The world of religions with their secrets small and large offers much to explore. Faith has many faces and leads to different ways of life. In the series The Fascination of Faith, we get to know the exciting worlds of the five major religions and meet people who live according to their systems of rules and values. We see grand temples and magnificent churches –houses of worship. We accompany people attending ceremonies, trying their utmost to lead their lives in obedience to the will of their Gods.

The Dohány Synagogue in Budapest reflects the wealth of the Jewish community in the 19^th century. Unlike other synagogues, which are hidden in the back streets, the Dohány Synagogue is located on one of Budapest’s major thoroughfares. Until the Second World War 740,000 Jews lived in Budapest; only 140,000 survived the Holocaust. Today, the Jewish community of Budapest is the 4^th biggest in Europe. What is life like in Budapest for a Jew today? Young Jews express themselves through Hebrew hip-hop, go to Hungarian schools to explain Jewish belief and tackle prejudices with humor. We also get acquainted with Jewish eating habits and accompany a rabbi who shows us the objects used in service. By observing the preparations for a Jewish wedding and attending the ceremony, we immerse ourselves into the universe of Jewish culture.

Initiative: Marita Neher
Director: Marita Neher
Commissioning editor: Linde Dehner (ZDF/arte)
Producer: Andrea Ufer
Channel: ZDF/arte

– Episode 1 – Casablanca: The Mosque of Hassan II
– Episode 2 – Yangon: The Shwedagon Pagoda
– Episode 3 – Budapest: The Dohány Synagogue
– Episode 4 – Madurai: The Meenakshi Temple
– Episode 5 – Milan – The Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente