My day.... I finally got to do something that I had been wanting to do for many many years. I asked mom to watch Sophie so that I could go and do something for me. She was more than happy to spoil her only grand child, and I must say that I was happy to have some alone time. The time was precious, so I bored the next tram and headed into the city center. I went to Deak Ter again, the last stop, and from there backtracked to The Dohany St. Synagogue. It is located between the Deak Ter stop and the Astoria Hotel stop. WOW it is amazing. I figured since I was by myself, I could afford to spring for the extra English speaking tour. This lady was Hungarian, with English as her second language. But she was close to perfect. She was so full of knowledge, I would have loved to spend the day with her. The tour lasted about 1 hour.
I have forever been fascinated by the Jewish religion, and all that surround it. Including the Holocaust. However, this was the first time ever that I had entered a Synagogue, and boy oh boy did I pick good. In fact the tour guide told us that if you have been in a Synagogue before, take note, none are as fancy as this. The gold everywhere. She said that the Hungarian Jews built this to "out do" the Vienna Jews in the 1850's. It was very interesting how everything had a meaning. I don't recall that in the Catholic Church from my background. The chandeliers even had meaning. The shape resembled a bunch of grapes hanging upside down. Pomegranate were present in the design as well. All this represents the 7 spices.
"According to Jewish tradition, the pomegranate symbolizes righteousness, due to the fact that it supposedly has 613 seeds (some do, some don’t), and those seeds are attributed to the 613 mitzvot/commandments of the Torah. The pomegranate also symbolized fruitfulness. It is one of the Seven Species spoken about in the Torah (Exodus 28:33-34). The Seven Species are: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. The crown of the pomegranate is crown-shaped, and it has been told that Solomon designed his crown based on it. Torah scroll handles are often covered with two hollow, silver pomegranates, when they are not being used. "
It was a very informative and interesting tour, I am glad I did it, but I am upset that I did not do this sooner. After our guide filled our heads with some amazing information, we were free to stroll the grounds and explore a bit further. I went to the cellar area they had some interest
ing facts there too. I did not realize that the seats in the Synagogue were purchased. Than handed down to generations of family. The cellar area was quite small from there, I headed to the back garden. I had this area from outside the fence many many times, and have quite a photographs. It is the Weeping Willow Tree. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Each leaf on the tree has a persons name engraved on it who perished during the Holocaust. WOW.
ing facts there too. I did not realize that the seats in the Synagogue were purchased. Than handed down to generations of family. The cellar area was quite small from there, I headed to the back garden. I had this area from outside the fence many many times, and have quite a photographs. It is the Weeping Willow Tree. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. Each leaf on the tree has a persons name engraved on it who perished during the Holocaust. WOW. From here, I headed back inside and up the museum. They were having a carpet exhibition and I thought, oh this will be really interesting, not, but it was really cool. I walked around the grounds some more and just tried to take it all in. And planned the next step in my me doing what I want day.
I than walked around, what once was the Jewish Ghetto. In a way, it was sad, the walls of the buildings holding so much sorrow. The streets were very narrow, the buildings some, quite tall. I made a point of looking up and around as much as possible. I have always tried to instill in Sophie what is important. I have told her from the very beginning, the most important word she will ever learn, is the word LOOK. Take in your surroundings, be aware of what is out there. Those walls hold so much sorrow, so many secrets. They have seen good days and bad.
I headed over towards the Kazinczy St. Synagaogue. From there, it was further into the Jewish Ghetto. It was an amazing place. Hasidic Jews ran many of the businesses in the area. I found their traditional clothing fascinating. Afraid of staring, but so wanting to know the meaning behind it. While walking along, I came to one of the things on my list that I wanted to see. I think I had read about it my Rick Steve's Eastern European guide. It was sort of a park, so of just a little square. It contained a statue, well, sort of, not your typical statue.
This is the statue. I am not 100% sure of it's representation, but I look at it as some one throwing a line/rope to save another soul. Here is the plaque that was located next to it. Not sure if you can see it, it says..."Whoever saves a life is considered as if has saved an entire world."
It moved me in so many ways. I just sat at stared at it. Realizing the truth in it.
Just a few steps over on the edge of the park, was this huge boulder. Once side of it was sanded smooth with this inscription on it. It is in Hungarian and it reads:
"...I go crazy, when suddenly I must decide whom
I shall save. Where is God? 
" from the diary of Carl Lutz.
" from the diary of Carl Lutz. Wow talk about making you think....
I could not imagine what these poor people went through. How one human being can be so cruel to another. What gives one person the right to think that their race/religion is so superior to others that they must kill all those who are not like them.
As I headed a bit closer to the outskirts of this Jewish District, I had one more stop, I had to stop and see The Rumbach St. Synagogue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumbach_Street_synagogue Built in the early 1800, it is finally getting the long awaited restoration it so well deserves. It is a very unique building, on the outside. It is almost like a mustard yellow. It is not stucco, but a unique pattern embedded into the cement. It has a Moorish style, making it look completely out of place. I have never been inside, but this time, I did get a peek inside. Workman were giving the old building justice finally. I am drawn to this place, and visit here almost every time we are in BUD. It is down a quiet street,sort of out of the way, if you don't know it is there, you will miss it. Again, you must LOOK for it. As other places, this to has seen many things. Sadly not all of it good. When I left the Jewish Ghetto, I walked for a while, just in my own daze. I was mentally drained. It brought back memories of 2 years earlier when my sister and I, on a trip to BUD, headed over to Krakow. From there we visited Auschwitz and Birkenau. To stand at the top of the steps that led to the gas chambers, to see the smoke stacks still standing. How, how could one man do all this, how could so many thousands follow him. I kept thinking of my mom's friend, now deceased. Sari neni, she had the numbers tattooed on her arm. The reminder forever right there, staring at you, the memories of those lost just a glance away.
After all this, I just wanted to go home and hug Sophie, hold her tight and tell her that most people are good. That she is now and will forever be loved, and I will do all to protect her. Why did the people in the community not do more to help and protect the others, who one day they considered their enemy, but the previous day was their neighbor and friend.
