“Something in the Water” shares the story of Budapest’s Jewish Community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. In this episode, Barna Szász reflects on how he is bringing his Stanford MFA and teaching experience back to Hungary differently than anticipated. Orbán’s government infiltrated civil society and left no place for Szász in the institutions he was once devoted to. Instead of stepping back, Szász founded something new: “If These Streets Could Talk” is an augmented reality experience which makes the history of Budapest's Jewish quarter come to life in never-before-seen ways. This method of storytelling changes the way people interact with each other and the space around them, and it's all happening here in Hungary. Listen for more!

Mentioned

If These Streets Could Talk

Landecker Digital Holocaust Memory Lab

Barna's Restaurant Recommendations:

Gettó Gulyás

Koleves

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com

“Something in the Water” shares the story of Budapest’s Jewish Community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. In this episode, yiddishist and historian Szonja Komoróczy reflects on the power of bringing academic studies into everyday life and the work of community building. We discuss the ways she equips the community with substantiated knowledge and then “lets go," trusting individuals to shape their own identities and communities.

Mentioned:

Jewish University in Budapest

Lauder Javne School

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.

“Something in the Water” shares the story of Budapest’s Jewish Community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. In this episode, Dr. Anikó Félix explains the evidence-backed methodology behind Haver Foundation’s work to prevent antisemitism. Haver means friend in both Hungarian and Hebrew, and personal encounters between Jewish and non-Jewish students are at the heart of what Haver does. A highlight of the conversation is the insight that these encounters are strongest when volunteer educators themselves are grappling with their Jewish identities, or even disagree with one another about what it means to be Jewish. Listen to find out why.

Mentioned:

Haver Informal Education Foundation

Anikó's Restaurant Recommendations:

Macesz Bistro

Rosenstein

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.

"Something in the Water" shares the story of Budapest's Jewish Community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. Dr. Gábor Balázs, Director of Budapest's Jewish University, shares the power of the University to put multiculturalism into action. We also explore his journey through earlier leadership roles in Jewish communal institutions and how he navigates observance in a largely secular environment. Gábor's blend as a scholar and community-minded leader make this conversation especially rich.

Mentioned:

Jewish University in Budapest

Lauder Javne School

Merkaz - Israeli Cultural Institute

JCC Budapest - Bálint Ház

Budapest Jewish and Israeli Film Festival

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.

"Something in the Water" shares the story of Budapest's Jewish community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. András Büchler joins us to talk about cherishing Jewish community at every scale, from national religious institutions to a small “jewel box” community he lovingly tends. The conversation centers on how communities, when equipped with knowledge and agency, can shape a future according to their own values and vision.

Mentioned:

Szarvas JDC-Lauder International Jewish Youth Camp

Hashomer Hatzair

Mazsihisz Jewish Federations of Hungary

Haver Informal Education Foundation

Centropa Foundation

Sopron Jewish Community

András's Restaurant Recommendation:

Goli

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.

“Something in the Water” shares the story of Budapest’s Jewish community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. András Borgula, founder of Golem Theatre, picked up the phone one day to uncover a family secret. His grandfather and eight brothers survived Auschwitz. What follows is a journey into the Jewish world, a search for what it means to live a Jewish life, and the establishment of a Jewish theatre to share the richness and joy of Judaism with the world.

Mentioned:

Golem Theatre

The New York Times: A Cabaret in Hungary Asks a Horrific Question: What if Jews Vanished?

András's Restaurant Recommendations:

Kádár

David's Kitchen

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.

“Something in the Water” shares the story of Budapest’s Jewish community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. In our first episode, we welcome the luminary Zsuzsa Fritz. Once called the Ghetto Fairy, Zsuzsa says, with a smile on her face, “that pretty much sums it up.” Her experience provides an inside look at how the community has grown and struggled, as well as how her own Jewish identity has evolved over time.

Mentioned:

Szarvas JDC-Lauder International Jewish Youth Camp

JCC Budapest – Bálint Ház

Haver Informal Education Foundation

Zsuzsa’s Restaurant Recommendation:

The Blind Raven in Újlipótváros

Thoughts? Feedback? Email me at rmeyerowitz1@gmail.com.