Budapest’s Vasvári Pál Street Synagogue is leaning into its roots as a house of worship and a hub for learning, rolling out a steady cadence of prayers, lectures, and weekly classes through spring and early summer 2026 at 1061 Budapest, 6th District – Terézváros, Vasvári Pál utca 5. “This building was made for worship and in honor of the Torah by the leaders of the Budapest Sász Chevra,” says Rabbi Báruch Oberlander, head of Vasvári and founder of Chabad in Hungary. “Sász Chevra means Talmud Association, so there’s a very strong emphasis on study here.” That focus is visible across weekday morning prayers, Shabbat gatherings, and a full slate of courses in Hebrew liturgy, biblical books, Kabbalah, and Talmud—many taught directly by Rabbi Oberlander, with longtime educator Gyuri Szabó leading weekly textual explorations too.
Where and when to show up
The Sász Chevra Synagogue at 1061 Budapest, Vasvári Pál u. 5., anchors the schedule. Weekdays from Sunday through Friday, morning prayers begin at 8:10, with a general weekday time listed as 8:00 as well; Thursday’s service is also streamed live on Zoom for those joining remotely. Shabbat starts Friday with Mincha (afternoon prayer) at 15:50, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat at 16:20 led by Rabbi Oberlander. At 17:10 there’s Kiddush and dinner upstairs with the rabbi, and at 18:10 a learning session with him continues the evening. On Shabbat morning, services begin at 9:15 with Rabbi Oberlander. The afternoon lineup resumes at 15:30 with Mincha, a seudah shlishit (sálesüdesz) meal and study—focusing on Pirkei Avot (Pirké Ávot)—flowing into Ma’ariv (evening prayer) with the rabbi, and a listed evening prayer time at 16:40. In winter (from November), Kabbalat Shabbat and Kiddush are set for 18:00 throughout the season.
Weekly learning that sticks
The synagogue’s learning rhythm is deliberate and welcoming. Monday nights from 21:00 to 22:00, attendees explore the Book of Samuel with the guidance of Gyuri Szabó, walking through narrative arcs and historical context while engaging with classical interpretations. Thursdays, 19:30 to 21:00, Rabbi Báruch Oberlander leads Hebrew liturgy language study—an accessible, grammar-forward way to understand the meaning and structure of the prayers. That’s followed on Thursdays from 21:00 to 22:00 by a shiur from Szabó on the weekly Torah portion, setting themes and questions that carry into Shabbat discussions. Fridays from 17:00 to 18:00, Szabó keeps the weekly portion study going—an energizing on-ramp straight into Kabbalat Shabbat and evening prayers.
Monday nights belong to mysticism and the Talmud
Two fixed Monday anchors keep spring and early summer packed. First, Kabbalah with Rabbi Oberlander meets every Monday at 19:00 at Vasvári. The class opens up the spiritual architecture of Jewish thought—diving into core concepts of Kabbalistic tradition and how they inform daily practice, prayer, and ethical life. It’s designed for curious newcomers and returning learners alike. Then at 20:00 every Monday, the Talmud study circle gathers under Rabbi Oberlander’s guidance. Participants translate and analyze Talmudic texts together, piece by piece, to step into the rabbinic process: how a question becomes a debate, then a principle, then practical law. It’s collaborative, text-heavy, and surprisingly lively—an ideal weekly discipline for those wanting a deeper grasp of classic sources.
Mark these dates through early summer
Expect a continuous Monday rhythm of Kabbalah at 19:00 and Talmud at 20:00 on these dates in Budapest: April 27; May 4, May 11, May 18, and May 25; June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, and June 29; and July 6 (Talmud only listed that night). Each session keeps the same time slot and the same address on Vasvári Pál Street. The organizers emphasize open doors: join once or come weekly to build momentum.
The spirit behind the schedule
Vasvári’s programming hews closely to the founding spirit of the Sász Chevra—Talmud study at the core, prayer wrapped in meaning, and community built around learning. The cadence feels intentional: Torah portion study on Thursday sets ideas in motion; Friday’s learning dovetails into Shabbat; Shabbat’s meals and teachings extend the conversation; Monday’s deep dives in Kabbalah and Talmud reset the week with substance. With Rabbi Oberlander at the helm—visible on the bimah, at the table upstairs for Kiddush and dinner, and at the head of the study table—it’s a model where tradition meets an open, contemporary classroom.
Practical notes to plan your visit
– Location: Vasvári Pál utca 5., 1061 Budapest, 6th District (Terézváros).
– Prayer times: Weekday mornings at 8:10 (a general 8:00 time is also noted). Thursday services stream on Zoom. In winter (from November), Kabbalat Shabbat and Kiddush begin at 18:00. Shabbat morning starts at 9:15.
– Friday Shabbat entry: Mincha at 15:50, Kabbalat Shabbat at 16:20 with Rabbi Oberlander; Kiddush and dinner upstairs at 17:10; learning at 18:10.
– Shabbat afternoon: 15:30 Mincha with seudah shlishit, Pirkei Avot (Pirké Ávot) study, and Ma’ariv with the rabbi; evening prayer listed at 16:40.
– Weekly study: Mondays 19:00 Kabbalah (Rabbi Oberlander) and 20:00 Talmud (Rabbi Oberlander); Mondays 21:00–22:00 Book of Samuel (Szabó) also runs weekly; Thursdays 19:30–21:00 Hebrew liturgy (Rabbi Oberlander) and 21:00–22:00 Torah portion (Szabó); Fridays 17:00–18:00 Torah portion study (Szabó), straight into Shabbat.
The through line is clear: prayer fed by learning, and learning carried by community. If you’re in Budapest and want to connect with a living tradition—from the precise language of the siddur to the layered reasoning of the Talmud—Vasvári Pál Street is keeping the door open, week after week.
