The Hungarian government has allocated 142 million Forints (€460,000) toward the repair of a small synagogue in Budapest that was gutted by an electrical fire in October 2016.
The announcement was made by Miklós Soltész Stat Secretary for religious, ethnic and civil society relations at a news conference held at the synagogue in Budapest’s Zuglo district.
The synagogue sustained heavy damage in the fire, which broke out the night of October 24. The blaze gutted the sanctuary, destroyed the synagogue’s Torah scrolls and prayer books and caused serious damage to the ark and other furniture and fittings.
The synagogue is located at Thököly utca 83 in a late 19th century mansion, which was converted to a synagogue in the 1930s. It is one of about 20 active synagogues in Budapest.
At the news conference, Andras Heisler, president of the Mazsihisz Jewish umbrella organization said he hoped that the restoration of the building could be completed in time for Passover next year.
Read full report from MTI news service (in Hungarian)