Budapest Master Thread

[sillypainter]

You guys are ALL confused.

What happened here was , a person in Belgium sold meat as kosher from Hungary, and he sold it all over Europe, and it wasn't true, Hungary stopped issuing his hechsher long ago. It has nothing to do with the Hungarian food establishments having a TRUE Hungarian hechsher.

[kosherjid]

You guys are ALL confused.

What happened here was , a person in Belgium sold meat as kosher from Hungary, and he sold it all over Europe, and it wasn't true, Hungary stopped issuing his hechsher long ago. It has nothing to do with the Hungarian food establishments having a TRUE Hungarian hechsher.

…..? perhaps you ARE confused.  It doesn't look so simple to me, if the rabbanim in Antwerp issued a warning, then you'd better check it out.
And if Rav Oberlander in Budapest, says that at the moment, the only two places which are kosher is Carmel and Tel Aviv cafe, you'd better be careful, no ?
(By the way, this meat wasn't sold all over Europe)

[shwarmabob]

"The hechsher for Hanna is overseen by Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern, and given by Rabbi Menachem Meir Hakohen Adler and Rabbi Avraham Chaim Meir Gestettner of Bnei Brak"

Can someone contact them?

[Luvtotravel]

https://varkertbazar.hu/en/events/mikveh-tour    mikve@varkertbazar.hu

seems very interesting. Would love something like this or any Jewish tour in evening. Would u know of any? Arriving at around 3pm and leaving following morning.

[kosherjid]

seems very interesting. Would love something like this or any Jewish tour in evening. Would u know of any? Arriving at around 3pm and leaving following morning.

I would suggest you phone +36 (1) 355 7049 to join the tour of the miqveh.  Wed-Thurs-Friday from 11.00 - 12:00 Tell them you're interested in the hungarian tour (even if you don't understand the language)  I think this one is daily.  Can't go by yourself.

It's in the castle district.  Then in Tancsics Mihaly 26 the remains of a middle age synagogue.  Then the Vienna Gate - used to be called the Jewish Gate - some read the megillas Ofen from Rav Yizchak ben Zalman Schulhof - his father was a Dayan in Prague - before going there. It's about the siege of 1686 that took place there.  You don't need a jewish tour for this.

Even if the hours won't work out for you, I would suggest going there. The view on Budapest from the royal castle is beautiful.  From there, BUD, you return to Pest with
http://budacastlebudapest.com/funicular-buda-castle-district/

[Luvtotravel]

I would suggest you phone +36 (1) 355 7049 to join the tour of the miqveh.  Wed-Thurs-Friday from 11.00 - 12:00 Tell them you're interested in the hungarian tour (even if you don't understand the language)  I think this one is daily.  Can't go by yourself.

It's in the castle district.  Then in Tancsics Mihaly 26 the remains of a middle age synagogue.  Then the Vienna Gate - used to be called the Jewish Gate - some read the megillas Ofen from Rav Yizchak ben Zalman Schulhof - his father was a Dayan in Prague - before going there. It's about the siege of 1686 that took place there.  You don't need a jewish tour for this.

Even if the hours won't work out for you, I would suggest going there. The view on Budapest from the royal castle is beautiful.  From there, BUD, you return to Pest with
http://budacastlebudapest.com/funicular-buda-castle-district/

Tx for the useful info. i won't be there by 11_am so the tour won't work out for us but could I self tour?
Also I checked out above link which has a tour at 4 pm which is great for me. Would u suggest this tour or a s egway tour to eliminate all the walking? And a river cruise in evening?

[kosherjid]

Tx for the useful info. i won't be there by 11_am so the tour won't work out for us but could I self tour?
Also I checked out above link which has a tour at 4 pm which is great for me. Would u suggest this tour or a s egway tour to eliminate all the walking? And a river cruise in evening?

As I wrote, in the castle district you can self tour.  I love walking, so I wouldn't know what to tell you. Just an idea: you could ask one of the jewish drivers, who bring jews to Kerestir, how much it would cost to see jewish sights.  (bear in mind, most are closed in the afternoon).

[shimino1]

You are saying you spoke to the Mashgiach three years ago ?!?
I don't think that based on  " speaking to the Mashgiach" one should then rely on the kashruth of the meat.
I would suggest to contact the Rabbanim in Antwerp, who signed the warnning, which I posted above, and ask them directly, which restaurant is allowed.
Although I have a written answer from Rav Oberlander in Budapest, that Tel Aviv Cafe and Carmel are kosher. Their meat is under Chabad hechsher.  Nothing happened there.

You completely missed the point.

I am saying that Hanna doesn't relay on some Belgian supplier. They Shect their own meat every couple weeks and the Mashgiach oversees the Shchita so there could be no problem (unless you think the mashgiach is lying in which case you shouldn't eat in the restaurant at all).
Since my information is a little old, you should confirm with the Mashgiach that this is still the process.

Regarding you contacting the Chabad rabbi: It is well known that Chabad claims they are the only Kashrus in town and the Orthodox community claims the same. They each imply that the other is not Kosher.
I would be much more comfortable with Hanna were the whole Shchita operation is done "in-house" and overseen by the Kashrus authority.

[kosherjid]

You completely missed the point.

I am saying that Hanna doesn't relay on some Belgian supplier. They Shect their own meat every couple weeks and the Mashgiach oversees the Shchita so there could be no problem (unless you think the mashgiach is lying in which case you shouldn't eat in the restaurant at all).
Since my information is a little old, you should confirm with the Mashgiach that this is still the process.

Regarding you contacting the Chabad rabbi: It is well known that Chabad claims they are the only Kashrus in town and the Orthodox community claims the same. They each imply that the other is not Kosher.
I would be much more comfortable with Hanna were the whole Shchita operation is done "in-house" and overseen by the Kashrus authority.

I don't think this has to do with "feeling much more comfortable with Hanna".  By the way, Rav Oberlander did not claim that "they are only Kashrus in town", he just said that "nothing happened to the Chabad schita". When I asked him about the Kashruth of Hanna, and the butcher shop, he replied "I don't have the exact details."
 
Seems the wisest thing would be to contact Rav Schmuel Eliezer Stern, and Rav Menachem Meir Hakohen Adler and Rav Avraham Meir Gestettner of Bne Braq, and ask them directly which restaurant is kosher and which not. 

[shimino1]

I don't think this has to do with "feeling much more comfortable with Hanna".  By the way, Rav Oberlander did not claim that "they are only Kashrus in town", he just said that "nothing happened to the Chabad schita". When I asked him about the Kashruth of Hanna, and the butcher shop, he replied "I don't have the exact details."
 
Seems the wisest thing would be to contact Rav Schmuel Eliezer Stern, and Rav Menachem Meir Hakohen Adler and Rav Avraham Meir Gestettner of Bne Braq, and ask them directly which restaurant is kosher and which not.

Are you arguing for the fun of it? Are you even arguing? How is anything you wrote in this post different then what I wrote?

[justaguy]

Stopping in Budapest on the way to Tel Aviv from around 1:00 pm to 10:30 the next morning with my wife, 4 kids + an infant. I read through the thread, but still have some questions:
-We were thinking of staying near the airport, but someone advised not to. How far from the airport to the hotels you've been discussing, which I assume are in the Jewish area?
- On the recommendation of someone upthread, I downloaded taxify, but got a disclaimer in what seems to be Vietnamese. Is this real? How do I use it? If not, what's my best option? Will we need 2 cabs?
- Will we be able to stay in 1 hotel room? If so, where? No need for elegance. Price and comfort are important. Is Air BnB a good option?
- Does the airport have free wifi?
- Sounds like within the city, we can walk just about everywhere: shul, food (restaurant & grocery), major tourist attractions. Is that right?
- I saw someone say that milk and bread are kosher. Is that only from the kosher grocery, or all over? with a hechsher? Is the local hechsher printed on the items?
TIA

[Luvtotravel]

Stopping in Budapest on the way to Tel Aviv from around 1:00 pm to 10:30 the next morning with my wife, 4 kids + an infant. I read through the thread, but still have some questions:
-We were thinking of staying near the airport, but someone advised not to. How far from the airport to the hotels you've been discussing, which I assume are in the Jewish area?
- On the recommendation of someone upthread, I downloaded taxify, but got a disclaimer in what seems to be Vietnamese. Is this real? How do I use it? If not, what's my best option? Will we need 2 cabs?
- Will we be able to stay in 1 hotel room? If so, where? No need for elegance. Price and comfort are important. Is Air BnB a good option?
- Does the airport have free wifi?
- Sounds like within the city, we can walk just about everywhere: shul, food (restaurant & grocery), major tourist attractions. Is that right?
- I saw someone say that milk and bread are kosher. Is that only from the kosher grocery, or all over? with a hechsher? Is the local hechsher printed on the items?
TIA

I must have missed that. Why not stay near airport? I also have morning flight and figured airport would be convenient.

[hvaces42]

I must have missed that. Why not stay near airport? I also have morning flight and figured airport would be convenient.

Airport is not near anything...and kind of a sketchy industrial area.

[Luvtotravel]

Airport is not near anything...and kind of a sketchy industrial area.

if I go after sightseeing minyan and food and have break of dawn flight is it still not a good option?

[hvaces42]

if I go after sightseeing minyan and food and have break of dawn flight is it still not a good option?

Never stayed near airport. Always stayed in Pest. Just never liked the area around the airport. Its way out of the city.

[kosherjid]

Airport is not near anything...and kind of a sketchy industrial area.

From the airport to Hotels and jewish aerea take the bus 100 - in 40 minutes you're there.

[chff]

I must have missed that. Why not stay near airport? I also have morning flight and figured airport would be convenient.

Airport is not near anything...and kind of a sketchy industrial area.

Never stayed near airport. Always stayed in Pest. Just never liked the area around the airport. Its way out of the city.

Good hotel
https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-B0I7-ibis-styles-budapest-airport/index.shtml

[Luvtotravel]

From the airport to Hotels and jewish aerea take the bus 100 - in 40 minutes you're there.

buses run at 3am?

[shwarmabob]

- Does the airport have free wifi?

yes

saw someone say that milk and bread are kosher. Is that only from the kosher grocery, or all over? with a hechsher? Is the local hechsher printed on the items?
TIA

The bread is only kosher from the kosher grocery or Tel Aviv cafe. Milk is "chalav stam". Seeing a hechsher on a product is very rare in that part of the world.

[shwarmabob]

buses run at 3am?

they don't