First, the “small synagogue” of the Kazinczy Street building compound and the prayer house in Jósika Street will be renovated – writes Gábor Keszler the president of MAOIH.
The renovation of the “small synagogue” in Kazinczy Street and the prayer house in Jósika Street in Budapest’s 7th district, will begin by the end of the summer. The restoration of the two dilapidated houses of worship will cost nearly HUF 100 million (USD 300 000), financed by the Hungarian Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community (MAOIH) from private donations specifically pledged to it for this purpose. The recently elected leadership of Hungary’s smallest Jewish denomination (that is recognized by the state), which took office in May, aims to restore its entire property portfolio in the coming years – in addition to balancing its budget, strengthening religious life – and therefore is launching a reconstruction program.
The “small synagogue” of the Kazinczy Street compound was built in the late 1980s according to the plans of Sándor Bokor, the architect of the religious community, after the main sanctuary, which was inaugurated in 1913, deteriorated and became dangerous to use. Today, the “small synagogue” is in a similar situation, and it is in need of major renovation. „Among other things, the interior cladding needs to be renewed, the lighting, the windows and the service rooms all need to be modernized” – explained Gábor Keszler, president of MAOIH, who put the expected cost of the renovation at HUF 40-50 million (USD 120-150 000). “Negotiations are already under way with the contractors, and we would like to start the works this summer” – he added.
Opened in 1895 and unused for decades, the former Elisabeth Kattler prayer room – founded by hat manufacturer Bernat Kattler in memory of his deceased daughter – once played an important role in the Orthodox Jewish life of Budapest’s 7th district, Erzsébetváros. Today it is in a very dilapidated state and is not suitable for religious use. The renovation of Jósika Street prayer house will cost some HUF 50-60 million (USD 150-180 000) according to Gábor Keszler’s estimation, is scheduled to be completed already by the end of the summer. “Both reconstructions will be carried out under a closed financing system, guaranteeing the targeted use of resources, using private donations specifically allocated for this single purpose” – said MAOIH’s president.
The recently elected leadership of Hungary’s smallest Jewish denomination (that is recognized by the state), which took office in May, aims to restore its entire property portfolio in the coming years – in addition to balancing its budget, strengthening religious life – and therefore is launching a reconstruction program. “The renovation of the Dob utca-Kazinczy utca building compound, with the large synagogue at its center, was never completed. In a major rainstorm, buckets would have to be placed between the bench rows, there is no heating nor cooling, the lighting and electric system is dangerous, immediate renovation is needed therefore to prevent further damage. Our ritual baths, which are protected as historical monuments and have extremely unique interior solutions, are in ruins, in some cases in a life-threatening condition” – explained Gábor Keszler, adding that MAOIH is relying heavily on private donations both domestic and from abroad to cover the billion-euro funding requirement.
To support the latter goal, MAOIH launched the “Save Hungarian Orthodoxy” initiative. “We want to create a platform that anyone can join, regardless of denomination, from within Hungary and beyond our borders, who cares about saving Hungarian Orthodox Jewry” – emphasized Keszler. The idea is to launch an interactive platform with its own website, social media channels and crowdfunding function, aiming to save the values, culture, and traditions of Hungarian Orthodox Jewry, in the coming months, also from private donations.
MAOIH changed leadership in May, and the new management has been working tirelessly to resolve the financial crisis caused by the irresponsible management of the previous era. Unpaid bills have reached HUF 250 million (USD 750 000), while the organization has no reserves. At the beginning of May, the new management found barely HUF 5 million (USD 15 000) in MAOIH’s bank accounts, and all marketable real estate has been sold over the past decades. The new leadership has achieved a significant 20 percent reduction in costs since the beginning of May, but the organization’s revenues – including the so-called perpetual innuity, paid by the Hungarian state under the 1991 restitution law for church properties formerly used for religious or community purposes that were nationalized without compensation after 1 January 1948 – barely covers half of its expenses.
| About MAOIH
The Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community of Hungary (MAOIH) is the smallest of the three Hungarian Jewish denominations and is representing the Hungarian Orthodox Jewish community since 1871 and is the religious (and related social, cultural, social, educational) representative body of the community for over 150 years. Its institutions include five synagogues and prayer houses, a ritual bath, an old age home, a nursery, and a kindergarten. |
