the synagogue and the basilica in budapest

8/7/2019 The Synagogue and the Basilica in Budapest

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BognrAlexandraArtHistory

Chooseawesternvisualartistorarchitectandanon-westernartistorarchitectwholived

duringthesametimeperiod(eg.15thcentury,19thcenturyetc.).Examineandcomparetheir

worksfromatranscendental/religious/philosophicalpointofview.

Basilica of Szent Istvn

and the

Synagogue in Dohny utca

Art History

2010.11.02.

Bognr Alexandra


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Basilica of Szent Istvn and the Synagogue in Dohny utca

This essay is going to explore a western and an eastern building built in the samecity, they are even situated less than a kilometer away from each other. Both were

built in the same century, what differentiates them is basically the religion behind

them not the architects approach since both of them were western.

Until 2010 if anyone mentioned the term Synagogue people thought about the

one in Dohny utca. There were some who might have had some memories about one

in buda which once functioned as a Synagogue and is being renovated now. This

essay is going to demonstrate the history of the synagogue mentioned above and the

basilica including how and by whom they were designed, planned. After a short

introduction to their construction history, religious differences will be highlighted

which therefore made differences in the interior design and arrangement.

The term - synagogue according to the www.faqs.org means: A Jewish place

which serves many purposes. It is a house of prayer, of course, because people go

there to pray in group-prayer. It is a house of assembly, because people assemble

there for social events, such as dinners, fundraisers, and other non-religious activities.

It is a house of study because life-long learning is a part of Judaism: we teach our

children there, and we teach ourselves there through adult education. (www.faqs.org,

accessed on 2010.10.29.)

A synagogue is not a temple and Jewish people are extremely sensitive to this

topic because they say that they have only one temple, that is in Jerusalem. According

to Jewish tradition, this was the only place where sacrifices were performed. It was

destroyed by the Romans around the 1st century. Now, Jewish people believe that

The Temple will be rebuilt when the Messiah comes.


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Synagogue in Dohny utca

The synagogues length: 53.1 m

The synagogues width: 26.5 m

The synagogues inner nave until the sanctuarys podium: 37.9 m long, 24.6 m wide,

26 m high

The ark of the covenant: 8,2 m high

There are 1492 men and 1472 women seats

The Synagogue

Its size represented the importance, richness, the high-level economic and

cultural need of that times Jewry. At the end of 1850s, requested by the community

grown to 30.000, a synagogue building committee was formed, led by the chief rabbi

Lw Schwab. For its architecture, more than 150 years ago, entries were invited for

competition for which the most famous and illustrious engineers made technical


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The Basilica

Hild Jzsef(previously mentioned: he was later asked to make a plan for the

Synagogue) got the order in the year of 1845, and the ground works started in 1846

but history interfered the project therefore during the revolution, the works were

paused. The actual work on the building began only in 1851. Hild Jzsef designed a

classicist style, he supervised the building until his unfortunate death in 1867. Later it

turned out that both the construction-material and the workmanship proved not to be

corresponding therefore the walled up cupola poured. Clearing away all the debris and

the deconstruction of the badly-built parts lasted until 1871. For these works and also,

for the re-planning of the basilica Ybl Mikls was requested. He designed a neo-

renaissance-styled construction which he coordinated until his death in 1891. The

final inner-design was overseen by Kauser Jzsef who finished with the construction

in 1905. It was on the 9th of November in the very same year when it was inaugurated.

(www.bazilika.biz, accessed: 2010.10.26.)

Religious differences can result in the differences of the interior designs.


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Compulsory objects

While the basilica is rich in fine art: statues and paintings, these objects can not

be seen in the synagogue. Artworks, such as the mosaics by Szkely Bertalan and

Than Mr at the hall with the embossing of Szent Istvn by Senyei Kroly are all part

of the amazing art-tour in the basilica.

Round the cupola the representation of God, on the surface of the tambur

Christs, prophets and evangelists can be found, made by Lotz Kroly.

The cupola Lotz Kroly

On the sanctuarys dome, the allegories of the mass form a line in Benczr

Gyulas mosaics.

Altarpainting Benczr Gyula


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Szent Istvns main life stages are animated by the bronze series of embossing

of Mayer Ede. The main baldachin-altar was designed by Kauser Jzsef and is being

decorated by Strbl Alajoss statue of Szent Isvn.

Main-baldachin altar

There are compulsory attachments that can be found in every Christian temples.

An example can be a cross with Jesus on it. In most cases, there are sculptors and

paintings about Jesus, Mary, saints, evangelists, angels etc. Biblical scenes are being


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represented. This was the case, not just because Christianity does not accept or apply

the 2nd commandment but also because long ago the majority of the population did not

read or write. This was the privilege of Christian clericals. Therefore, in order to make

it possible for everyone to understand and actually know what happened images

meant a good solution.

The basilica has a special relic called the Szent Jobb. It is the naturally

mummified right hand of king Szent Istvn. From the 20th of August, 1987 (this was

the day when cardinal Dr. Paskai Lszl sanctified the chapel of Szent Jobb) is being

stored in the basilica. Every year, on the day of Szent Istvn there is an appealing

procession by which the relic is being brought all around the country.

(www.bazilika.biz, accessed on 2010.10.29.)

Szent Jobb

As previously mentioned, such images can not be found in Jewish temples.

This is because of the 2nd commandment, which banned any usage of such images for

the followers of the Jewish religion.


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Jewish traditions are pretty strict, there are basic and compulsory objects that

have to be found in every synagogue, for example the ark of the covenant or the

Torah roll. In the synagogue in Dohny utca, on the head of the ark of the covenant

there is a cupola, this is also Feszl Frigyess work as well as all the furniture (which

he made pretty special since it can be passed around from 3 sides), the 12-branched

candelabra and the painting. It gives an impression of a house in a house therefore it

reminds the temple (of Jerusalem): the saint of saints. In front of the ark of the

covenant there is an eternal flame to which stairs show the way, while to the altar the

rabbi and the Levite-chorus has to climb 15 stairs. The ark of covenant is covered

with velvet curtain on which Hebrew text and Jewish symbols can be find (e.g. the

menorah, Solomons seal, lion and the crown). In the ark of covenant, the Torah roll

is held. (www.dohany-zsinagoga.hu, accessed 2010.10.28.)

Ark of the covenant (door opened)

There are very strict rules how the torah should look. According to sizes: it can

be at most 6-hand high and 2-hand wide. (6 hand = 1 ell) Originally, there were not

enough copies from the torah (Moses wrote only 14), therefore those who deserve

can copy the torah. Its writing is even regulated, it is prohibited to write continuously:


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every word and letter should be written separately. This handwriting is so highly

admired that jews consider it one of the 10 miracles done before sabbat.

The menorah is also an example, it is always the same, in other words: we all

know how it should look, innovation could happen only in case of its implementation.

The same is applied when thinking of the symbol of the Solomons seal.

Doors decorated with Solomons seal

The 10 commandments, which according to the Exodus, was written by gods

finger into stone and given to Moses contain the religious and moral imperatives that

have to be kept by every follower. Betweenthetwoonion-shaped

spiresofthetowersstandthetwoscripturalstonetabletswiththeTen

Commandments.

The 10 commandments (outside)


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Women

Women are treated differently in the two religions therefore the interior design

for seating is also different. While in case of Christianity, women can sit next to men,

jewish traditions separate the sexes (there are men seats and women seats). Moreover,

in case of orthodox synagogues (the one in Dohny utca is neolitic) there are even

curtains because they say that if men see women they are physically not able to focus

on the pray. It is also interesting that while jews ban the oncoming of men and women

inside the temple, they are happily aware of the importance of sexuality. This is

untrue for Christianity, which isolated religion from relationships.

Appearance

It is a common feature of the two religions that they both necessitate that the

shoulders and knees have to be covered, unless you are not allowed to enter the

sanctuary (in other words: you are disrespectful if you are undressed). In case of the

synagogue, entering bare-headed is also prohibited, men have to wear a kipa while

women a kerchief.

A significant difference in the religions is how they treat black and white. It is

generally known that black is the colour for mourning. What we do not know is that

this is not a world-wide general habbit just a Christian tradition. Jews wear white in

funerals, they say that white is the colour for mourning and purgation, while

Christianity consider white for festivity.

Religious Events connected to the buildings

The weekly events are also different, in case of jewish religion, Saturday the

sabbat is being celebrated on Fridays before darkness, while masses are held on

Sundays in Christianity. (Therefore, the days for resting in jewish traditions is the

Saturday, while Christians relax on Sundays.) Habbits are common: reading out from

the Bible/Torah and praying. It is also interesting that while in case of Christianity


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you are advised to go to the church on Sunday, jews are advised to go to the

synagogue a day before Saturday.

There is a jewish holiday called Simchat Torah which celebrates the existence of the

Torah and it is when all the synagogue's Torah rolls are removed from the ark and are

carried around the sanctuary.

Music

Music as it is usually a case in religious life plays an important role in not

just religious events but the buildings acoustics provide a wonderful opportunity for

concerts. Both the synagogue and the basilica have a beautifully sound organ. The

organ in the synagogue has 5000 fifes. On the opening, Liszt Ferenc and Saint-Saens

played on the original organ. The space, the atmosphere and the acoustics together

form a prestigious and rich environment.

Organ of the Basilica


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The basilica has 6 bells, which even have their own, personal names (rpd-hzi

Szent Erzsbet harang, Szent Imre herceg harang, Boldog Gizella harang, Szent II.

Henrik nmet-rmai csszr harang, Nagyboldogasszony harang, Szent Istvn

nagyharang) The naming suggest the viewer (and also represent) the importance of

them.

(www.bazilika.biz, accessed: 2010.10.26.)

It was clearly seen that while the Basilicas style could have even be changed.

This was partly because time passed while constructing it (paused during the

revolution) and it made possible and even needed to re-plan from the very beginning.

Such an altering can never happen with a synagogue since the basic construction

requirements are regulated. However, the synagogue went over a tragic period the

2nd

World War -, in 1944 the ghetto of Budapest was established there. In the nearer

streets and in the synagogue more than 70.000 people were squeezed and the garden

soon became a mass-grave. But now, the Synagogue is in its original beauty and it is a

national monument as well as the Basilica of Szent Istvn. The design was not just the

result of the architects creativity, it is about what the religion tolerates, accepts and

expects.


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References:

Basilica:

A templom trtnete, MCOnet Magyarorszg, accessed on 2010.10.26.,http://bazilika.biz/a-templom-tortenete/a-templom-tortenete_4526_488572.html

A szent jobb trtnete, MCOnet Magyarorszg, accessed on 2010.10.26.,

http://bazilika.biz/a-szent-jobb-tortenete/a-szent-jobb-tortenete_4527_488568.html

A bazilika harangjai, MCOnet Magyarorszg, accessed on 2010.10.26.,

http://bazilika.biz/a-bazilika-harangjai/a-bazilika-harangjai_4523_488561.html

A bazilika orgonja, MCOnet Magyarorszg, accessed on 2010.10.26.,http://bazilika.biz/a-bazilika-orgonaja/a-bazilika-orgonaja_4520_488556.html

Basilica, Answers corporation, accessed on 2010.10.29.,

http://www.answers.com/topic/basilica

Synagogue:

A zsinagga ptszete, A dohny utca zsinagga oldala, accessed on 2010.10.28.,

http://www.dohany-zsinagoga.hu/page2/page3/page3.html

Az orgona, A dohny utca zsinagga oldala, accessed on 2010.10.28.,

http://www.dohany-zsinagoga.hu/page2/page7/page7.html

Interview with a jewish friend named Jambrik Alexandra who is studying at Scheiber

Sndor secondary school

What is a synagogue?, Advameg Inc., accessed on 2010.10.29.,

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/05-Worship/section-8.html

Podonyi H. and Tth J., Zsinaggk Magyarorszgon, Viva Mdia Holding Kiad,

Budapest, pp 54-62.

the synagogue and the basilica in budapest

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