THIS MONTH AT DVJC

CELEBRATING JEWISH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD 

THE JEWS OF HUNGARY

DID YOU KNOW?

 Jews had settled in Hungary in the 3rd century AD, in the Roman Empire’s province of Pannonia.

Under the Árpádian Dynasty the Jews of Hungary lived under considerably safer conditions than their brethren elsewhere in Europe. The charter of privileges, issued by King Béla IV in 1251, was confirmed by subsequent rulers. According to the charter the Jews were "servants of the Chamber" to the king, paying their taxes directly to the Treasury, and receiving royal protection in exchange.

 The Toleration Decree issued by the Emperor Joseph II in 1781 allowed their settlement in the free royal towns, and it enabled the Jews to engage in trade and commerce and to possess landed property.

 Budapest has the largest Jewish population in Eastern Europe (80,000). 80% are (Reform and Conservative and the rest are Orthodox. Budapest hosts the largest synagogue in Europe, located on Dohany Street. There are 26 active synagogues in Budapest. There is a Jewish hospital, which has Jewish doctors and kosher food. There are kosher restaurants, slaughtering houses, and matzo factories; both meat and matzo are exported to other communities.

HUNGARIAN JEWISH HOMEPAGE

http://www.interdnet.hu/Zsido/HJEWISHE.HTM

VIRTUAL JEWISH HISTORY TOUR

http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/vjw/Budapest.html

JEWS OF HUNGARY http://www.haruth.com/JewsHungary.html

Come back for more information on the "Jews of Hungary".