Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Day Four - Budapest - Jewish Quarter


Today we joined our docent from Context Travel for a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter in Budapest. Our guide was Kata Vincze - she is smart, talented and a joy to be around. Kata  was born in Romania. She received her PhD in Contemporary Jewish Studies and definitely knows her stuff. For three hours we learned about the vibrant and ongoing history of Jews in Budapest, tracing the development of Jewish culture in the city from the Middle Ages to the present. In Budapest - the center for Jewish culture is located in the  7th district. By 1900 25% of the city was Jewish. From assimilation plans to hidden synagogues - Budapest has an amazing history. The Jewish part of Budapest was a lively center of town. Most of the Budapest Jews were never sent to concentration camps because Nazi's exportation plans failed before liberation. However, this was a difficult time and many lost their lives by being shot along the banks of the Danube river. 

Today, the modern Jewish culture has created Ruin Clubs - place for contemporary gatherings by the Jewish youth and liberal movement. 


Hero's Synagogue


Holocaust Memorial - 1990's 



Memorial tablets - Great Synagogue 


Hidden Synagogue


Orthodox Synagogue


Art Deco Synagogue


Great Synagogue


Jewish grave marker from Roman Period


Stumbling Stones - mark the homes of Jews lost in Holocaust



Memorial on banks of Danube River




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