Our chanichim took many paths to Budapest – some flew through Munich, others through Warsaw, and still others via Vienna. But tonight, as we approach Shabbat, we are all together in Budapest. It has been a special experience watching this community come together from across the miles and time zones. For some of our group, this is their first time in Europe; for others, it may even be their first time out of the country.
It’s always magical to witness old friends reunite and new friendships bloom. One of the most rewarding aspects of these trips is watching teens from different URJ communities across the country discover each other – sharing stories about their different camps and synagogues and finding common ground in their Jewish journeys.
It’s been fun to watch different groupings of teens express their local camp pride, while also appreciating the different backgrounds and experiences of their peers. One of our buses even had some fun with some 4th of July trivia. Their American history teachers would be very proud.
But it’s a different part of the world we are visiting. And, as we made our way to Budapest, we had the chance to stop in Tihany, Hungary, a beautiful lakeside town nestled along the shores of Lake Balaton. This historic village, with its stunning views, gave our teens their first taste of European history. Walking through Tihany’s cobblestone streets, our teens began to understand how layers of history – including Jewish history – are woven into every corner of this continent.
The first group of Journey Europe teens arrived in Budapest on Thursday and have already started exploring the city’s rich and fascinating history. We are, of course, particularly focused on helping our teens build meaningful connections with Jewish history in the area. The iconic Dohány Street Synagogue, Europe’s largest synagogue, left many of our teens speechless as they stood in its sanctuary and learned about the vibrant Jewish community that once thrived here. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, they’re beginning to understand the remarkable resilience of Hungarian Jewry.
The rest of the group will get to start exploring Budapest as they arrive tonight for Shabbat, and we’re excited to see their reactions to this beautiful city with its stunning architecture spanning both sides of the Danube.
This Shabbat will be a particularly special experience for our teens. They’ll have the opportunity to meet and connect with the local Jewish community – a chance to see how Jewish life continues to flourish in Europe today. Bus 1 will be at the Budapest JCC tonight and will be joined by URJ President Rick Jacobs. It will be a chance to experience Shabbat in a new and different way than they ever have before while also hearing from Rabbi Jacobs as he helps set the tone for what’s to come over the next few weeks. Bus 2 will join the JCC community for Shabbat morning services so that they too will have a taste of local Jewish life and a chance to hear from Rabbi Jacobs. We’ll be bringing both groups together for Havdalah at the hotel in what promises to be a beautiful and meaningful close to our first Shabbat together as a complete Journey Europe family.
The energy among our teens is high – they’re eager to explore, learn, and grow together. As we continue our Budapest adventure and look ahead to our stops in Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and back to Vienna, we’re reminded that this trip is about so much more than sightseeing. It’s about connecting our young people to their heritage, to each other, and to the global Jewish community that spans continents and centuries.
More updates to come as our European adventure continues!
