Jewish history in Budapest
Jewish people had a hard time living in Prague and in Budapest much before the rise of Nazism in world war two.
Despite the fact that they had great influence on advancing the culture, music, poetry, and architecture of the city, they were not treated as equals and were not allowed to own homes or land.
Since Jules was born to a Hungarian- Jewish family, we went to explore the Jewish quarter, strolled alone the narrow streets and took in the beautiful buildings, the kosher pastry shops, the restaurants and were amazed to see one of the most beautiful Jewish synagogues we have ever seen.
It is the second largest in the world and it has Moorish influences. I am adding some photos of the building above.
In Budapest there is a memorial to the Jewish people that were killed during WW2.
It runs along the Danube from the Parliament building and it is comprise of bronzed shoes.
The story tells that before they shot the Jewish people and pushed their bodies into the river, they had them remove their shoes which were a valuable commodity in war time when supply and goods were limited.
It is mind boggling to me that someone with value a shoe over human lives.
