Budapest’s oldest synagogue, the Óbuda Synagogue (Óbudai Zsinagóga) at 1036 Budapest, District 3 – Óbuda, Lajos Street (Lajos utca) 163, is doubling down on its role as a living symbol of a revived Hungarian Jewish community. Once almost forgotten after the socialist decades, Óbuda’s Jewish face is being redrawn by locals who expect the neighborhood’s rich history to shape its future. The 2026 program reaches across generations: memory training and craft nights, kids’ afternoons, all-night learning for Shavuot (Sávuot), and big, music-filled bakes that sell out fast.
May 18: MemoryLab – Memory Training
“Memories are like winding paths between brain cells. The well-trodden paths remain; where we only passed a few times, the path grows over and disappears.” Anders Hansen’s Hardwired for Activity frames this “mental aerobics,” designed primarily for people over 50 to keep cognitive function, memory, and concentration fit, fresh, and improving. But the doors are open to all ages. Location: Budapest.
May 19: Paper Flowers for Shavuot (Sávuot)
A regular guest of the women’s learning sessions, Hanna Somogyi, teaches practical tips for making Shavuot paper flowers. On the holiday of the giving of the Torah, Mount Sinai is said to have bloomed in an instant—this evening focuses on that floral moment. The plan: craft paper flowers that can remind us for years of new grain, revelation, and this year’s Shavuot. Doors open: 18:30. Price: 2,000 HUF (about 5.50 USD). Location: Budapest.
Wednesdays: KiddieTime in Óbuda
Every Wednesday from 16:30 to 18:00, the afternoon belongs to kids aged 3–10. There’s music, learning, games, and movement—everything Jewish for children. The age-based program unfolds in three parts: first, a music session kids attend with parents; then playful Jewish learning for the children while parents join a Hebrew language course; and finally, parents rejoin the kids to wrap up with Krav Maga. Sessions scheduled May 20, May 27, and June 3. Location: Budapest.
May 21: Shavuot (Sávuot) Night at the Synagogue
Holiday prayer, festive meal, a star guest conversation, and a marathon of late-night learning with the community. Program:
– 19:00 – Opening lecture: Slomó Köves asks: Are there still prophets?
– 20:00 – Holiday prayer
– 20:30 – Festive kiddush and dinner
– From 21:15 – Half-hour learning sessions through the night:
21:15 György Szántó – 30,000 Jewish refugees in Shanghai
21:45 András Szuhánszky – Responsibility of leaders
22:15 Brunó Nkanyimuo – The Stoics and the Jewish Fathers
22:45 András Fehérvári – Jewish learning and pedagogy
23:15 Jonatán Megyeri – Biblical checks and balances
23:45 Dávid Löwenstein – Is milk grown on a tree really dairy?
00:15 Shalom Köves – Biblical locations in Israel
00:45 Slomó Köves – What did our ancestors hear at Mount Sinai?
Location: Budapest.
May 22: Shavuot (Sávuot) Day at Óbuda
After a full night of study and good food, daytime celebrations continue. Shavuot isn’t Shavuot without Torah reading—this is the holiday’s backbone. Prayer remains central, and kids get standout programs. In the spirit of tradition, expect a fantastically flavorful, fully dairy lunch in the synagogue.
– 10:00 Morning prayer
– 11:00 Reading of the Ten Commandments
– 12:00 Dairy holiday kiddush
– 18:30 Learning
– 19:00 Afternoon and evening prayer
– 20:00 Kiddush
Location: Budapest.
May 27: Theater Stories and Quiz
Kálmán Latabár, Juci Komlós, József Székelyi—this leg continues the hit Theater Stories series, ending with a quiz to test freshly gained knowledge. Presenter Ágnes Szebényi, theater historian at the Bajor Gizi Actor’s Museum, returns with three Jewish-born acting legends and the secrets behind the curtains—tales, anecdotes, aphorisms. József Székelyi, beyond his craft, received the Miklós Radnóti anti-racism award—courage marked his life on and off stage. Quiz date: June 8 at 10:00. Price: 2,000 HUF (about 5.50 USD); with Haver Card: 1,500 HUF (about 4.10 USD). Location: Budapest.
June 1: MemoryLab – Memory Training
Another open-to-all “mental aerobics” session aimed at participants 50+, focused on strengthening and refreshing memory and concentration, guided by the insight that only paths we walk often stay open. Location: Budapest.
June 7: Mega Challah Bake – One Recipe, Many Generations
Generations baking together, led by social media breakout Lili Lantos and her mother, the faces of this year’s Mega Challah Bake. These Jewish-spirited “mega bakes” have become the most anticipated community gastro events of the year. Expect more than mixing and braiding: singer Liora arrives to spark a communal singalong. Theme: Generations bake together. After you buy your ticket, you’ll receive an email with a form to choose the team you’ll braid your challah with. Location: Budapest.
June 8: Theater History Quiz
Continuing the Theater Stories journey with Kálmán Latabár, Juci Komlós, and József Székelyi, this is the knowledge showdown. Presenter: Ágnes Szebényi from the Bajor Gizi Actor’s Museum. Price: 2,000 HUF (about 5.50 USD); with Haver Card: 1,500 HUF (about 4.10 USD). Location: Budapest.
How to Join
Events take place at the Óbuda Synagogue (Óbudai Zsinagóga), 1036 Budapest, District 3 – Óbuda, Lajos Street (Lajos utca) 163. Doors open as listed; KiddieTime runs every Wednesday 16:30–18:00 on the specified dates. For crafts and quizzes, check ticket info and discounts; Shavuot programming spans prayer, dairy meals, and night study. The synagogue’s calendar is built to welcome newcomers, families, and long-timers alike—an old house with a young pulse.
