A Dohány utcai Zsinagóga [antikvár]

N THE PREHISTORY OFTHE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE. In the 18th century two old communities—Old Buda and Pozsony (today Bratislava)—played a leading role in the life of the Hungarian Jewish people. In the 1800's, however, it took only a time of two generations that precedence was taken over by Pest, regarding both demographic aspects and living conditions, as well as culture. We have the first data on Saul of Pest who settles in Székesfehérvár together with one of his coreligionists of the same forename, and who is asked by the local chapter to certify the patent of Béla IV. Jews lived in Pest even during the Turkish occupation of Hungary, however, from 1686 onwards, for about 100 years there had not been any traces ofthe Jews living there. According to historical science, the reason for this was that the free royal towns were afraid of the commercial and industrial competition of the Jews. The minutes of the Jewish census held in the town of Pest in 1727 tells the following things about the town : " moreover, we do not even tolerate that anyone spends the night here, except when necessary, or if night springs on them, or the have something to do at the royal court."' The town in unwilling to admit Jews as long as until the last third of the 18th century. On 31st March, 1783, however, the imperial edict of Joseph II terminated this prejudice, which had prevailed officially as well. Thus, by that time their settlement had become permitted ; the only exceptions were the mining towns. This is how the Jews got to Pest, especially to Therese-stadt and to the downtown. It is known from the official census that in 1787 fourteen so-called "tolerated" Jews and 114 "settlers" lived on the left bank of the Danube. As early as in the same year their first house of worship was established in today's Majakovszkij Street, i.e. the one-time Király Street, in the Hausler manor. In 1826 the impressive synagogue of the religious community of Vienna was opned. Several of the Jews of Pest had been to the imperial capital and they were deeply impressed by the Jewish temple built there. As a result, reformed religious service was introduced in Király Street, in the temple in the "White Goose" house. This was given the name of cultustempel, where the religious ceremony was accompanied by a choir, i.e. in a modified form. This is important since from here there is a straight way to the liberalized and decisively modernized system of religious service held in the synagogue of Dohány Street—in a building having style-making power regarding both its inward and outward form.