The Jewish community of Budapest convened this week in the city's Obuda neighborhood to celebrate the rededication of one of its oldest synagogues. Israel's Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger travelled to Hungary in order to attend the joyous ceremony.
Although the synagogue was originally opened for religious services almost two centuries ago in 1821, it has not been used as a Jewish house ofn prayer for five decades. In the 1960s, it was converted into a textile museum, and later used as a studio for Hungarian state television.
Last week an Israeli cultural institute was opened in Budapest. According to the Jewish Agency, the center will offer Hebrew lessons and lectures, concerts, theater, art exhibits, and a cafe for socializing. Hungary has a Jewish community of approximately 100,000.
