Budapest Through a Different Lens: Four Days to Change Everything
Adam K walks us through his recent experience of Bogsem in Budapest and how just four days of an FZY trip gave him an entirely new outlook.
Like many others, in the summer after Year 13, I went interrailing across Europe; Budapest was one of our many destinations. This was my first experience of the city, and it was one of my least favourite places we had travelled to. Even though it was during the summer months, the city felt more dull and less lively than the other European cities we had experienced.
In September, I had an incredible experience on the first FZY trip I’d participated in since Tour. We had travelled to Israel to go around the country and volunteer - II was instantly certain that I wanted to secure my place on the Bogsem trip. After the announcement that the seminar was taking place in Budapest, I was a little disappointed - after all, I hadn’t enjoyed the location when I was interrailing. However, I was sure that I wanted to continue with my FZY journey, and I signed up regardless; I am so thankful that I did.
The moment we met with our group at the airport, spirits were instantly high, despite it being 4 am and everyone lacking sleep. One of the most special aspects of FZY trips is connecting with people you would never have met otherwise and becoming extremely close in such a short period of time.
On our first day in Budapest, I already knew that this weekend would be entirely different to my interrailing experience. We began with a tour of some of the city's attractions, and later enjoyed a boat tour down the Danube River, where we saw incredible sights. Even though the city was freezing cold and we had all felt sleep-deprived after our early flight, we spent the entire boat trip on the outside deck, where we blasted Israeli music and enjoyed one another’s company.
As we stayed in the Jewish quarter of Budapest and toured the city with Agi, our Hungarian-Jewish tour guide, we were able to truly grasp the experience of Hungarian Jewish history. We visited tourist sites, such as the largest synagogue in Europe, and enjoyed amazing food in kosher Hungarian restaurants. We also immersed ourselves in the culture, experiencing the local life and visiting sites, such as the only Jewish theatre in Budapest, and hearing the story of how it was formed and thrives within the Jewish Hungarian community.
The FZY Shabbat that we had been anticipating exceeded my expectations. Like all FZY Shabbats, it did not disappoint. We took it upon ourselves to partake in a Friday night service in one of Europe’s largest synagogues, where it had been brought to life with a service led by two Bogrim. Another activity undertaken on Shabbat was volunteering, where we had the privilege of helping to lead a birthday party for displaced child refugees who had fled to Budapest from Ukraine and Russia.
On Saturday evening, after Shabbat had ended, we had a group Havdallah service in the JAFI building, where we commemorated an incredible Shabbat together as a group. It was extremely gratifying to have become so close to and form friendships with people whom I had not seen since the last FZY trip back in September, as well as with those I had only met three days prior.
On Sunday, our final day, we had completed our sightseeing, learned about the Shoes on the Danube River, and relaxed in the famous Hungarian thermal baths. Before we knew it, the weekend had flown by, and it was time to leave. At the end of the trip, I reflected on the amazing experience I had in Budapest and how FZY had painted the city in a whole new light, making it one of my favourite cities in Europe now. When our plane took off back to London, it hit me how much can change in four days. Budapest went from a city I couldn’t connect with at all to one I’ll always remember. Bogsem reminded me that FZY isn’t just about travelling; it’s about building a community that brings Jewish life to every corner of the world.
