The Unified Hungarian Jewish Congregation (EMIH) rolls out a packed calendar of Jewish culture across Budapest and beyond, mixing prayer, learning, music, theater, food, walking tours, and family fun. From Shavuot highlights to weekly study houses, kids’ clubs, culinary workshops, and deep dives into history, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure season—tickets and details across multiple venues in several Budapest districts, plus Debrecen, Szentendre, and Kecskemét.
Shavuot Across the City
On May 22, the Budavár Synagogue in the Buda Castle District (Táncsics Mihály Street 26) marks the second day of Shavuot with the public reading of the Ten Commandments, followed by a rich dairy feast and an evening Shabbat welcome. The celebration continues on May 23 with morning prayers and the Yizkor memorial prayer for loved ones.
Also on May 22, the Vasvári Synagogue (Vasvári Pál Street 5, District VI) keeps the momentum with communal prayer, the Ten Commandments, a festive kiddush, and an evening of inspiring talks, learning, and community programs—then returns May 23 for Shavuot’s closing: 9:15 a.m. Shacharit, 10:45 Yizkor, 11:00 Priestly Blessing, 11:45 kiddush; from 7:30 p.m. Mincha, 8:00 farbrengen farewell, and 9:22 p.m. Ma’ariv and Havdalah.
Szentendre’s Shavuot, Day II (Pátriarka Street 6) on May 22 serves Torah with treats: 5:00 p.m. “Ten Reasons We Eat Dairy on Shavuot,” 5:30 Ten Commandments, 6:00 cheesecake judging and a dairy buffet with non-dairy options.
The Óbuda Synagogue (Lajos Street 163, District III) makes May 22 a full-day celebration: 10:00 a.m. morning prayer, 11:00 Ten Commandments, 12:00 dairy kiddush, followed by 6:30 learning, 7:00 afternoon and evening prayers, and 8:00 kiddush—kid-friendly programs included.
Debrecen joins on May 22 (Piac Street 5–7) with the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments and a dairy-rich buffet. At Zsilip (Újpesti Rakpart 1, District XIII), the family Shavuot lineup includes the Ten Commandments, a raffle, kids’ activities, and an ice cream party to honor the dairy custom, then Kabbalat Shabbat and a Shabbat dinner with Shavuot accents.
In the Hegyvidék, Zsidóház hosts a two-parter: May 21, 7:30 p.m. evening prayers and kiddush with Rabbi Áron Keszler; May 22, 3:30 p.m. Ten Commandments, artisanal ice cream specials, and standout kids’ programming.
Learning, Ritual, and Weekly Rhythm
Havruta – House of Studying Together anchors Mondays and Wednesdays at Zsilip (Újpesti Rakpart 1, District XIII). Mondays: 6:30 p.m. Parashah with Rabbi Sámuel Glitzenstein; 7:30 p.m. “The Role of Women in Judaism” with Rebbetzin Sarah Nógrádi. Wednesdays: 5:30 p.m. “The Messianic Era: Philosophy and Halacha” with Rabbi Baruch Oberlander; 6:30 p.m. “The Book of Mitzvot: The 613 Commandments” with Rabbi Jonatán Megyeri. A separate Wednesday Havruta at 5:30 p.m. spotlights messianic themes with Rabbi Oberlander; free with registration, for halachic Jewish participants; join anytime.
A Kabbalah class with Rabbi Baruch Oberlander runs Mondays at 7:00 p.m. at the Vasvári Synagogue (Vasvári Pál Street 5). Tea & Torah unfolds every Tuesday in Kecskemét (Zsidóház, Katona József Square 12), an “afternoon tea” of text and reflection.
Kids, Families, and Community
KiddieTime runs Wednesdays, 4:30–6:00 p.m., at the Óbuda Synagogue for ages 3–10: a music session with parents, playful Jewish learning while parents boost Hebrew in a language class, then parents rejoin for a family krav maga closer.
Zsiliputi Jewish Sunday School relaunches at Zsilip (Újpesti Rakpart 1) on May 24 and May 31, 10:00–12:30, for ages 4–14. With a two-story playhouse and study rooms, the program preps holidays together, learns mitzvot, explores tradition, and leans into values that stick for life—ideal from pre–Bar/Bat Mitzvah to budding youth leaders.
Walks, Stages, and Stories
May 26, lace up for A Kék Macska mulatótól a Somossy Orfeumig – Pesti éjszakai élet a 19–20. század fordulóján (From the Blue Cat Nightclub to the Somossy Orfeum – Pest Nightlife at the Turn of the Century), a 90-minute guided walk through Király and Nagymező streets. Peek into long-gone dance halls, orfeums, and dives whose owners, guests, and performers were often Jewish. Names to know: Mici Senger, better known as Miss Arizona; and her ties to Alfonzó and György Cziffra. Meet at Király Street 15 (District VII). Price: $13.80; with Haver Card: $12.40.
Óbuda’s Theater Tales and Quiz on May 27 at Lajos Street 163 revisits Kálmán Latabár, Juci Komlós, and József Székhelyi with theater historian Ágnes Szebényi. Quiz finals hit June 8 at 10:00 a.m. Price: $5.50; Haver Card: $4.10.
Architecture, Memory, and History
May 28 at the Vasvári Synagogue, “Whose Temple Is It?” maps how the Jerusalem Temple shaped synagogue architecture and ritual, guided by theologian and heritage expert Dr. László Negyela. Expect a hands-on tour of allegorical, abstract, and concrete echoes of Jerusalem within the Vasvári space. Note: a few entrance steps; restroom not accessible.
May 31 offers “In Search of Crypts and Tombstones,” a deep dive into the sealed Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery (Salgótarjáni Street 6), led by Dr. Negyela with architect Zorán Vukoszávlyev. Discover Béla Lajta’s sculptural monuments, a turul over statesman Vilmos Vázsonyi’s grave, and Jewish burial customs and laws.
Play, Bake, Celebrate
On May 31 at Saint Stephen’s Park (Szent István Park), challenge FIDE Master Ádám Bohus in a 20-board chess simul, then stick around for a cake pop workshop where Szentendre rebbetzin Tzivia Myers teams with Óbuda chef Balázs Sepsi to teach a fully kosher dessert on a stick. Cake pop session price: $5.50.
June 1 brings a Memory Training session at the Óbuda Synagogue (Lajos Street 163) inspired by Anders Hansen’s “Peak Mind,” a mental aerobics class designed for 50+ but open to all. Price: $5.50.
Scholarship and Books
June 1, Professor Rachel Elior leads “Blood Libels, Old and New” at Röser Courtyard (Röser Udvar, Károly Boulevard 22), tracing how ritual-murder myths formed across legal, literary, and theological arenas, how they shaped communal identity, and how they intersected with movements like Hasidism. Elior is the John and Golda Cohen Professor of Jewish Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
June 3, BOOKS”N”BAGELS turns three at Brooklyn Bagel (Újpesti Rakpart 1) with a triple author-reader meet: Eszter Babarczy, Petra Finy, and Róbert Scheer, moderated by literary host Anna Juhász—expect treats and gifts.
Looking Ahead
Regular Tea & Torah continues Tuesdays in Kecskemét, Havruta rolls on Mondays and Wednesdays at Zsilip, and KiddieTime keeps filling Óbuda’s late afternoons. On June 7, a culinary workshop teases Fusion Foods—details to follow.
