Sim Shalom   

Progressive Jewish Congregation - Budapest, Hungary

History and Facts

History of Sim Shalom

History and Present State of Budapest Jewry

Milestones in Sim Shalom History

Jewish religious groups in Budapest

Milestones in Sim Shalom History

1987

First Reform Pesach Seder held with British Reform Jews visiting Budapest

1989-1994

Community gatherings are held in apartments of members and in the Lauder Javne Jewish School and Kindergarten. Occasional visits by Rabbis from UK.

1992

Sim Shalom is legally founded as an association. Regular religious services, festivals, and study sessions start. Rabbi Fred Morgan (UK) spends his three month Sabbatical in Budapest as Associate Rabbi helping to set up the main areas of community-life. 

1994-1998

Community gatherings are held at the premises of the Hungarian Jewish Cultural Association on Garay utca.  Sim Shalom was not allowed to use the Torah ark in the building.

1995

We acquire our Torah scroll, donated by the North West Surrey Synagogue, Weybridge. The scroll belonged to a Hungarian Hassidic community before the WWII. Torah silvers were donated by Ernest and Valery Bello and Jeffrey and Joyce Rose.

1998

Katalin Kelemen is ordained as a Rabbi after studying in Leo Baeck College in London.  She is inducted as Sim Shalom's Rabbi the following year.

1999

Sim Shalom moves to an apartment on Filler utca for all its programs. In the same year we have to move out.

2000-2006

Weekly programs are held in another rented three room apartment on Csalogany utca, with large festivals in a rented hall.
2002 Szimchaz youth group was founded, at that time the only youth group in Hungary associated with a synagogue.
2003 Eurojews was established in Budapest, with the involvement of Szimchaz members and Nathan Alfred student rabbi.

2004

Sim Shalom is legally registered as a religious congregation by the state. Sim Shalom can accept Hungarian personal income tax 1% donations that can be made only to religious organizations.

2006

The congregation is forced out of the now-outgrown apartment by legal decision. All programs are now being held at the Jewish Community Center. A search for permanent premises commences;  we find a state-owned building that can be utilized by Sim Shalom.

2007

Contract for the state-owned building signed.
Fund-raising begins for the renovation of the Synagogue.

 

Jewish religious groups in Budapest

Reform/Progressive
This is Sim Shalom Congregation. Member of WUPJ. Like URJ from the USA or RSGB and ULPS from the UK.

Conservative/Masorti
Religiously non-existent in Hungary. The culturally highly active and enthusiastic Marom youth group is a member of the Masorti Olami (World Council of Conservative/Masorti Synagogues).

Neolog
The current mainstream group in Hungary, with the umbrella organization MAZSIHISZ (Hungarian Assembly of Jewish Congregations). A special Hungarian phenomenon of minor reform originating in mid-19th century. State funding to Jewish communities is controlled solely by the Assembly. The rabbinical leadership refuses to recognize Sim Shalom, and denies access to empty historic synagogue buildings owned/managed by MAZSIHISZ.

Orthodox
The few who remained in Hungary after WWII or returned after 1989.
The Autonome Orthodox Israelite Community is associated with MAZSIHISZ. They run the Kazinczy synagogue, the Wesselényi school, a kosher restaurant, butchery and mikvah.

Modern Orthodox
Pesti Shul is the only Modern Orthodox religious community in Budapest and consists of well educated young intellectuals looking for a way to live traditionally in today's world.

Chabad Lubavich
The world-wide Chasidic movement, in Hungary taking over the historic third-way Hungarian movement name 'Statusquo Ante' - or 'Unified Jewish Hungarian Congregation'. They are not members of MAZSIHISZ.