The Herzl Center, an educational center designed to introduce Hungarian Jews to the Zionist movement, was inaugurated in Theodor Herzl’s birthplace, Budapest.

The center was dedicated Sunday night at the city’s Israel Cultural Center. It was established by the World Zionist Organization and The Jewish Agency for Israel, with the assistance of the Herzl Center in Jerusalem.

The Herzl Center in Budapest will concentrate on the history and spiritual heritage of Theodor Herzl, who was born in Budapest in 1860. The new center, equipped with interactive exhibits, will be open to Jewish and non-Jewish school groups, tourists and diplomatic delegations in order to show them the past and present realization of Herzl’s thoughts about anti-Semitism and the importance of Jewish identity.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Natan Sharansky, the head of the Jewish Agency said at Sunday’s inauguration ceremony that “it is very important to focus on the fight against increasing anti-Semitism together with the Europeans and here in Hungary together with the Hungarian government.”

Sharansky expressed support for the Committee on Anti-Semitism, which will research and monitor anti-Semitism in Hungary, and which also will be housed at the Israeli Cultural Center.

Also speaking at the ceremony on Sunday, Avraham Duvdevani, president of the World Zionist Organization, said that “nobody thought that after so many years of Herzl and after the Shoah anti-Semitism would again re-appear in Hungary. Herzl was mistaken thinking that the Jewish state would be the solution against anti-Semitism.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount