Hello folks. Has anyone done the tours at the Doheny St Synagogue? There are a couple of levels, and we're wondering if there is significant walking or if there are bits where you can sit or take a break? Thinking about someone with an arthritic knee. I like the sound of the "medium" one, roughly two hours, but we can do the "basic" if it will be more comfortable.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20592 posts
Not really sure what is basic and medium one?
If this is where you are looking? https://jewishtourhungary.com/en/
Posted by
OP
Nova Scotia, Canada
264 posts
Good morning Mr E! We were looking at this site. https://www.greatsynagogue.hu/jewishquartertours.php
Not sure if they connect to the travel companies. I had heard somewhere (can't remember where of course!) that these tours were led specifically by members of the local Jewish community, which appealed to us.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20592 posts
The site I posted is where you get directed from the official Dohany Synagogue page. It's run by the locals as well.
The tours all involve quite a bit of walking and at a pretty good pace to cover as much ground as they do. Possibly you can buy the three individual Synagogue tours and then self pace between them using a guide book for the stops in between? I am out right now, but when I get home tonight I will see if I can figure out a self paced but meaningful tour.
Posted by
Washington, DC USA
518 posts
Hi JoAnne,
I don't know if this will help or is out of date but the one you provided the link to sounds most like the one I did in 2016. According to my records, it was called Jewish Tours in Budapest at the time (whereas the link from Mr E seems to be an organization called Jewish Tours Hungary). I cannot speak to the difference. The tour I took was excellent and was with and through the local Jewish community. I remember seeing all the things listed on the link you had. The one I took, according the the email receipt, was called the "essential tour" at the time and lasted a half day. There was an extended version that continued through the afternoon that I did not do. That one, I believe, included lunch at a kosher restaurant and visiting other institutions in the Jewish community. Another thing I remember that seems to fit with what both your link and Mr E's link say is that only certain tours are allowed to go into the Doheny Synagogue with their tour leader.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20592 posts
I looked at what your link was selling and what I coud put together myself and your concernes and if it were me i would do the long tour at https://www.greatsynagogue.hu/jewishquartertours.php#4 Why the long tour? Beause if you look a the destination list it is the same as the shorter tour. That means more talk, more learning and more conversation and less of a forced march through the neighborhood. These are private tours, so just tell the guide at the begining that you want to stop every 60 or 90 minutes and have coffee or ???? and listend to the guide's stories about the district. Its sort of a win - win.
What i found disapointing is that their web page showsn the Vasvari Pal Synagogue, but their tours dont go there. You wont miss much, but would give me an opportunity to wave hello. I live pretty much across the street.
If you are into this subject, then I encourage you to go to the Glass House: https://www.uveghaz.org/?categoryId=36511
Also, as you walk be aware of the Stumbling Stones: https://jewishsacredaging.com/the-stumbling-stones-of-the-budapest-ghetto/
And of the Yellow Star Houses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-star_house
AND https://www.yellowstarhouses.org/