The Danube River winds through the center of Europe, the second longest waterway of that great continent. Along the river is a variety of European capital cities, from Vienna to Belgrade. While vacations outside of one’s country is not advisable at the moment, there will be time in the future where the pandemic will subside, and kosher river cruises through Europe’s wonderful travel destinations will be possible once more.
Budapest is the capital of the country of Hungary, a sprawling city with the remnants of older days still standing tall in its scenic skyline. The Danube River cuts through the center of Budapest like the red carpet of a museum, letting the passengers of a river cruise immerse themselves in the history and heritage that can be explored in the Hungarian capital. For a Jewish travel audience, here’s a few things that you can expect.
A Variety of Synagogues
From the large Dohany Synagogue (also known as the Great Synagogue of Budapest, the second-largest synagogue in the world) to the elegantly-designed Kazinczy Street Synagogue, Budapest has a variety of well-restored synagogues that you can visit and explore. A good number of them are museums that store important relics of Jewish heritage in Europe, but a lot of them are still active centers of religious activity.
A Rich and Complicated History
Like many places in Europe, there had been records that showed an active Jewish presence in the urban life of Budapest even before the medieval era, around the 11th Century. The Jews of Budapest (back when the city was two separate towns called Buda and Pest) contributed to the trade of the area, and despite the various persecutions and calls for expulsion, they managed to establish an enduring legacy, as shown by the activity of its many synagogues. If you’re looking for a future kosher holiday, consider going to Hungary.
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