Mád

-The founders of the Mád came from Poland in the hope of a better life
-Most of them followed the Chassidic branch of Judaism, a movement that gave the Jewish world charismatic leaders, admired Rebbes
-They had their synagogue built in 1795 according to Polish and Chassidic traditions
-The Hungarian authorities had locked up the Jews here before deporting them to Auschwitz in 1944
-The synagogue was renovated a few years ago but there has been no Jewish community in the village for a long time
Details here. Video here.

 

The synagogue of Mád

The synagogue of Mád

 

Galicia, which had been part of Poland earlier, was transferred to Austrian rule in 1772. Seeking a better life, Jews of these territories were allowed to move to Hungary. The Jewish communities that came to exist in the Eastern areas of the country had a cultural background quite different from that of Jewish communities in Western Hungary. Many of these newcomers were followers of various Chassidic courts and Rebbes. The first Chassidic Rebbe to be elected in Hungary was Mózes Teitelbaum who was appointed to be the Rebbe of the Sátoraljaújhely community in 1808. Other Chassidic courts were also formed in the region, in Olaszliszka, Bodrogkeresztúr, Tarcal, Tokaj, Kálló and Mád. Jewish families were first allowed to settle in the wine making community of Mád in 1726. Among other Jewish tradesmen of the wine region, the merchants of Mád also had a vital role in making the Tokaji wine, the produce of the region, world-renowned. The synagogue, which can still be seen today, was built in 1795 on a plot previously the site of a former, rather modest prayer hall, following Polish synagogue building traditions: its space arrangement and decorative elements resemble Chassidic cultural motifs. Not only do the four pillars of the reader’s platform located in the middle of the synagogue support the roofing but they also represent the legs of the heavenly throne, thus provide direct link to the heavenly powers. The ornamentation of the Torah Ark also bear symbolic messages. The motifs of the tree growing out of the crown on the uppermost of the three levels refer to Divine presence. Similarly to Bonyhád, the stones needed to build the Mád synagogue were also carried to the construction site by the members of the Jewish community lest an alien hand touches the construction material. Hungarian authorities had locked up the Jews of Mád in the synagogue for two days in 1944 before they deported them to the Sátoraljaújhely ghetto and subsequently to Auschwitz. A mere 40 of the once 250 soul Jewish community of Mád survived. Community institutions ceased to exist in 1956. The synagogue and the Rebbe’s house are targets of Chassidic pilgrims and since it was renovated, the synagogue also receives visitors as a cultural institution.