For the first time ever, the Jewish community in Hungary has its own source of Cholov Yisroel dairy. The “Garaboncias” dairy plant, located in central Hungary approximately 70 kilometers from Budapest, has officially opened its doors to the kosher market.

Initiated by EMIH (Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities) and local Shluchim, the facility is set to produce fresh milk, yogurt, and cheese. This marks a significant shift for the local community, Shluchim, and the country’s growing number of Mehadrin restaurants, which until now had to import all dairy products from Belgium, France, or Israel.

The opening comes at a critical time for Hungarian Jewry. The country is currently viewed as “the safest state for Jews in Europe,” leading to an influx of Israelis and Jews relocating there. Following the recent opening of several new synagogues, this dairy plant serves as another vital pillar supporting the infrastructure of Jewish life in the region.

To oversee the launch, the renowned Posek Rabbi Avraham Yisrael Rubin, a leading authority on Mehadrin kashrus, arrived in Hungary in recent days. Joined by his son, Rabbi Ze’ev Rubin, and kashrus specialist Rabbi Binyamin Neufeld, Rabbi Rubin personally inspected the production systems. During the visit, he provided professional training for the local mashgichim and examined other local factories expressing interest in kosher certification.

Rabbi Shlomo Kovesh, EMIH Chairman, explained that the initiative aims to satisfy both physical and spiritual needs.

“Our top priority is to open as many local factories as possible in Hungary to produce kosher food,” Rabbi Koves said. “Naturally, domestic production will lower costs, which will, in turn, encourage more Jews to eat kosher.”

He added that this project fulfills a spiritual imperative found in the teachings of Chassidus, which warn that Cholov Akum can cause Sefeikos B’Emunah. He cited the Rebbe’s instruction to be strict regarding Cholov Yisroel even for small children, and quoted the Frierdiker Rebbe, who described non-Jewish milk as a “weapon of the Yetzer Hara… that dulls a person’s spiritual sensitivity.”