Szentendre’s Jewish House, the intimate synagogue and community hub at 6 Patriarch Street (Pátriárka utca), is a religious and cultural center with a lifestyle twist. It’s where multiple strands of Jewish life meet: prayer, food, learning, craft, and connection. And in 2026, it’s opening its doors wide—think shared baking in a rabbi’s kitchen, themed workshops that start with a spark of learning, and salons where a life in hospitality becomes a first-person story.
Shared Baking, Every Month
Food made with love tastes better—especially for holiday feasts. Luckily, there’s something to celebrate every week: Shabbat anchors every Friday night. Tzivia, the rebbetzin, isn’t only serving dinner; she’s turning cooking into a communal ritual in her closely guarded kitchen. Meet her on Thursdays and bake together for the next day’s Shabbat spread. The tradition runs through the calendar: January 22, February 19 at 18:00, March 19, and June 18, all in Szentendre. Show up, roll dough, swap secrets, and taste the difference on Friday—that’s when you’ll know the food really does land better when it’s made with heart.
Fifty Years in Hospitality
January 29 brings an intimate salon on the art and craft of hosting. “Every person is a world—if a good community comes together, we can see the world together.” That’s the spirit of these evenings: members of the community step forward to share the curiosities, passions, and expertise that define their lives. The guest: Péter Havas, former head of catering at the SYMA Event Center. Expect stories from the front lines of serving thousands, and the quieter truths about what hospitality actually means.
Tapas & Company: A Mind-First Cooking Class
On February 15, Tapas & Company (Tapas & társaság) takes the kitchen to brain level. Did you know the brain accounts for 20–25% of the body’s energy use? Feed the mind so the body can feast. This themed cooking course begins each session with a short burst of learning—an appetizer for the menu—before diving into a hands-on culinary adventure. Intro learning is led by Rebbetzin Tzivia Myers; the workshop is helmed by chef Balázs Sepsi. Register and pay on site. Registration fee: about $13.70 (5,000 HUF). It’s more than technique; it’s a ritual of curiosity and taste.
Craft, Learn, Celebrate
Throughout the spring, the House stacks the calendar with easygoing learning, crafts, honest conversation, and soul-and-body-nourishing bites—each occasion distinct, never a copy-paste. Drop in on February 22 for “Good omen, umbrella? Hora’s on!”—a playful nod to gearing up for upcoming holidays. Return March 15 for “The blessing over candle lighting—applied to a wall picture,” turning tradition into art. On April 19: “Another tray? The challah awaits!” Then May 24: “Home magic? Kitchen spice!” And June 14: “Protecting women? Self-defense!” It’s practical, joyous, and made to be shared in Szentendre.
More Around Town
Szentendre keeps buzzing beyond the Jewish House. Here’s what’s on the larger cultural slate:
– January 30: Exaggeration (Túlzás), a solo stand-up by Gergely Litkai, hosted by Boldizsár Fehér. Tickets about $19.70–$22.20.
– February 1: We Will Never Be Ourselves Again (Akik már nem leszünk sosem). Tickets around $13.40.
– February 6–May 1: HARRY POTTER: the blockbuster exhibition lands in Szentendre.
– February 14: Vilmos Gryllus: Masquerade (Maszkabál). Tickets around $10.90.
– February 15: Antique and community flea market.
– February 26: What Could Go Wrong? (Mi bajunk lehet?)—a joint evening with Fruzsina Ács and Balázs Máté Szabó. Tickets about $15.60–$18.10.
– March 15: Antique and community flea market.
– March 18–22: 10th MusicMagic (ZeneVarázslat) International Four-Hands and Two-Piano Competition and Course.
– March 23: How Do We Break Inherited Family Patterns? A talk by Noémi Orvos-Tóth. Tickets around $21.40–$26.80.
– April 19, May 17, June 21, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, December 20: monthly antique and community flea markets keep the treasure hunt alive.
– June 5: The Digital Ninja—Péter Aranyosi’s solo show. Tickets about $24.90.
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs without notice.
