As Shabbat approaches, the chanichim on Machane Bonim Europe (MBE) are looking back on a deeply meaningful week where they had a chance to start exploring Europe and learning how their own Jewish identity connects with the Jewish stories interwoven in the cities we are visiting.
The first part of our group arrived in Vienna on June 30th and were joined by the rest of the group on July 2nd. World events caused this trip to be different than the one originally planned, but the result is also that we are able to bring together a larger contingent from Habonim Dror North America than we originally anticipated.
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 parts of the country discover each other, sharing stories about their different communities and finding common ground in their Jewish journeys.
As they began their European journey in Vienna, they had the chance to see Vienna’s beautiful Cathedral and swim in the Danube River. Then they visited the Hofburg, the former imperial palace, which is both beautiful and historic while also being the site of one of the central moments of the Nazi era: the site where Hitler declared the Anschluss, unifying Germany and Austria.
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 and hiking its scenic trails, our teens began to understand how layers of history – including Jewish history – are woven into every corner of this continent.
Arriving in Budapest is really a special experience, and it is one of Europe’s most interesting cities. In addition to a cruise on the Danube and a relaxing visit to the world-famous Széchenyi baths, we also 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.
This Kabbalat Shabbat was originally planned to be spent at the Museum of Ethnography, a beautiful space where they can welcome the Sabbath with music, prayer, and rikudim. However, the heat wave spreading throughout Europe coupled with jetlag rendered our teens more tired than expected. The group elected together to instead spend Shabbat at the hotel resting and recharging together in true Shabbat spirit.
As they recover, the excitement 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!
