Aish UK has hosted a Shabbaton at the historic Kazinczy Synagogue in Budapest that brought together 180 students –the largest number of congregants at a service in the shul since the pre-Holocaust era.

Students who are currently spending their summer inter-railing across Europe after finishing their A-levels joined Aish UK for a Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Friday night dinner.

Attendees came from Jewish and non-Jewish schools, including Immanuel, Yavneh, JFS, JCoSS, Haberdashers' Boys and Girls, City of London and North London Collegiate.

Rabbi Rafi Stemmer from Aish UK said: "It was beautiful to see students from a variety of backgrounds, affiliations, and communities, uniting to spend their Friday night together.

“In a city where 80 years ago Jewish life was obliterated, we demonstrated that the Jewish people are vibrant, alive, and committed to continue spreading our eternal message of light, peace, and hope to the world."

After eating, many students stayed on to socialise and pay boardgames.

Ben, a student from Yavneh College said: “The Friday night dinner was a big highlight of the trip. It was really special to all be together to celebrate Shabbat in a different country. A big thank you to Rabbi Rafi for organising the weekend and to all the madrichim (leaders) who came.”

The Art Nouveau synagogue was built between 1912 and 1913 to support Hungary’s growing Jewish Orthodox community in Pest.

The community complex includes the synagogue, a house of worship, headquarters, a kindergarten, a Talmud school, a butcher and bath (mikveh).

Gabor Keszler, President of the Hungarian Jewish Community said: “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the tragedy of the Holocaust.”

“The sound of Lecha Dodi sang by nearly 200 children filled the walls of the Great Synagogue on Kazinczy Street. The last time this synagogue has seen such simcha, with this many children, was in the pre-Holocaust era,” Keszler added.