'The future of Hungarian Jewry’: Budapest opens synagogue run entirely by teens

Budapest's historic Wagon Drivers' Synagogue, built in 1870, has reopened as a teen-run synagogue after being closed since 2014. The synagogue is operated by the C-Teen youth organization with funding from the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (EMIH). The opening ceremony drew 200 teens before Rosh Hashanah, and weekly programs now host 70-80 teens on Thursdays and 30-50 on Friday nights.

Budapest's historic Wagon Drivers' Synagogue, built in 1870, has reopened after extensive refurbishment as a synagogue run entirely by teenagers, in what may be the world's first teen-run synagogue. The officer holders, board leaders, and event organizers are all local teens up to age 18. The oldest regular worshiper is Rabbi Tzami Bassman, a Chabad emissary in his early 30s. The synagogue is operated by the C-Teen youth organization with full funding from the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (EMIH). At the opening ceremony before Rosh Hashanah, 200 teens attended, with teens blowing the shofar, carrying the Torah, and cutting the ribbon. Rabbi Baruch Oberlander stated that these young people represent the future of Hungarian Jewry. Weekly Thursday learning programs host 70-80 teens, and Friday night services attract 30-50 teens, primarily from non-religious families. The synagogue also offers Hebrew, Hungarian, and Russian classes, the latter for community members who fled Ukraine during the war.