We heard it before we reached the little town of Mád: Chassid Jews from all over the world use this place for their gatherings. The former orthodox synagogue was restored beginning of the century, finished in 2004. it took a lot of effort and planning, until this present state was developed. Not only the guesthouse located in the former rabbinic house, but many hotels and panzios, a kosher winemaker and a kosher catering in one of the next villages.
The synagogue itself is one of the oldest in Hungary, Jews from Poland and Moravia settled here in the 18. century. The synagogue is a baroque „neun Felder Synagoge“. This kind of synagogue has the bimah in center, surrounded by pillars. They are the bases for the arches that form the nine areas.
After the holocaust no Jewish community was existing any more so the building decaded and fell apart. Descendants from former inhabitants started the process of rebuilding by first initiating a roof. Today the synagogue is wonderfully restored, with lots of paintings (stencils) and ornaments. The benches has been built after the images of former ones. The property is being kept in shape and running on a highly professional level. It can be visited for a small fee and we even got a tour in English by Mariann Frank, who was the project manager and historian for the whole project. Very impressive all that.
