The 11th annual Judafest Street Festival once again brought Budapest’s Kazinczy Street, and its surrounding neighborhood, to the limelight.
Against a backdrop of rising nationalism and anti-Semitism in Europe, Jewish identity was proudly on display at the celebrations.
And one couldn’t help but notice, that at both the street fair and Yom HaAtzmaut event organized by the Israel Cultural Center, as opposed to the New York Parade a week earlier, police presence was low-key and innocuous.
Featuring an early morning “run,” two stages with entertainment, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, Judaica, information booths and more, the Festival attracted thousands of local and foreign visitors.
The Festival was the highlight of a four day event that featured film screenings, Shabbat programs and guided tours of the Jewish Quarter.
Even a late day downpour only temporarily put a damper on the day with participants coming together later for a closing event where dove-shaped ballons were sent skyward.
The Festival is organized by Budapest’s Balint House JCC with support from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and Baltimore’s Thalheimer family.
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