As teachers, we can easily become attached to our school community, and I know I speak for the rest of my cohorts when I say that we were missing the Scheiber Sándor community immensely on Thursday morning. But now it was time to explore the wider Jewish community of Budapest in earnest. As a distinct contrast to the vibrant, noisy, and energetic environment of both Scheiber Sándor and Balint Haz, we visited the Újpest Old Age Home and Israel Sela, a residence for those with special needs. It was a privilege to sit with some of the residents of Újpest, as they told stories of their time in the Budapest ghetto, the holocaust, and life under communism. At Israel Sela, we joined the residents in song and dance as they participated in their weekly music lesson. This joyful experience was humbling, as the residents laughed and danced and sang both for us and with us, and they even prepared crafts, songs and poems specifically for our visit. Some of the residents held our hands, looked us in the eye, and asked us not to go, wishing we could stay longer.
Later the same day we explored Hungary’s past relationship with communism and Soviet occupation. The place was called Memento Park. It was a frigid, grey day, and frozen fog held tight to both grass and brush. As we stood surrounded by the statues, carvings, and monuments that once stood watch over the country, it wasn’t too hard to imagine the heavy, cold weight of tyranny that pressed down on the people of this country for over forty years.
Next, we visited a very small synagogue called Teleki Téri, a small synagogue referred to as a shteible. Shuls like this one once proliferated the Jewish neighborhoods of this city, but Teleki is the last functioning synagogue of its kind in the city. Brothers Gabor and Andris are doing everything they can to keep this tradition alive. Here was another contrast, as the vibrant, youthful energy of the shul community helped us to shake off the starkness of Memento Park.
Later at dinner, we met Linda Vero-Ban of the Frankel Shul community. She discussed with us the successes and struggles that she and her husband experienced as leaders of a family-centered shul in Budapest.
This day gave me hope. It’s not easy to coax flowers from the cold, hard soil. Old traditions are not always tended to in this fast-paced, changing world. And it’s easy to forget those who exist in the fringes of our society. But there are Jews in this city who are working tirelessly to rebuild this once-thriving community, to keep traditions alive, and care for all its members.
