Our Jewish Heritage Day in Budapest
Today we spent the day visiting the many Jewish sites in Budapest. After touring all these sites we commented that we had no idea how the Jewish people were treated in Budapest. We have all studied about Germany, but just did not realize how the citizens in Budapest were treated.
We got up early to ride to the other side of town on the tram. We have gotten pretty good at tram riding and the Underground subway.
We really enjoy getting out early in the morning before the city gets busy and crowded.
Below is a tree in the park near our apartment. The locks are “Love Locks.” A love lock or love padlock is a padlock which sweethearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love.
We started the day at the House of Terror. The name gives the impression that it is a haunted house or something like that. Actually, it is a museum dedicated to the history of communism and fascism in Budapest. It covers the involvement of the Arrow Cross, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Visiting the House of Terror was very sobering, but also very informative. I am pleased we made the effort. Each room had an information sheet explaining the display. I will be reading them in depth within the next few weeks.
Memorial wall on the outside of the building.
Lunch was next on the agenda.
Beer
Chicken and potatoes
We walked to the Subway and rode to the Dohány Street Synagogue. This Great Synagogue seats 3000 people! (this photo was copied from the Internet)
Inside the Synagogue
This is the Tree of Life. It is fashioned to look like a “Weeping Willow Tree” and also an upside down Menorah (a crying Menorah). Inscribed on its 4000 metal leaves are the names of Hungarian Holocaust victims.
Last stop of the day was the Shoes on the Danube Promenade. A touching memorial of bronze shoes on the banks of the Danube commemorating the Jewish people who were ordered to remove their shoes (so they could be used by others) and shot at the edge of the river and pushed into the water allowing the water to carry away their bodies.
Today was a very sobering but satisfying day.
