A series of guided, on-foot explorations maps the history, architecture, daily life, tragedies, and survival of Hungary’s Jewish communities across different neighborhoods. These walks don’t just point out buildings and street names; they open doors to memories and living traditions, past and present, inviting participants to see, listen, and connect.
April 26 – Inside the Closed Jewish Cemetery
Step into the locked Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery and uncover sepulchral art that rivals museum pieces. Discover Béla Lajta’s striking monuments, pause at Vilmos Vázsonyi’s grave crowned by a turul bird, and learn about Jewish burial customs and halachic rules that shaped this sacred ground. Who was buried here, and when did the cemetery fall out of use? The guide, Dr. László Negyela, lays out the story on site. Photos and audio may be recorded for use on the organizers’ website and social media. Location: Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery (Salgótarjáni utcai zsidó temető), 1086 Budapest, Salgótarjáni utca 6. Price: 3,500 USD.
May 10 – Menorah and Cobblestones: Off to Szentendre
Szentendre, so often called the City of Painters, could almost be called the city of Jewish painters—with a few vital exceptions. Beneath the postcard charm lies tougher history: sites tied to Miklós Radnóti’s forced labor, once-busy family shops on the main square, and homes brimming with stories. Guide János Vajda leads a route that turns art-filled streets into an intimate conversation with the past and present. Stops include:
– Kossuth Street and Deim Square: houses of Jewish families and their histories
– Ferenczy Museum courtyard: plaque marking Radnóti’s forced labor
– Petőfi Street: former Jewish school and prayer house
– Dumtsa Street: Lajos Vajda plaque and Jewish artists in Szentendre’s art life
– Main Square: Jewish shops, family stories, Stolpersteine
– Szántó Memorial and Prayer House: local Jewish history exhibit, Holocaust memorial plaque
– Zsidóház Szentendre: a 10–15 minute talk by Rabbi Myers Mendy
The Cháj Café welcomes walkers with refreshing lemonade. Meeting point: Szentendre HÉV terminus, 2000 Szentendre. Guide: János Vajda. Price: 4,000 USD; with Haver Card: 3,600 USD.
May 17 – Secret Corners of the Jewish Quarter
Budapest’s District VII draws travelers from everywhere, yet even locals may not truly know the old Jewish quarter. Ever stepped inside a mikveh? This is your chance—learn how ritual immersion works, then trace the lost footprint of the Orczy House, once the beating heart of Jewish life. The walk begins where that story came into being and ends in tastes: sample authentic kosher flódni along the way. Guide: Kata Nádas. Meeting point: Sisi statue, Madách Square (1075 Budapest, Madách Imre tér 7). Route: Kazinczy Street mikveh – Kazinczy Street Synagogue – Carmel Restaurant (with flódni bites). Photos and audio may be recorded for web and social platforms.
May 31 – Crypts and Monuments Unlocked
Return to the Salgótarjáni Street cemetery for a deeper dive into Lajta’s masterpieces, the turul at Vázsonyi’s grave, and the ritual logic of Jewish burial customs. The walk pairs Dr. László Negyela with architect Zorán Vukoszávlyev, associate professor at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, whose research centers on sacred architecture. Price: 5,500 USD; with Haver Card: 5,060 USD. Venue: Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery (Salgótarjáni utcai zsidó temető), 1086 Budapest, Salgótarjáni utca 6.
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