Kid-friendly Jewish learning in Budapest’s Zsiliputi Playhouse: Friday Péntekecske and Sunday School for ages 4–14. Playful Torah, holidays, values, and community at Zsilip Center, Újpesti Embankment.
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Budapest’s Zsiliputi Playhouse is rolling out a full slate of kid-friendly Jewish learning and community events at the Zsilip Center in the 13th District, right on Újpesti Embankment (Újpesti rakpart) 1 (1137 Budapest). The two-level playhouse and its many study rooms host playful, hands-on activities for children, while adults have their own programs in the synagogue next door. Families are invited to drop in together, learn, play, and make Shabbat a shared experience.
All programs take place at the Zsilip Center, 1137 Budapest, 13th District, Újpesti Embankment (Újpesti rakpart) 1. Upcoming dates include Friday, 2026.02.27; Sunday, 2026.03.01; Friday, 2026.03.06; Sunday, 2026.03.08; Friday, 2026.03.13; and Sunday, 2026.03.15. Organizers reserve the right to change program details and times. Additional dates will be added, with a total of 14 listings planned.
Every listed Friday evening brings Péntekecske, a cozy, kid-focused Shabbat welcome inside the Zsiliputi Playhouse. While adults head to the synagogue to hear Rabbi Glitzi’s teaching, children gather with a madricha for lively programs built around the weekly Torah portion, Shabbat, and the current holiday cycle. Expect visuals, storytelling, games, and a warm, inclusive vibe. There are small gifts for good listeners, and even a raffle keeps the excitement buzzing. The message is clear: bring the whole family and let everyone learn something meaningful as Shabbat begins.
The Zsiliputi approach blends play and education so kids absorb traditions naturally. Sessions touch on weekly themes, the rhythm of Jewish time, and the what and why of customs through age-appropriate activities. The playhouse setup—two floors of kid-friendly space plus dedicated study rooms—lets the team divide groups by age and attention span, so toddlers, school-age kids, and pre-teens all get tailored content. Parents can relax knowing their children are engaged while the adults take in their own Friday night learning nearby.
Sundays revive a beloved community staple under a refreshed banner: Zsiliputi Zsidó Vasárnapi Iskola (Zsiliputi Jewish Sunday School). The program, running 10:00–12:30, welcomes kids and teens aged 4–14 for group activities organized by age. It’s built around four pillars:
– Preparing together for upcoming holidays,
– Learning about mitzvot together,
– Getting to know the traditions together,
– Embracing values that stay with us for life.
Generations of children who spent Sunday mornings at Zsilip still swap stories about the friends they made and the discoveries they shared. The renewed Sunday School keeps that spark while sharpening the focus on community and identity—ideal for little ones, tweens, future leaders, and those approaching Bar/Bat Mitzvah. Whether just starting out or already testing their wings as young leaders, participants find a space designed precisely for them.
– Where: Zsilip Center, 1137 Budapest, 13th District, Újpesti Embankment (Újpesti rakpart) 1
– When: Fridays (evening Péntekecske) and Sundays (10:00–12:30)
– Who: Kids 4–14 for Sunday School; all ages welcome on Fridays
– Note: Organizers may adjust dates and programs; further dates will be posted, with 14 total events planned.
Come for the games, stay for the values. At Zsiliputi, Shabbat shines a little brighter when everyone learns together.
