Rákospalota Synagogue

The Rákospalota Synagogue is a former Neolog Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Old Fóti Road in Rákospalota, in the XVth district of Budapest, Hungary. Completed in 1927, the building was used a synagogue until World War II, subsequently for profane use, including as a warehouse, from the 1960s.

The Jewish community of Rákospalota built the synagogue between 1926 and 1927 along what is now Old Fóti Road, just one block from the corner of Szentmihályi Road and Old Fóti Road. The building was designed by Mihály Feith and Gábor Feith.^[1]

The Jewish community in Rákospalota gained its independence in 1902. The first rabbi of the community, elected in 1898 - when the community still belonged to Újpest - was the legendary Chief Rabbi Yitzchak^[a] Michael Dushinsky.^[b] Dushinsky served as the community leader for 41 years until his death in 1939. Thanks to Dushinsky, the community enjoyed great public respect and esteem.^{[citation needed]}

To cover the construction costs, a small, 44-page Book-of-Blessings was published in 1926, showing a drawing of the façade of the then-future building.

The synagogue became depopulated after World War II, due to the murder by the Nazis and their helpers among the Hungarians. The building has been used as a map warehouse since the 1960s, and since the 1980s, when it was bought by the National Széchényi Library (NSZL) it has been used as one of NSZL warehouses.

1. ^ Yitzchak – a name added to him during illness according to Jewish custom.
2. ^ There are many spellings of this family name, such as: Duschinsky, Dushinsky, also Duschinskie, also Dusinszky, and even Dušinský and Dušinski, and also Duszinski! And more; all according to the usual spelling in the same European country or in a mixture of spellings.

1. ^ ^{a b} "Synagogue in Rákospalota, Budapest, Hungary". Historic synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved July 13, 2024.

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