History of Sim Shalom
Further reading
Sim Shalom – Bridge Towards Spirituality
“A Shabbat in Budapest” – a 1988 report by Rabbi Robert F Shafritz Zt”l
Induction service speech in 1999 by Rabbi Kelemen
Sermon for Shabbat Zachor from 2000, by Rabbi Kelemen
“Back to My Roots” – a sermon by Rabbi Ferenc Raj from 2003
The First Hungarian Jewish Reform Community – article by Gabor Por from 2005
Jewish Budapest (including the historic presence of Reform in Hungary) by Prof. Komoróczy
Our history – a brief overview
19th century | The first Reform Jewish community is established in the city of Pest in 1848 during the revolution. It is later shut down by authorities in 1852, but the rabbi emigrating to the USA (David Einhorn) became a founder of US Reform movement. |
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 LeoBaeck 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. |
2008 | Serious Contract problems were found and the contract resignation process was started. Life goes on in Balint House. Search continued for suitable premises to buy or rent. |
2009 | A suitable apartment for rent was found in Raday Street. A contract was drawn up and renovation started with the support of a grant program from the Hungarian Government. |
2010 | Sim Shalom moved into the Raday Street synagogue in February, and program expansion started almost immediately. |