Across Hungary, more than 1,600 Jewish cemeteries dot the country’s towns and villages, many of which have fallen into neglect and disrepair. This summer, local teens volunteered to clear weeds from pathways, straighten and repair toppled stones, and check that no graves are desecrated.

Across Hungary, more than 1,600 Jewish cemeteries dot the country’s towns and villages—a silent testimony to centuries of vibrant Jewish life in Central Europe. While a handful of major cemeteries are still in use today, many others, particularly in remote areas, have fallen into neglect and disrepair, almost forgotten with time.

Although several Jewish organizations work to preserve these cemeteries, the sheer number of sites requires many more hands. A new initiative launched this summer is now tackling the challenge: Jewish teenagers from Budapest have begun a multi-year project to clean and restore cemeteries throughout the country. In cooperation with small and often dwindling Jewish communities—or with local municipalities in places where no Jews remain—the volunteers clear weeds from pathways and gravestones, straighten and repair toppled stones, and check that no graves have been desecrated by vandals or animals. Their mission is simple yet profound: to honor the memory of those who rest in these sacred places.

The initiative is part of the summer programming of the Hungarian branch of CTeen, the Chabad-run international Jewish youth network, active in more than 1,000 cities across 70 countries worldwide.

Heading the project in Hungary is Rabbi Tzemi (Tzemach Dovid) Bassman, a Chicago native who moved to Budapest six years ago to engage local Jewish youth. Describing himself as an “energetic American,” Rabbi Bassman has built a thriving hub for Jewish teenagers seeking both a vibrant social circle and meaningful connection to Jewish heritage.

Last year, the group inaugurated a permanent center on Pacsirtamező Street in Budapest’s historic Jewish quarter. The space, which includes modern recreation rooms and lecture halls, quickly became a central meeting point where dozens of Jewish teens gather daily to socialize, learn, and experience Judaism in an engaging way.

According to Rabbi Bassman, the cemetery restoration project has had a powerful impact on the teens:

“It’s common to see them moved to tears as they read the heartbreaking inscriptions on some of the stones. It’s a deeply emotional experience. They feel they are righting a historical wrong, performing an act of kindness of the highest order—chesed shel emet—a true kindness for those who can never thank them.”

The initiative has also received the blessing of Hungary’s Chief Rabbi Shlomó Köves, who oversees youth programming through EMIH (the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities). Rabbi Köves emphasized that the project connects young Jews to their heritage in a way nothing else can:

“These teens suddenly realize the scale of Jewish life that once thrived here, and the fact that Jews of every background chose to be buried as Jews throughout the centuries. This awakens their own sense of Jewish identity and strengthens their commitment to carry the chain of tradition forward.

“We are confident that their work to honor Hungary’s Jewish dead will inspire even greater efforts for the living. These young people, whose numbers are growing, truly represent the future of Hungarian Jewry. Their activities with Rabbi Bassman mark an essential milestone in the flourishing revival of Jewish life in Hungary.”