November 14, 2025 (Friday)
1036 Budapest, Lajos Street (Lajos utca) 163
Every Friday evening and Saturday morning, Rabbi Slomó Köves takes the bimah at the Óbuda Synagogue with a standing invitation: listen, question, and rethink. His ongoing series, “Hetiszakasz a zsidó filozófia tükrében” (“The Weekly Torah Portion Through the Lens of Jewish Philosophy”), opens up the week’s parsha and filters it through centuries of Jewish thought, ethics, and everyday dilemmas. It’s not just a sermon—it’s a guided conversation between text and life, where Rashi shakes hands with Maimonides, and the modern city outside the sanctuary doors quietly joins the debate.
The setting helps. The Óbuda Synagogue, a revitalized community hub in northern Budapest, turns Friday nights into communal learning, then returns on Saturday morning for part two—deeper dives, sharper questions, and the sense that a weekly rhythm can be as steady as it is surprising. “Philosophy” here isn’t code for abstraction; it’s what happens when the portion demands a practical answer. What does justice look like this week? Where do obligations end and compassion begin? The rabbi’s format gives space to text, to tradition, and to anyone ready to pitch in.
When and where
The series unfolds across multiple dates in November, with Friday–Saturday pairs anchoring each week in Óbuda:
– 2025.11.14., Budapest
– 2025.11.15., Budapest
– 2025.11.21., Budapest
– 2025.11.22., Budapest
More dates are coming as the community calendar fills out; expect the pattern to continue through the season. The organizers reserve the right to change the program and times, so a quick check-in before you head over never hurts.
Staying nearby
If you’re coming from out of town—or just want to linger near the Danube—Óbuda and the Római-part neighborhood offer a surprisingly cozy roster of stays. Think family-run guesthouses, garden views, river breezes, and the odd hostel with more charm than price tag.
A family-friendly guesthouse with 20 rooms sits within shouting distance of two of Budapest’s prettiest swims: Csillaghegy Baths (Csillaghegyi Strandfürdő) and Római Thermal Bath and Aquatic Park (Római Élményfürdő). Another intimate hotel just north of downtown offers twin rooms and two apartments, with private bathrooms (shower or tub), satellite TV, and mini-fridges. Head to the riverbank and you’ll find space for large outdoor events, full technical support on request, and even a Civil Gymnastics Club (Civil Torna Club) running on-site—for when your legs need something more than a stroll.
Up in the hills, an open-air forest school at around 495 feet hosts camps amid old oaks and black pines, with an earthy microclimate that stays fresh even on hot days. When rain pushes in, indoor programs carry on without breaking stride. For something a little flashier, there’s the Holiday Beach Budapest Wellness Hotel with Sauna Park—yes, the one shaped like a ship—right on the Danube, with pools, free Wi‑Fi, and a bus stop three minutes’ walk away.
Further north, a Scandinavian-style guesthouse places you 20 minutes from central Budapest and 10 from Szentendre, with en-suite rooms, phones, color TVs, a drink bar, secure parking, and a garden. The Külker Hostel, a two-story, 26-room stay in Buda’s green belt, caters to solo workers and couples, with free parking out front. Summer brings the Márton Áron Dormitory online from July 15 to August 25—budget rooms for two or three, internet access, sports options, and a fire pit, with discounts for Hungarians from across the border, groups, and stays longer than 14 days.
If you’re hiking the National Blue Trail, a 50-bed tourist house offers 14 rooms—doubles, queen beds, and larger dorms for six or eight—plus a generous common area and a fully equipped kitchen. For planning ahead: room sizes vary, but communal spaces are designed to be used, not tiptoed through.
Eating before or after
You can do this the easy way: follow your nose toward the Danube. Óbuda and Római-part cater to the hungry with fresh, healthy dishes from breakfast through dinner, a cafeteria-style newcomer in Flórián Courtyard (Flórián Udvar), and a slew of kitchens where the cooking is modern but the spirit stays local.
At Hely Restaurant (Hely Étterem) on the riverbank, you get fresh menu ideas, live music, striking Danube views, and a garden you’ll want to linger in. The kitchen skews international with Hungarian roots, and the tools are proudly contemporary. Nearby, a cheerful spot on a quiet street seats 56 indoors and adds a 30-seat terrace in summer, with bright colors and a laid-back vibe in the decor to match the mood.
Craving something you don’t need an occasion for? Plenty of places here serve exactly that—walk in, sit down, eat well. The Apicius Restaurant at The Aquincum Hotel Budapest rethinks traditional Hungarian dishes and pairs them with standout bottles from the country’s emblematic wine regions. If you’re chasing an old-school thrill, there’s a giant Wiener schnitzel on Dereglye Street (Dereglye utca) that falls generously over the rim of the plate and is, yes, actually veal.
Mediterranean lovers get hand-stretched pizza, fresh pasta, and grilled plates made from top ingredients, plus house-made desserts based on original Italian recipes. If you’re the buffet type, a local spot lays out starters, soups, mains, and desserts in full abundance—ideal for family dinners when cooking a three-course meal isn’t on the cards.
And if you want a little edge with your fork, Óbuda’s newest bistro in the former Goldberger Textile Factory brings Basque and Latin American influences together, with bold architecture and high-precision kitchen work. They see meals as community builders; the dishes do the talking.
