October Blog - Moishe House Budapest

First of all Moishe house is NOT an organization. One of its success is that it is grass roots, organic thing, and every house evolves freely without any prescribed ideological background. On the long term I would say it can easily become a movement that is going far beyond its current frames. I have already heard that in London, there is someone opening a Moishe-house–like-place as his own initiative. Since the idea is great, I am sure others will also try to do so, as well in the future. It’s a very dynamic and efficient project – and it is so Jewish to share your home, invite people and build such communities! Our generation has a need to create their own Jewish home and their own community – and to do it together is so exciting, ‘caus you have a constant option for reflection and dialogue and you can help – and be supported on your personal and on your Jewish journey.

Our mission statement in Hungary is RE-generation – re-invention / re-interpretation and re-construction of Jewish tradition! Stay cool, get to know Judaism – as it was and as it is – and imagine it as it never was! Make your stand point, be open to others, listen to the others, be responsible for your community – and have fun while having a meaningful life, with Jewish content, and a vibrant community!

The international Moishe house statement would be very similar to our own one as it is essential in the concept of the Moishe house that it is done all over the world. But, perhaps you could add a further aim: “to enhance the exchange and mutual inspiration of young Jews all over the world”

The concept of Jewish community is perhaps the easiest to track down in the Moishe house. Home and homeliness, hospitality are core values of Judaism that are realized in a unique way through Moishe house: a home for a community – a community for a home!

In addition to this the Moishe house community exists online, virtually, as well, across the whole world. Just like Jewry also is spread all over the place.

“Tikkun olam” is a term that we do not know enough to be able to talk about. But if we take the simplest meaning – “repair the world” the Moishe house is a crucial element of re-vitalizing Jewish culture in Europe and all over the world, after the void caused by the Shoah. Beyond that by re-viving Judaism we revive a tradition of “tsadakah” and “social cohesion”. In many houses young Jews organize events for social justice.

Last but not least, learning is a crucial element of Moishe house: you learn about yourself when moving in – you learn about your community and through the programs you learn about Jewish culture and tradition. Community and learning are closely interconnected here – just like in Jewish tradition – learning is not an individual but a community experience.