogues in Budapest and the community was largely contributing to the modernization success of the city. During the Holocaust 600 000 Hungarian Jews were killed and nowadays the number of Jews in Hungary is about 111 000 making it one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe that keeps Jewish traditions and culture alive.
Shoes on the Danube promenade The Holocaust memorial statue composition of sixty par iron shoes stands in memory of the victims of Fascism during World War II. The shoes symbolize the people who were shot into the Danube. Those who wish to have a closer look should walk down at the Chain Bridge to the river bank direction Parliament.
The Páva Street Synagogue and the Holocaust Memorial Center This synagogue of the 9th district was erected in 1923 based on the plans of the famous synagogue architect Lipót Baumhorn and was in poor condition until it became part of the modern Holocaust Memorial Centre and entirely renovated by 2004. Beside the impressive permanent and
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TOP Jewish Heritage Sights of Budapest
Fence of Dohány Street Synagogue
temporary exhibitions the whole center’s unique architectural solutions help remembrance and no visitor can stay unaffected. Address: District IX, Páva utca 39.
Raoul Wallenberg Memorials He was a Swedish diplomat and humanitarian who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews from being deported during the WWII. Several memorials around town remember him and his life-saving efforts. People saved by Wallenberg include biochemist Lars Ernster, and Tom Lantos, later a member of the United States House of Representatives.
Goldmark Hall and the Family Research Centre Behind the Dohány street synagogue the recently renovated Talmud Torah is located housing the multifunctional cultural events hall, the Goldmark Hall that gives home to the Jewish Quarter Exhibition. On the first floor visitors can search for their Hungarian-Jewish ancestors in the Family Research Centre with the help of a knowledgeable staff. To arrange appointment please contact: +36 1 413 55 47 or family@milev.hu. Address: Wesselényi u. 7. Opening hours: same as the Dohány street synagogue
Cemetery of Kozma street - the greatest Jewish cemetery of Hungary
Raoul Wallenberg
Goldmark Hall
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The row of mausoleums includes works of art from famous architects in art deco and art nouveau style. The row of the rabbis is an important place of pilgrimage today. Most significant of these is the tomb of the famous leader of the rabbi council, Oppenheimer Simon Ben who died at the age of 100 and whose grave is always loaded with memorial stones, messages and prayers. Address: District VIII, Kozma u. 6. Opening hours: Winter: Sun-Fri 8-15, Summer: Sun-Fri 8-16. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
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Kozma Street Cemetery
TOP Jewish Heritage Sights of Budapest
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The Jewish District – step by step
“The Synagogue Triangle” The Dohány Street Synagogue By the 1840’s the prayer houses of the Jewish quarter of Pest could hardly take the increased number of Jewish denominations leading to the necessity of building a spacious synagogue. The result is Europe’s largest and most beautiful synagogue with a capacity for 3000 people planned by Ludwig Förster Viennese architect with a cast iron structure that was truly ahead of its time. The Jewish Museum standing on the former place of birth of Theodore Herzl was added to the main synagogue in the 1930’s. The garden next to the Temple of Heroes that commemorate the Jewish heroes of WWI became a cemetery due to the grievous constraint of WWII. Next to this stands the Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park with the statue of Imre Varga symbolizing the victims of holocaust by a weeping willow with the names of the victims on its leaves called Emanuel Memorial Tree. Address: District VII, Dohány utca 2, tel.: +36 1 462-0477, e-mail: aviv@aviv.hu, website: www.aviv. hu . Closest station: Astoria (M2). Opening hours: Winter time (till 28 Feb) Sun-Thu: 10-16, Fri: 10-14. Closed on Saturday and national holidays. Ticket office closes half an hour earlier. Guided tours are available in English and Hebrew from Sunday to Thursday hourly between 10.30 and 14.30, on Friday hourly between 10.30 and 12.30. Entry price is 2250 HUF/person, and 2650 HUF / person with guide.
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The Jewish District – step by step
Budapest is home to Central Europe’s largest Jewish community and the inner part of the 7th district is the area where the most synagogues, kosher restaurants, Jewish schools, institutions and trade shops are found. Nowadays it is one of the most exciting, most vivid and characteristic part of the city that is luckily in rise again. The quarter’s charm lies in its composition and disorder dating from the 19th century small town atmosphere. Its narrow and winding streets keep out public transportation and offer great walking tours for personal discoveries.
Dohány Street Synagogue
Rumbach Street Synagogue
The Rumbach Street Synagogue – under reconstruction Built in 1872 following the Jewish Congress of 1868 when the Jews of Hungary split into three groups founding the Orthodox, the Status quo ante and the Neologue communities. The building was designed by the famous Viennese architect Otto Wagner, father of Viennese Art Nouveau and it gave home to the Status quo-community. The building got seriously damaged during WWII and it has not been used for religious functions since 1959. Opened again in 2006 and is available for visiting. Address: District VII, Rumbach Sebestyén utca 11. Opening hours: same as for the Dohány Street Synagogue Entrance fee: HUF 500 / person
Pest. It provided a counterpart to the Dohány Street Synagogue and a religious and cultural center for the Orthodox Jewish Community of Budapest. Also a community house, a kindergarten, a TalmudSchool, a public kitchen and a butcher’s shop were built around the synagogue. The painted windows were made by the famous glass artist of the time Miksa Róth. Address: District VII, Kazinczy u. 27-29, tel.: +36 1 351-0524 Opening hours: Sun-Thu: 10-15.30, Fri: 10-12.30, Saturday closed. Entrance fee: HUF 800 / person
The Kazinczy Street Synagogue This was the last synagogue of the “Synagogue Triangle” of the Jewish quarter. Built in Art Nouveau style between 1912 and 1913 according to the plans of the Löffler brothers it stands on the site of the Autonomous Orthodox Israelite Community of Kazinczy Street Synagogue
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Dohány street Synagogue Jewinform Tourist Information Jewish Museum Talmud Torah, Goldmark Hall Rumbach street Synagogue Carl Lutz statue Gozsdu courtyard Kazinczy street Synagogue Mikve Israel Cultural Institute
The territory of the former ghetto The continuous area surrounded by the Király, Kertész (at that time called Nagyatádi Szabó), Dohány streets and Károly Boulevard was assigned in 1944 as the main ghetto where several ten thousands of Jews were crammed in inhuman circumstances. The area of the ghetto was surrounded by high fence, walls and 4 gates were created. The ghetto was liberated in January 1945 by the Soviet army. The last remaining piece of the ghetto wall stands in the inner court of 15 Király street. The memorial tablet on it has a quote from the Bible “Tell it to our sons” that has a message for the present and future generations.
Carl Lutz Memorial In 1991 at the former entrance of the ghetto of Budapest a brass memorial statue was erected in honor of Carl Lutz who served as the vice-consul of Switzerland’s Embassy in Budapest between 1942 and 45. He saved the life of more than 62 thousand Hungarian Jews by issuing Swiss safe-conduct passes for them. Address: District VII. Dob u. 10. Apart from the three different style synagogues of the area, the main attractions of the district include beautifully decorated buildings, a cultural coffee house, a market hall, hidden passageways and the unique Budapest nightlife feature, the “ruin pubs”.
Carl Lutz
Frőhlich Confectionery Hungary’s only kosher confectionery has been operating for more than 50 years in the heart of the Jewish district and up to today it is still the only one in the Central European region. Besides the traditional Jewish pastries such as floudni, Hanukkah doughnut they offer traditional Hungarian cakes as well. Address: VII. Dob u. 22.
Headstones
Carmel Kosher Restaurant Operating since 1987 this restaurant recognized and answered to the need of locals and visitors for a quality kosher restaurant so from 2008 it operates as a glatt kosher restaurant. They serve traditional Jewish meals and Hungarian dishes as well. Address: District VII. Kazinczy u. 31.
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The Jewish District – step by step
Kosher Restaurant ’Carmel’
Mikveh – the ritual bath The only mikveh after WWII in Budapest is located in Kazinczy street and was built in 2005 out of private donations. It was reconstructed according to the latest needs with several bathrooms and Jacuzzi. The mikveh only uses natural “living” water gained from the rain and a well. Address: District VII. Kazinczy u. 16. Mikve
Spinoza Café and Theatre Named after a Dutch philosopher of the 17th century this café has multiple functions. It aims to follow and revive the tradition of the cabaret culture and stages a large variety of performances. In its Jewish-Hungarian restaurant there is live music every night. Address: District VII. Dob u. 15.
Gozsdu Court This recently renovated passage that connects Király street with Dob street gives home to several high quality apartments and spacious courts. Constructed according to lawyer Manó Gozsdu’s (Emanoil Gojdu) testament in 1901. Each Sunday from spring to autumn the Gouba open air market awaits visitors with unique handmade and design products and pieces of art together with street performances and music. Address: District VII, enter from Dob u. 16 or Király u. 13. Discover the beauties and background stories of the Jewish District with a professional guided tour - the Jewish Heritage Tour includes visits to the Dohány Street Synagogue, Jewish Museum, Emanuel Tree, the Rumbach Street Synagogue, the Heroes Temple from outside and an introduction to the Jewish quarter’s everyday life. Prices for groups under 10 people: Tour no. 1: Approx. 50 minutes guided tour visiting the Dohány Street Synagogue and the Emanuel Memorial Tree for HUF 2650 / person. Tour no. 2: Approx. 90 minutes guided tour visiting the above + the Jewish Museum for HUF 3000 / person. Tour no. 3: Approx. 70 minutes guided tour for Tour no. 1 + visiting the Rumbach Street Synagogue for HUF 3400/ person.
Spinoza Cafe
Gozsdu Bazaar (Gouba)
Tour no. 4: Approx. 110 minutes guided tour no. 2 + visiting the Rumbach Street Synagogue for HUF 3650 / person. More information and booking is available at the entrance of the Dohány Street Synagogue. Tours start from 10.30 and then hourly from SunThu until 14.30 and on Fri until 12.30. Groups should book in advance. Information and group reservation availability: Tel: +36 1 462 0477, www.aviv.hu, aviv@aviv.hu.
The Jewish District – step by step
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Museums and Memorials Medieval Jewish Prayer House This Buda Castle area mansion used to be the prayer house of the Jewish community of the Mediaeval and Turkish occupation times in the street that was formerly called Jewish street (Zsidó utca). In the building there is a collection of Medieval Jewish grave stones and a series of tables on the wall reminds us of the life and history of the Jews of Buda. Permanent exhibition: The Jewish population of Buda in the Middle Ages. Address: District I. Táncsics Mihály u. 26. Open only between 1 May and 31 October: TueSun: 10-18. Entrance fee: 600 HUF
Medieval Jewish Prayer House
Hungarian Jewish Museum The Jewish Museum was founded in order to collect Jewish history’s religious and historical relics and to create a scientific workshop. Its Judaica collection is Europe’s second richest including original ritual and cultic objects that are important applied arts relics as well. The birth house of Theodore Herzl - the father of modern day Zionism and the State of Israel - used to stand in place of the museum. The museum was built in 1932 and was designed to form an integral part of the Synagogue in its style. www.zsidomuzeum.hu. Address: District VII. Dohány u. 2. – same entrance and ticket as for the synagogue
Glass House – Carl Lutz Memorial Room The building of Vadász utca 29 designed by the architect Lajos Kozma was a safe haven in 1944 for thousands of people. Carl Lutz, as the Swiss ViceConsul in Hungary helped save tens of thousands of Jews from deportation in Budapest 1942-45. In 1964, he was awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. In 2005 the Carl Lutz Foundation established a Memorial Room in the former garage of the building. It is open for the public every day from 1p.m.– 4p.m. Address: District V., Vadász u. 29.
Jewish Museum
Greenhouse
Miksa Róth
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Museums and Memorials
Miksa Roth Memorial House Miksa (Maximilian) Róth was an imperial and Royal court glass stainer artist who lived between 1865 and 1944. He and his family lived in the building now housing the museum from 1910 until his death in 1944. The front building served as a dwelling house, while the three-storey building on the opposite side of the court -under reconstruction at the moment- gave home to the workshop where he together with 15-20 employees worked on the mosaics and glass paintings. Address: 1078 Budapest, Nefelejcs utca 26. Opening hours: between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Closed on Monday.
Weeping willow
Raoul Wallenberg Memorial – the Snake Killer A copy of Pál Pátzay’s famous creation can be found in XIII district’s Szent István Park that commemorates the Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg who saved thousands during the war. The statue was to be erected there in 1949 but upon Soviet order it had been removed as Wallenberg was a captive of the Red Army. After the Soviet troops left the country in 1990 the statue was re-erected on the original venue. Address: District XIII, Szent István Park
Other Wallenberg memorials in Budapest:
National Museum
National Gallery
Street was named after him in the XIII. district and a memorial placard stands on the wall since 1989. A memorial in the II. district on Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor – erected in 1987 by sculptor Imre Varga.
Most visited museums of the city: National Museum – in this fine neo-classicist building visitors can get an overview of the nation’s history. Its permanent exhibitions include highlights from the earliest times up to the modern and contemporary history of Hungary. National Gallery – located in the Castle District, in the Royal Palace of Buda this museum owns the largest public collection of fine arts in Hungary. A separate room presents the work of the greatest
Museum of Fine Arts
renewers of 19th-century Hungarian art: Pál Szinyei-Merse, Mihály Munkácsy and László Paál. Museum of Fine Arts – built in eclecticneoclassical style between 1900 and 1906 this national museum located on Heroes’ Square houses a collection of more than hundred thousand pieces of international art.
Museums and Memorials
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Famous Hungarian Jews János Neumann (1903, Budapest – 1957, Washington) Mathematician. He is famous for launching the 20th century’s information technology revolution and a key figure in creating the theory of games. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians in modern history. Financial Times named him the Man of the Century in 1999.
Imre Kertész
János Neumann
1929, Budapest - Writer. Due to his Jewish origin he was deported to Auschwitz in 1944 (at the age of 14) and later to Buchenwald from where he was liberated in 1945. His first novel entitled “Faithlessness” was published in 1975 and is based on his experience in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. In 2002 he was awarded a Literature Nobel prize and the “Faithlessness” was screened.
Theodore Herzl
Imre Kertész
Tivadar Herzl. (1860, Pest – 1904, Edlach) Writer, politician. He is regarded as the father of the Jewish State and of modern political Zionism. Herzl’s book, ‘The Jewish State’ was published in 1896, to immediate acclaim and controversy. Today’s Jewish Museum stands in place of his birth house. He organized the first Zionist congress in 1897 and later he was elected as president.
Hanna Szenes (Chana Senesh) (1921–1944) Poet, Hungarian Jewish paratrooper, Israeli national hero. She was one of the 17 Hungarian Jews who were trained to prevent the upcoming deportation of the Hungarian Jews by a parachute action. She was arrested, imprisoned and tortured but against all odds, she refused to disclose the details of her mission. She was sentenced to death. In Israel she is respected as national hero, streets have been named after her and her diary and poems are known. Her ashes were transported to Israel in 1950 and were buried on the Herzl Hill in Jerusalem.
Tivadar Herzl
Hanna Szenes
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Famous Hungarian Jews
Joseph Pulitzer (1847, Makó, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire – 1911, United States) Publisher, journalist. Most known for the Pulitzer Prize, the most prestigious prize in journalism in the United States. He is also famous for his competition with publishing giant William Randolph Hearst that lead to the evolution of the “yellow journalism”. This type of journalism proved to be stimulating for the American democracy and media development.
Tony Curtis (1925, New York – 2010, Las Vegas) Actor, Hollywood film legend. His family immigrated to New York from Mátészalka, a city in Hungary. Most famous for his role in ‘Some like it hot’ and the film series ‘The Persuaders!’. He was proud of his Hungarian ancestry and in the beginning of 1990, Curtis and his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis helped finance the rebuilding of the “Great Synagogue” in Budapest.
Mihály Kertész (Michael Curtiz) (1886, Budapest – 1962, Hollywood) Oscar winning film director. He made his first film in 1912 in Hungary then immigrated to the United States in 1926 and changed his name to Michael Curtiz. During his long Hollywood career he filmed more than 100 movies and received an Oscar for Best Director in 1943 for the legendary Casablanca movie.
Imre “Imi” Lichtenfeld (1910, Budapest – 1998, Netanya, Israel) Creator of the Krav Maga self-defense system. He was born in Budapest and raised in Bratislava. In the 30’s when he faced abuse against Jews he learned that sports has nothing to do with real fights. Then he started to develop simple self-defence techniques. He moved to Palestine in 1940 where he thought the members of underground Israeli organizations (Hagana and Palmah). Later he modified the Krav Maga according to the civilians’ and police’s needs.
Robert Capa Born as Endre Ernő Friedmann (1913, Budapest - 1954, Indochina) Photographer, photojournalist.
Estee Lauder
Born in Budapest and travelled around the world, Robert Capa is most famous for his documentary and war correspondent pictures. His famous picture taken in the Spanish Civil War – “The Falling Soldier” brought him world-wide success and fame. Capa toured Israel after its founding, and supplied the copious photographs for a book on the new nation written by Irwin Shaw, Report on Israel.
Estée Lauder (1906 – 2004) Co-founder of Estée Lauder Inc. She was born in the USA as Josephine Esther Mentzer with Hungarian Jewish lineage. Her uncle, a chemist created a facial cream that she found so marvellous that in the next 20 years she spent time to improve this cream to the best. She was the only woman on Time magazine’s list in 1998 that presented the 20th century’s 20 most influential business people. Her son, Ronald Lauder is famous for founding the Lauder Javne Jewish schools in Vienna, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest.
Doing business in Hungary Since the changing of the regime in 1989 many foreign businesses have entered the Hungarian market from all over the world. Some businesses from Israel also found good investment opportunities in Hungary, such as: AHAVA, Gigi Cosmetics, SANO, TEVA, Cinema City, Leonardo Hotel, MUL-T-LOCK.
Famous Hungarian Jews
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Useful information Basic information Official name: Hungary. Independent, democratic republic in Central Europe. Its capital and largest city is Budapest with approx. 2 million habitants. The country is a member of the OECD, NATO, the European Union, and the Schengen Zone. Territory: 93 036 square kilometers Population: 10,005,000 Time zone: CET (UTC +1) Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF) Climate and weather Hungary and Budapest has temperate, transitional climate. January is the coldest month with -4-7°C and July is the hottest with 25-30°C. Electricity The electric current in Hungary is 220V, 50 Hz AC. In case of emergency Police: 107 Ambulance: 104 Fire department: 105 General emergency number: 112 Customs and Finance Guard Office: +36-1-3016951 Israeli Embassy: + 36 1 392 62 00. Address: District II, Fullánk utca 8. Website: www.izrael.hu Facebook: http://hu-hu.facebook.com/ IsraelinHungary Youtube: israelembassyhungary Tourist Information and tickets Jewinform Information office: Herzl Square (1072 Budapest, Dohány utca 2.) Central office: 1075 Budapest, Síp u. 12. Tel.: +36-1-462-0477 Fax: +36-1-462 0478 E-mail: jewinform@gmail.com www.jewinform.co.il and www.jewinform.hu Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10.00-16.00 Friday: 10.00-14.00
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Useful information
Entering the country Israeli citizens do not require a visa, but a passport valid for at least 6 months is necessary. Crossing the borders of the country, for example to Austria, or back to Israel is possible only with a valid passport. Getting to the city from the airport by public transport At the airport take the bus 200E all the way to the Kőbánya-Kispest terminus of the underground’s blue line that takes you to the city center (Deák square). You have to buy two tickets for this journey as whenever changing from bus to metro you will need to use new ticket. Public transport in the city For getting around the city, we suggest that you buy one-day (24h), three-day (72h) or one-week passes, but also single tickets or discount coupon book tickets are available at all stations of the underground lines. The tickets are valid for the underground, the tram network, as well as for the buses and trolleybuses. Exchanging money Under no circumstances should you exchange money at agents on the street. 1 USD - 225 HUF, 1 EUR - 295 HUF, 1 NIS - 60 HUF. General prices 1 kg plain white bread: ca. 300 HUF 1 bottle of 1.5 l mineral water: ca. 150 HUF 1 single ticket (public transport): 320 HUF A glass of Coke in a café: 500-600 HUF A glass of beer: 350-450 HUF A café latte in a café: 500-700 HUF The daily special menu in a middle range restaurant: ca. 1500 HUF In the case of an order placed via telephone, the price of a taxi within Budapest: usually below 2500 HUF.
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Dohány Street Synagogue Rumbach Street Synagogue Kazinczy Street Synagogue Shoes on the Danube Promenade Holocaust Memorial Center R.W statue - The Serpent Slayer Medieval Jewish Prayer House Glasshouse
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Buda Castle Széchenyi Chain Bridge Parliament Citadella Andrássy Street The Heroes’ Square Margharet Island City Park Great Market Hall
Imprint
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Jewinform Magazine is published by the Jewish Tourism and Cultural Centre of the Budapest Jewish Community. Publisher: Vera Vadas dr. Editor: Agnes Hanyecz Pictures are from the picture gallery of the Tourism Office of Budapest and of the Hungarian National Tourism Office.
Graphic design: GraphyCom Stúdió Printed by: Orion Média Print Kft. Translation: Turris Babel Kft. www.turrisbabel.com The publisher does not take any responsibility for the damages caused by the mistakes or changes of the information published in this magazine.
You already made a long way to Budapest – it takes only some more minutes walk to reach us.
www.narancs-liget.hu
Visit the Hungarian Jewry’s first charity shop – the Orange Grove Charity Center
Following the success of charity shops abroad on December 2011 JDC Hungary/MAZS Foundation opened a small shop just a few steps from Europe’s probably most beautiful synagogue, in a district of archaic atmosphere, among old houses. Narancsliget offers artifacts given for the purpose of charity by private people, artists and companies. The income is used to support children in need and their families. Some of the objects offered for charity are unique, and being revived in our shop they may bring joy to their new owners. Prices are low and the income will serve a good cause. If you take a walk downtown stop at our charity shop, have a look at what we offer and for sure you will find hidden treasures among the goods of our Orange Grove. CHARIT Y CEN T ER
WITH LOVE TO THE COMMUNIT Y
Address: Budapest, VII., Síp utca 14. Opening hours: on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.