Hungary’s abandoned synagogues are finding new life — and attracting new congregants

Hungary's abandoned synagogues are being restored and reopened by the EMIH Jewish organization, which has revived eight synagogues over 15 years. Two historic Budapest synagogues were rededicated in September after decades of non-religious use. The Rákospalota Synagogue, a former library warehouse, was restored at a cost of about $2 million. Rabbi Shlomo Köves says the effort aims to reconnect Hungarian Jews with their heritage, as many have no active religious affiliation.

Hungary's abandoned synagogues are being restored and reopened, attracting new congregants and revitalizing Jewish life. Rabbi Shlomo Köves, head of the EMIH organization affiliated with Chabad, says his group has reopened eight synagogues over the past 15 years. During Synagogue Week in September, two historic Budapest synagogues were rededicated after decades of non-religious use. The Rákospalota Synagogue, built in 1926, had been a National Library storage warehouse for 60 years; its restoration cost about $2 million, funded by private donors led by philanthropist Igor Tulchinsky. The Dessewffy Street Synagogue, dating to 1870, was reopened as a prayer center for Jewish teens. Köves notes that most Hungarian Jews do not actively practice religion but are drawn to their roots. The article describes a resurgence of Jewish life in Hungary, with 25 active synagogues and 10 kosher restaurants, though a rivalry exists between Chabad and the Neolog establishment. A record 362,000 Israeli tourists visited Hungary in 2025, drawn partly by a sense of public safety.