Photos 1. The Dohany street Synagogue and the Hungarian Jewish Museum are in the same building. The synagogue was named after the street, but it is also known as the great, or main synagogue. It is among the top 10 sights of Budapest. 2. This is the actual synagogue bulding. The wing with the arcades on the left (pic 1) houses the Jewish Museum, attached to the great synagogue later, in 1931. 3. The twin towers shine in their original glory after the restauration that took place in the late '90s. 4. The clocks on top of the Dohany Synagogue don't work. 5. The onion shaped domes with gilded ornament of the Dohany Synagogue are the main reason why it looks like an oriental, Moorish building. Having been the first synagogue made in this style, it was so successful, that synagogues built later around the world were often designed in the same style. 6. This is a roof photo, taken from the apartment block opposite the synagogue. 7. On top of synagogues we can see stone tablets with the commandements. 8. The special red brick pavement has been decorating the square in front of the Dohany synagogue since Andrassy avenue and its environs (7th district, Elisabethtown - the Jewish Quarter) became part of the World Heritage. Visitors passing by or entering the building are usually focusing on the building itself, never noticing the Menorah they are entering on. 9. The wing of the Hungarian Jewish Museum added to the Dohany synagogue building in 1931 has the same architectural design, however the facade hides two buildings. 10. The steps of the synagogue main entrance are always crowded with visitors. 11. Detail of the Dohany synagogue entrance with rich decoration carved into the stone gate. 12. Eight-pointed stars decorate the whole building of the Dohany street synagogue. 13. Small rose-windows. 14. Stone tablet-shaped windows. 15. Oriental-Byzantine decoration makes the Dohany synagogue so unique. 16. Due to the special Moorish influence, many think at first sight that the Dohany synagogue is in fact a mosque. 17. Oriental-Byzantine decoration, detail. 18. Oriental-Byzantine decoration, detail. 19. Above the main entrance gate of the Dohany synagogue the inscription in Hebrew: -And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them- (Exodus 25,8) 20. Arches. 21. Next to the entrance on a pillar the inscription in Hungarian: Monument -Constructed between 1854-59 according to the plans of Ludwig F�rster- 22. Clock. 23. Rose window above the entrance of the Dohany temple. 24. Rose window, detail. 25. Rare rose window of the Dohany synagogue made of stainted glass. 26. Stainted glass window on the rear of the Dohany synagogue, detail. 27. Row of arcades leading from the Dohany synagogue to the Jewish Museum. 28. Column decoration. 29. A photo can not present the impressivness of the interior when one steps inside the temple. The galleries have a special role in this Neolog synagogue, they were meant to separate women from men. Nowadays however, ladies who attend the services sit downstairs, in the two side rows of the isle. 30. Interior, view of the massive chandeliers and the Ark. 31. Behind the Ark of the Dohany synagogue a huge organ is hidden. Occasionally the Dohany synagogue is home to excellent organ concerts, Franz Liszt himself played on the opening ceremony, nowadays Xaver Varnus can be heard sometimes.
History of the Dohany Street Synagogue The synagogue on the Dohany street in Budapest is the largest synagogue of Europe. The tours in the Jewish district of Budapest all have their departure point at the Dohany synagogue. This magnificent, twin-towered building celebrates 165 years of existence in 2024. It will take your breath away with its beautiful architecture and impressive size. The largest synagogue of Europe located in downtown Budapest was constructed on an asymmetric lot. To have the Ark facing East, the Dohany synagogue was incorporated into the existing city street layout very impressively, with its facade stretching onto a smaller square and not the larger boulevard. Frigyes Feszl and Ludwig Forster created their masterpiece in the middle of a metropolis using the Oriental-Byzantine (Moorish) style influenced by Moslem architecture. The consecration of the synagogue was a major event on September 6, 1859. It can hold 3000 seated and approximately 2000 standing people. Major events took and take place here, like the celebrations part of the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest in May 1896, memorial services for important Hungarian personalities in the 19th century, liturgical, organ or Klezmer concerts nowadays. The Dohany Synagogue remained the most important religious centre of the Neolog Jews in Hungary to this day.
Neolog Judaism in Hungary Neolog Judaism is a mild reform movement within Judaism, mainly in Hungarian-speaking regions of Europe, which began in the late 19th century. The reforms were comparable to the more traditional wing of U.S. Conservative Judaism. At the time of its founding, the Orthodox Jews in these regions were particularly rigid against all modern innovations, so even these modest reforms had led to sharp organizational separation. Communities that aligned with neither the Orthodox nor the Neologs were known as the Status quo. In the 19th century, the Neolog Jews were located mainly in the cities and larger towns. They arose in the environment of the latter period of the Austro-Hungarian Empire generally good period for upwardly mobile Jews, especially those of modernizing inclinations. In the Hungarian portion of the Empire, most Jews (nearly all Neologs and even most of the Orthodox) adopted the Hungarian language, rather than Yiddish as their primary language and viewed themselves as "Hungarians of Jewish religion". After the rise of Communism in post-World War II Hungary, the government forced Orthodox and Neolog organizations there into single organizational structure, albeit with a semi-autonomous Orthodox section. However, all three denominations (Orthodox, Neolog and Status Quo) have resumed their separate existences in the post-Communist period. (source: Wikipedia)
History of the Hungarian Jewish Museum At Dohany street nr. 2. there used to be a two-story Classicist style house right next to the synagogue. Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the founder of Zionism was born and raised there. The Jewish Museum was constructed on the plot where the house used to stand, adjoining the Dohany synagogue. The little square in front of the Dohany complex bears the name of Herzl. The Jewish Museum constructed between 1930-1931 has a very rich collection of religious relics of the Pest Hevrah Kaddishah, ritual objects of the Sabbath and the High Holidays, a Holocaust room, a historical exhibition and houses temporary exhibitions as well.
Getting there Address: 1074 Budapest, Dohany utca 2. - take subway M1 (yellow) / M2 (red) / M3 (blue) to Deak ter station, then walk on Karoly korut towards Astoria. - take subway M2, tram 47, 49 or bus 7, 78 to Astoria station, then walk on Karoly korut towards Deak ter. - the Dohany Synagogue is at walking distance from the downtown hotels Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Boscolo and the famous pedestrian shopping street called Vaci utca.
OPENING HOURS of the Dohany Great Synagogue and Hungarian Jewish Museum (LAST ENTRY IS ONE HOUR BEFORE THE CLOSING TIME):
SUNDAY - THURSDAY 26 December 2023 - 7 January 2024: 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
8 January - 29 February 2024: 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
3 March - 30 April 2024: 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
1 May - 30 September 2024: 10 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
1 October - 31 October 2024: 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
3 November - 23 December 2024: 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FRIDAY 29 December 2023 - 23 February 2024: 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
1 March - 25 October 2024: 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
8 November - 31 December 2024: 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
SATURDAYS closed.
CLOSING HOURS of the Dohany Great Synagogue and Hungarian Jewish Museum (LAST ENTRY IS ONE HOUR BEFORE THE CLOSING TIME):
JANUARY 18 open from 12:00 p.m.
MARCH 10 open until 3:00 p.m..
15 closed.
17 open until 3:00 p.m..
APRIL 22 closed.
23 closed.
24 closed.
28 open until 2:00 p.m.
29 closed.
30 closed.
JUNE 11 open until 2:00 p.m.
12 closed.
13 closed.
OCTOBER 2 closed.
3 closed.
4 closed.
11 closed.
16 open until 2:00 p.m.
17 closed.
18 closed.
23 closed.
24 closed.
25 closed.
NOVEMBER 1 closed.
DECEMBER 24 closed.
25 closed.
TICKETS for the Dohany Great Synagogue and Hungarian Jewish Museum (prices valid from 26 December 2023 until further notice):
ADULT: 10800 HUF (about 28 EUR)
STUDENT: 8600 HUF (about 23 EUR)
Get your ticket online, avoid standing in line and receive FREE PRIORITY ENTRANCE and a FREE GUIDED TOUR.
Please note: on the Jewish High Holidays, Saturdays and some Hungarian National Holidays the synagogues are not open for visitors. These information were published for information only, the exact opening and closing dates may be changed by the Jewish Community last minute without preliminary notice. During the days of the Jewish Cultural Festival the Dohany street synagogue and the Jewish Museum of Budapest close earlier for preparations.
Services in the Dohany street synagogue Everyday morning prayer 7:30, evening prayer 6 p.m. in the Talmud-Torah (address: Wesselenyi street 7, behind the Dohany temple). Friday evening prayer 6 pm. in the Dohany temple. Saturday morning prayer Sachris 9:30, Musaf approx. 10:45 in the Dohany temple. During the winter the Dohany synagogue is not heated, the services are held at the Heroes Temple. Evening prayers at 5 pm., Saturday morning prayers at 9:30 am. During the services: - no entrance for groups of tourists - no entrance with uncovered shoulders - no entrance in shorts or miniskirts - no entrance with any kind of bag - no entrance with telephones, cameras or videorecorders
