Rumbach Street Synagogue opened after revamp

Minister for families Katalin Novak told the opening event that it was a noble task to rescue a building from ruin, but the government had supported the project primarily because it was hoped that life would return between its walls.

Andras Heisler, president of the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (Mazsihisz), thanked the builders for their work and the government for its support. He said it was after 70 years of neglect that “a new multifunctional space has been built where prayers will be heard, the Jewish community can develop; and it will also house fantastic cultural, public-education and tourism events.”

President of the World Jewish Congress Ronald S Lauder praised Hungary for being among the few countries that “dared to express its support” for the Jewish people during the recent Israel-Palestine conflict.

Chief Rabbi of Hungary Robert Frolich said a new synagogue had been created whose main function would be to act as a “link between the material world we live in and the spiritual world that lives inside us”.

Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yacov Hadas-Handelsman said the revamped building was “breathtaking”, and he expressed thanks on behalf of Israel to all that helped restore the building, first of all the Hungarian government.

The event was also attended by Cardinal Peter Erdo, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, and Presiding Bishop Tamas Fabiny of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary.