The world of religions with its large and small secrets offers a lot of scope for discovery. Faith has many faces and, in its concrete forms, leads to very different ways of life. In the Faszination Faith series we get to know the exciting world of the five major religions. We visit impressive temples and magnificent churches – the houses of faith. And we accompany people who leave no stone unturned to shape their lives according to God’s will.

The magnificent Dohány Synagogue in Budapest bears witness to the great wealth of the Jewish community in the 19th century. Unlike many other Jewish places of worship, which you have to look for in inconspicuous side streets, the Dohány Synagogue is visible from afar on one of Budapest’s main arteries. By the outbreak of World War II, 740,000 Jews lived in Budapest, only 140,000 of whom survived the Holocaust. Today Budapest’s Jewish community is the fourth largest in Europe. What is life like for Jewish people in Budapest today? Young Jews express their feelings in Hebrew hip hop and go to Hungarian schools to introduce young people to the Jewish faith and counter prejudices in a humorous way. We learn about Jewish eating rules and look over the shoulder of a family as they prepare for a traditional Jewish wedding. We can also take part in the celebration itself and immerse ourselves in the universe of Jewish culture.

Initiative: Marita Neher
Director: Marita Neher
Editorial Staff: Linde Dehner (ZDF/arte)
Production: Andrea Ufer
Station: ZDF/arte

– Episode 1 – Casablanca: Die Moschee von Hassan II
– Episode 2 – Yangon: Die Shwedagon-Pagode
– Episode 3 – Budapest: Die Dohány-Synagoge
– Episode 4 – Madurai: Der Meenakshi-Tempel
– Episode 5 – Mailand – Der Dom St. Maria Nascente