“In Eastern Europe, many young community leaders only recently discovered their Jewishness” – December 17, 2024
During the JCC Global From Good to Great Conference, leaders of cornerstone Jewish organizations in Central and Eastern Europe share their stories of finding out about their Judaism later in life and fully embracing it.
“100 JCC Leaders from 31 JCCs Spice Up Budapest” – December 16, 2024
Get a taste of 2024’s From Good to Great Conference that took place in person, in Budapest, for the first time in five years.
“At Budapest conference, JCCs from around the world look to each other for help, camaraderie” – December 13, 2024
This recap on the From Good to Great Conference highlights the time leaders spent collaborating – both sharing best practices and brainstorming opportunities to work together in the future.
“In Budapest, Exploring the City’s Jewish Life with JDC Entwine” – February 21, 2024
Dan Alpert, JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow from 2022-2024 and Gregory Feldman, JDC Entwine Insider Trip participant, reported back on their time exploring Jewish Budapest. JDC Entwine Insider Trips offer opportunities to visit a community where JDC operates and the chance to meet with locals to better understand Jewish life in another part of the world.
“The Heartbeat of Hungary’s Jewish Community: Reflecting On the Magic and Vitality of JCC Budapest” – October 10, 2023
Dan Alpert, JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow from 2022-2024 shares about the excitement of what it means to live and work in a community that is reimagining its future.
“At JCC Budapest, Building a Proud and Open Jewish Life” – June 29, 2022
Marcell Kenesei, Director of JCC Budapest, shares that LGBTQIA+ inclusivity is essential to the work of JCC Budapest, because Jewish people know firsthand what it means to be excluded, and because we cannot afford to let anyone feel like they do not belong in our community. “Jewish Hungary is large enough for everyone — no matter your identity.”
“During L.A. Visit, JCC Budapest Director Discusses Community-Building” – June 9, 2022
This article reminds that Jewish life in Eastern and Central Europe is not completely characterized by the Shoah. We are reimagining a Jewish community that will persist and grow.
“Your Dollars at Work: JCC Budapest assists refugees” – March 24, 2022
JCC Budapest immediately responded to the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Budapest.
Life Through Historic Events
Dr. George Berci, a Hungarian surgeon now living in Los Angeles, shares his story of growing up in Hungary and facing numerous historical events. In this video, Dr. Berci recounts these moments from his perspective and memory.
An incredibly interesting and engaging video narrative, this video provides context for Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe which we encourage individuals to watch.
Dr. Berci has been awarded several prestigious awards and recognitions for his work in the field of endoscopy. Dr. Berci turned 100 in 2021 and continues to teach others about Jewish life and medical advances.
Click this link or the photo next to the text to view the video.
Marcell Kenesei
Wow! I’m speechless.
At the beginning of the New Year, I was traveling with our Deputy Director, Jutka, to the United States. From Atlanta to Palm Beach to New York City, we have been thrilled to meet with our partners and supporters.
I started my trip in Atlanta at the JCCs of North America Mifgash. Over 140 amazing JCC leaders from all over the world came together to collaborate, inspire, and learn from one another—I certainly left feeling extra motivated to continue our work in Hungary!
Jutka joined me in beautiful Florida to meet with the Mandel JCC of Palm Beach, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, and many of our partners in the area, which is always a pleasure. I cannot begin to express how much we appreciate the hospitality, openness, kindness, and warmth we received from our friends in Florida.
The Palm Beach team has been a partner for quite some time now and being able to rejoice in person felt like a family reunion—we are incredibly grateful.
In Brooklyn, we met with the UJA Federation and Marks JCH team to learn about their work and to be inspired. They are an incredible institution and an example of how Jewish communities should stand up for all human values. It was moving to learn from them and are we are thankful for their collaboration.
Click the photo to watch a video of our trip!
23 February, 2023
My name is Andriy Slyusarev and I was born and raised in the district town of Boyarka, which is 10 kilometers from the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.
I graduated with a degree in accounting and auditing, and worked for a pension fund, reaching the position of head of the audit department. After two years working there, I left the fund and created an organization providing engineering services to construction companies with my brother, Serhiy.
In my free time, I loved riding my mountain bike and traveling, often going to Ukraine’s mountains (Carpathians and Crimea) and seas. On February 19th, 2022, my friend and I left Kyiv to go skiing in the Alps. Around 4 a.m. on February 24, war in Ukraine broke out.
In the beginning, I did not fully understand what was happening, so I called home and received a clear answer from my family: do not return home. I then called my cousin, who lives in Budapest, asking if I could stay with them.
On February 25, I attended a Shabbat at JCC Budapest where we were told of a volunteer opportunity to help Jewish refugees in a nearby hotel. Since then, I have been working with JCC Budapest and have been a part of the team to support other refugees.
Some of the most joyful, yet saddest, moments are our charity drives. I often see the sadness in the eyes of those coming, yet also a spark of hope knowing that the Jewish community is here to support us as refugees. Through sports, programming, and dance, there have been different opportunities for our refugee community to create a community of friends here in Budapest.
While the future is still unclear, I now have more hope as I look to maybe go to the U.S. or Canada. In the meantime, I know that I’ll continue to support my fellow refugees here in Budapest and my relatives back home in Ukraine any way I can.
December 4, 2020
For some Jews, “from generation to generation” is the most exhausted expression in Jewish life. Pointing to some endless chain of faceless ancestors passing on traditions like lighting the Menorah is stale routine and taken for granted.
December 17, 2019
After decimation during the Holocaust and the curtailment of Jewish practice under Communist rule, today Jewish culture is flourishing in Budapest. Twenty-six-year-old Hungarian teacher Dávid Hollós explores his city’s vibrant Jewish community, while delving deeper into his own Jewish heritage and identity.
November 16, 2018
Jews in Hungary are discovering their roots for the first time since the end of Communist rule in 1989, and the only Jewish Community Center in the country is helping them get closer to their heritage.
October 30, 2018
With Halloween upon us, everyone loves a good ghost story. A native of Hungary, I’ve learned this about the U.S.
I also learned that for many Jewish visitors to Europe — including some I’ve met in New York City during a visit the last week — ghosts are what they think they’ll find in the communities where their ancestors once lived.
11 June, 2018
With Halloween upon us, everyone loves a good ghost story. A native of Hungary, I’ve learned this about the U.S.
I also learned that for many Jewish visitors to Europe — including some I’ve met in New York City during a visit the last week — ghosts are what they think they’ll find in the communities where their ancestors once lived.
18 May, 2018
As past trauma and current census policy make calculating the number of Hungarian Jews impossible, young leaders engage uncounted Jews like themselves, and welcome them home
18 May, 2018
My name is Susanna Green. I was born and grew up in Hungary, but I have been living in the United States for decades.
Through JDC and my friends Carol and Ted Levy, I met Zsuzsa Fritz on my last visit to Budapest. She is the director of the Balint Haz JCC in Budapest and educational director of Szarvas, JDC and the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation’s flagship international Jewish summer camp. But mostly, for me, she is the heart and soul of Jewish life in Hungary.
