Budapest’s Vasvári Pál Street Synagogue has released a full slate of prayer times, learning sessions, and holiday gatherings that stretch through spring and early summer 2026. The synagogue at 1061 Budapest, 6th District – Terézváros (Theresa Town), Vasvári Pál utca 5, is the historic home of the city’s Sász Chevra, literally the Talmud Society, where study sits at the heart of community life. As Rabbi Báruch Oberlander, the synagogue’s leader and the founder of Chabad in Hungary, puts it: This building was erected for worship and in honor of the Torah by the leaders of Budapest’s Sász Chevra. Sász Chevra means Talmud Society, so there’s a very strong emphasis here on learning.
Where learning drives everything
The Vasvári Synagogue’s weekly rhythm leans into study, prayer, and community. The building is a hub for worship and a classroom for text—often both at once. Shabbat and weekday services are set to a reliable beat, and study circles range from Hebrew liturgy to Kabbalah and Talmud, many led by Rabbi Oberlander and teacher Gyuri Szabó (Menachem Gyuri). The emphasis is simple: pray together, eat together, learn together.
Shabbat at Vasvári: prayer, kiddush, and late learning
Friday services begin with Mincha at 15:50, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat at 16:20 with Rabbi Oberlander. After services, a kiddush and dinner upstairs with the rabbi start at 17:10, leading into a learning session with him at 18:10. On Shabbat morning, prayer starts at 9:15 with Rabbi Oberlander. Afternoon brings Mincha at 15:30, followed by the traditional third meal, learning from Pirkei Avot, then Maariv in the evening. The listed evening prayer time is 16:40, and congregants are welcome to linger in study and song.
Weekday mornings and winter schedule
From Sunday through Friday, the synagogue hosts morning prayer at 8:10, with a general weekday schedule also noting Shacharit at 8:00. On Thursdays, the morning service is streamed via Zoom for those who can’t attend in person. During winter from November, Kabbalat Shabbat and kiddush begin at 18:00, while Shabbat morning prayer holds steady at 9:15. These recurring fixtures make it easy for regulars and visitors alike to plug into the community’s daily and seasonal cycles.
Lectures and language: Mondays and Thursdays go deep
Learning never lets up at Vasvári. Every Monday from 21:00 to 22:00, the community dives into the Book of Samuel with the guidance of Gyuri Szabó. Thursday evenings double down on the classics: 19:30 to 21:00 brings Hebrew liturgy and language study with Rabbi Oberlander, followed by a 21:00 to 22:00 session on the weekly Torah portion led by Gyuri Szabó. Fridays from 17:00 to 18:00 continue that parsha exploration with Gyuri, rolling straight into Shabbat services. The pace is steady, the topics evergreen, and the doors open.
Kabbalah on Mondays with Rabbi Oberlander
Kabbalah class meets every Monday at 19:00 in the Vasvári Synagogue, with sessions announced across multiple dates in May and June 2026: May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, and June 29. Each gathering invites participants to step into the mystical tradition with one of the city’s most experienced teachers. Come curious and ready to ask questions; leave with a fresh lens on old texts.
Weekly Talmud study: translating and unpacking
Just after Kabbalah, Talmud study with Rabbi Oberlander begins Mondays at 20:00 in the Vasvári Pál Street Synagogue. The format is collaborative: participants translate and analyze passages together, opening a window into rabbinic thought and method. Listed dates include May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29, and July 6. It’s an open circle, ideal for both regular students and newcomers looking to test the waters of the sea of Talmud.
Shavuot at Vasvári: two nights, all heart
Vasvári throws its doors wide for Shavuot, inviting everyone to celebrate the giving of the Torah with teaching, prayer, late-night learning, and festive meals. The first evening, Thursday, May 21, unfolds as follows:
– 19:00 – Lecture by Menachem Gyuri Szabó
– 20:00 – Mincha (afternoon prayer)
– 20:15 – Lecture by Rabbi Báruch Oberlander
– 21:05 – Festive evening prayer
– 21:45 – Festive meal, learning sessions, and a roundtable conversation
Registration is encouraged for what promises to be a spirited, communal Shavuot night.
On Friday, May 22, celebrations continue. The first day features communal prayer, the public reading of the Ten Commandments, and a festive kiddush. In the evening, the synagogue again hosts inspiring talks, learning, and community programs, weaving together tradition and social warmth. Whether you’re a regular or stepping in for the holiday, the mood is welcoming and the learning continuous.
How to join and what to expect
Drop in for weekday Shacharit at 8:10, catch Thursday’s Zoom stream if you’re remote, or plan a full Friday evening with prayer, kiddush, dinner, and study. Mondays pack a punch—Kabbalah at 19:00, Talmud at 20:00, and, later, a deep dive into the Book of Samuel. Thursdays balance Hebrew liturgy study with a live look at the weekly parsha, and Fridays offer a final pre-Shabbat parsha session before prayers begin. For Shavuot, come ready for a long night of ideas and a long table of food. The address is fixed—1061 Budapest, Vasvári Pál utca 5—but the journey through texts and traditions is ever moving. As the synagogue’s guiding voice reminds us, this place was built for worship and for honoring the Torah, and the Talmud Society’s legacy ensures learning remains the beating heart.
