Get ready for a packed year of Jewish vibes in Budapest and Kecskemét courtesy of the Unified Hungarian Israelite Religious Community (EMIH). Whether you’re into deep dives into Judaism, theater buzz, music jams, tasty gastro moments, brainy knowledge sessions, scenic walks, or big holiday bashes, it’s all here in one killer lineup. Click through and snag your tickets—from mystical Kabbalah sessions to kid-filled afternoons and emotional book chats, no one’s left out.
Mondays with Rabbi Oberlander: Kabbalah Deep Dives
Rabbi Baruch Oberlander opens the doors to Kabbalah every Monday at 7 p.m. sharp in the Vasvári Synagogue. Everyone’s welcome to unpack the mysteries at this buzzing spot in Budapest’s 6th district, Terézváros. Address: Vasvári Pál utca 5, 1061 Budapest. Sessions start on March 23, March 30, and continue weekly—perfect for seekers craving spiritual sparks.
Havruta: The Ultimate Group Study House
Havruta—House of Joint Learning—rocks on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Zsilip center, Újpesti rakpart 1, Budapest’s 13th district. Now in its third smash-hit year, it’s no solo gig; Judaism thrives on community, blending study with group vibes like old-school yeshivas. Small groups ponder ancient wisdom together. Monday schedule: 6:30 p.m. on the weekly Torah portion with Rabbi Sámuel Glitzenstein, then 7:30 p.m. on women’s roles in Judaism with Rebbetzin Sarah Nógrádi. Wednesday lineup: 5:30 p.m. on the Messianic era, philosophy, and halacha with Rabbi Báruch Oberlander; 6:30 p.m. on the Book of Mitzvot and the 613 commandments with Rabbi Jonatán Megyeri. Open to all knowledge-hungry folks—gates wide for the Zsilip community.
Tuesday Tea & Torah Bliss in Kecskemét
Every Tuesday, sink into Tea & Torah at 5 p.m. with Rabbi Shalom Ber—Torah as soul food, easing your mind like a cozy sip of your favorite tea, filling you with homey calm. It helps decode the world and yourself. Hosted at Zsidóház Kecskemét, Katona József tér 12, 6000 Kecskemét. Dates include March 24 and March 31—weekly wisdom with a warm brew.
Wednesday Kiddie Time Mayhem in Óbuda
Kids rule Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Óbuda, Budapest’s 3rd district, Lajos utca 163, 1036. For 3- to 10-year-olds: tunes, lessons, games, and dances—pure Jewish fun split by age groups. It kicks off with parent-kid music sessions, shifts to playful Judaism learning while parents level up their Hebrew in language courses, then reunites for Krav Maga to close. Hits March 25 and April 1.
March Book Club Heart-Wrencher
Dive into Eszter Babarczy’s gut-punch memoir Apám meghal (My Father Dies) at the March book club. Eszter chronicles six raw months shadowing her dying dad, legendary theater director László Babarczy, through his mental and physical crumbling. Family hell left scars; healing starts with this farewell. Unreachable fame meets a daughter’s love hunger in forced end-of-life closeness—no talks, just post-diary notes to unearth their story. It’s an angry yet empathetic, passionate yet detached report on death’s inevitability, plus raw grief-fueled recovery. Chat over bites at Brooklyn Bagel, Újpesti rakpart 1, 1137 Budapest. Price: $4 USD. March 25.
Seder Evening Workshop: Step-by-Step Passover Magic
Pesach’s mythic seder demands precision—way beyond dinner, with dips, leans, sips, and pinches in strict order amid questions. Yet it’s the year’s freest, most memorable group blast. Rabbi Slomó Köves spills the secrets at this hands-on workshop: how to nail it at home. Everything revealed; the rest waits for Pesach. Photos and audio may appear on site and socials. Price: $4 USD. Óbudai Zsinagóga, Lajos utca 163, 1036 Budapest, 3rd district. March 25.
Óbuda Secrets Walk: Shtetl Jewish Urban Tales
Uncover Budapest’s oldest working shul in Óbuda’s former Jewish quarter, by the Danube on today’s Lajos utca since the 1400s. Artifacts and records sketch the thriving neighborhood, but lace up for the real microcosm via historian guide Csaba Katona from the Hungarian National Archives. Cultural and foodie thrills end with kosher flódni treats at the Óbudai Zsinagóga. Starts at Pastrami speakeasy corner, Nagyszombat utca–Lajos utca, Lajos utca 93-99, 1036 Budapest. Price: $14 USD, $12.50 USD with Haver card. March 29.
Zsiliputi Jewish Sunday School Revival
Sunday kid magic returns mega-upgraded as Zsiliputi Jewish Sunday School! Hundreds of past attendees still rave about games and sneaky learning. Back in the two-level, playhouse-packed Zsilip center, Újpesti rakpart 1, 13th district. A young, energetic team hosts 4- to 14-year-olds (and tweens) from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: age-group prep for holidays, mitzvot lessons, tradition intros, life values instilling. Tiny tots, pre-Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or teen-ready—this is your spot. March 29, April 5.
