2024. April 26. Friday
Medieval House of Prayer - Budapest
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Address: 1014, Budapest Táncsics Mihály utca 26.
Phone number: (1) 225-7816
Opening hours: 01.05-31.10.:Wed-Sun 10-17
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The Jewish medieval house of prayer was built at the end of the 14th century, and can now be found at 26 Táncsics Mihály Street, on the Buda Castle.
The house of prayer was excavated in 1964, which was followed by renovation works.
During the search Jewish decorations and writings were discovered on the walls of the chapel from the 17th century. One of the pictures represents a bow directed toward heaven, another is the star of David. The text connected to the picture of the bow is one of the statements from Hanna's prayer: "The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength". The star of David is accompanied by Aaron's blessing as reads in the King James version: "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee..."
The contents of the writings refer to the Jewish fear from Christian attacks. As the form of the Hebrew letters bear some Turkish elements, scholar Sándor Scheiber concludes the temple must have belonged to the Syrsephard group of the Jews in Buda.
In the chamber to the South of the gate of the building there is a collection of the Budapest Historical Museum. Medieval Jewish grave stones are displayed here, whereas the series of tables on the wall reminds us of the life and history of the Jews of Buda.
Not long after its establishment, the town of Buda had a large number of Jews from the middle of the 13th century Béla IV issued legislation regarding Jewish rights and their freedom in 1251, that is why many of the persecuted Jews of Western Europe were willing to settle in Hungary's most important town of the time. The king secured freedom of religion for them and declared their social and financial position.
The Jewish quarter of the 13th century was situated at the western side of Szent György street, next to the so called Fehérvári kapu (gate). Their cemetery lay in the area bordered by the streets of Pauler-Alagút and Roham. A great number of graves were excavated here, the earliest of which is from the year of 1278.
The early Jewish quarter ceased to exist in 1360, when King Lajos (Lewis) I chased away the Jews and gave their houses to Christian aristocrats. It was not long before the Jews were allowed to return (1364), and their new quarter was established on the two sides of the Táncsics Mihály Street. Opposite to their first synagogue here (26 Táncsics street) they built up the large synagogue by 1461, which was destroyed in 1686.
Remainders of the grandiose temple were excavated by László Zolnay in 1964, in the garden of the house number 23 Táncsics Mihály Street. Because of technical reasons the building was reburied, but its excavation and exhibition is involved in the general organising plans of the castle area. Up to the accomplishment of above plans, the exhibition of the "small synagogue" will display the reconstructed picture and the beautiful covering stone of the "large synagogue", furthermore stones of the gigantic pillars of the large synagogue have also been placed in the courtyard of this house.
The house of prayer was excavated in 1964, which was followed by renovation works.
During the search Jewish decorations and writings were discovered on the walls of the chapel from the 17th century. One of the pictures represents a bow directed toward heaven, another is the star of David. The text connected to the picture of the bow is one of the statements from Hanna's prayer: "The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength". The star of David is accompanied by Aaron's blessing as reads in the King James version: "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee..."
The contents of the writings refer to the Jewish fear from Christian attacks. As the form of the Hebrew letters bear some Turkish elements, scholar Sándor Scheiber concludes the temple must have belonged to the Syrsephard group of the Jews in Buda.
In the chamber to the South of the gate of the building there is a collection of the Budapest Historical Museum. Medieval Jewish grave stones are displayed here, whereas the series of tables on the wall reminds us of the life and history of the Jews of Buda.
Not long after its establishment, the town of Buda had a large number of Jews from the middle of the 13th century Béla IV issued legislation regarding Jewish rights and their freedom in 1251, that is why many of the persecuted Jews of Western Europe were willing to settle in Hungary's most important town of the time. The king secured freedom of religion for them and declared their social and financial position.
The Jewish quarter of the 13th century was situated at the western side of Szent György street, next to the so called Fehérvári kapu (gate). Their cemetery lay in the area bordered by the streets of Pauler-Alagút and Roham. A great number of graves were excavated here, the earliest of which is from the year of 1278.
The early Jewish quarter ceased to exist in 1360, when King Lajos (Lewis) I chased away the Jews and gave their houses to Christian aristocrats. It was not long before the Jews were allowed to return (1364), and their new quarter was established on the two sides of the Táncsics Mihály Street. Opposite to their first synagogue here (26 Táncsics street) they built up the large synagogue by 1461, which was destroyed in 1686.
Remainders of the grandiose temple were excavated by László Zolnay in 1964, in the garden of the house number 23 Táncsics Mihály Street. Because of technical reasons the building was reburied, but its excavation and exhibition is involved in the general organising plans of the castle area. Up to the accomplishment of above plans, the exhibition of the "small synagogue" will display the reconstructed picture and the beautiful covering stone of the "large synagogue", furthermore stones of the gigantic pillars of the large synagogue have also been placed in the courtyard of this house.
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Permanent exhibitions
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