Szia (Jewish) Budapest: Overview

Topics: Introduction * The Jewish history in a nutshell * World War II * Jewish cemeteries * The Griesz mausoleum on the Kozma utca Jewish cemetery * Private tour: Kozma utca Jewish cemetery * Private tour: Synagogues in Budapest * Jewish Summer Festival (Zsidó Nyári Fesztivál)

Introduction

Jewish Budapest: very interesting and a part of Budapest that, according to the humble opinion of Julius, especially deserves attention if you stays in Budapest.

Budapest without the official Jewish Quarter and Jewish inhabitants... it would make the city a lot more boring. The VII. district, the official Jewish Quarter, is a vibrant part of town, but also in other parts of Budapest are very much Jewish influences. In fact there are more Jewish neighbourhoods.

In the articles about this subject on Szia Budapest, Julius tries to describe the influence of the Jewish community on the history of Budapest, especially in the period from about 1890 to 1945. For example: the majority of the architects whom were responsible for the construction of most of the beautiful Art Nouveau buildings, were from Jewish origin.

Also the horrors of the Holocaust have put a mark on the contemporary city, which no one can or may ignore. Understanding what has happened and that this part of the history may not be forgotten, is visible on the VII. Király utca. Early 2010 the rebuilding took place of the last part of the wall surrounding the ghetto. This last part was destroyed in 2006, obviously when there was  less sense of history. Unfortunately the wall is not rebuilt to its original state. Gradually new pages/articles on Jewish Budapest will be added. (Photo: part of the facade of the building belonging to the Orthodox synagogue on the VII. Dob utca 35. Architects: Béla and Sándor Löffler (1912-1913))

The Jewish history in a nutshell

This page briefly describes the history of Jewish Budapest, from early times to the present.

In a few chapters the history of Óbuda, Buda, Pest and Budapest is described as well as an chapter about the Jewish neigbourhoods in Budapest, because the district around the main synagogue is not the only district with many Jewish influences. Last but not least a small chapter about Jewish Budapest after World War II. (Photo: Window in a former synagogue in district XIII. of Budapest)

World War II

The horrors of World War II and the Holocaust also in Budapest led to horrific atrocities. But, the Jewish population of Budapest had, relatively seen, until early 1944 less problems than Jewish people who were living outside Budapest. That has changed dramatically from March 1944 untill mid January 1945. A period which had been even more dramatic without people like Raoul Wallenberg and Carl Lutz. They have saved the lifes of tens of thousands of Jews. (Photo: The "shoes" monument to commemorate the Jewish inhabitants whom were shot dead at the borders of the Danabue but first have to put of their shoes, because leather was expensive)

Jewish cemeteries

Budapest has, as far as known, in 2012 still 19! Jewish cemeteries, both Neolog and Orthodox. On the pages belonging to this subject, you'll get idescriptions of all Jewish cemeteries. The biggest 4 are described on seperate pages, the other do have a more brief description with a photograph of the cemetery. The majority of these smaller cemeteries are no longer in use.

Especially on the Kozma utca Jewish cemetery and the Sálgotarjáni utca Jewish cemetery are beautiful tombs and other monuments to find, designed between approx. 1900 and 1920 by famous Jewish architects like Béla Lajta and Emil Vidor. (Photo: impression of the dilapidated graves on the Salgótarjáni utca Jewish cemetery)

The Griesz mausoleum

During a private tour given by Julius at the Kozma utca Jewish cemetery (see below) you are also able to view the beautiful Griesz mausoleum with your own eyes to see. It is one of the numerous monuments on this cemetery with breathtaking mosaics.

Unfortunately, the mausoleum in a poor condition and deserve in the shortest possible term a restoration. With the publication of detailed pictures, Szia Budapest tries to get more attention for this monument and the hope that therefore action will be taken to ensure that also the future generation can enjoy the beauty of the Griesz mausoleum.

Private tour: Kozma utca Jewish cemetery

One of theprivate tours that Julius has developed takes you to the huge Kozma utca Jewish cemetery in Budapest. On this cemetery over 300,000 Jews are buried and the cemetery is still in use.

During this private tour you are able to view the most beautiful grave monuments, like e.g. mausoleums, from the period between 1900 and 1920 as well as the impressive Holocaust memorial. But you will also see a very modern, liberal, Jewish cemetery which in the eyes of purists without any doubt is is pagan. This because of  graves with, for example, a miniature car on it or graves with a human statue.(Photo: the entrance of the Kozma utca Jewish cemetery)

Private tour: Synagogues in Budapest

Until the tragedy began that the Jewish inhabitants of Budapest strucks from, mainly, 1944, the city had a very large and vibrant Jewish population. This entailed that there are many houses of worship or synagogues and between cca..1885 and 1930 several new synagogues were built.

After World War II, several of them lost their function as a Jewish prayer house, but they are still recognizable as such. During this private tour you can see (from the outside), 9 of these synagogues located throughout the city. (Photo: former synagogue in the outskirts of Budapest)

Jewish Summer Festival (Zsidó Nyari Fesztivál)

Not only music, but a festival devoted to Jewish culture, with many events. In 2012 the festival will be held from the end of August 25 to early September.

Julius visited the festival several times and was very impressed about the organization, the high quality of the concerts. Especially the Israelian version of the musical Piaf (during the 2010 edition) was breathtaking and one of the most impressive perfomances that Julius ever has seen.

(Last modification: October 17, 2012)