The European Commission has awarded Budapest's Dohany Street Synagogue European Heritage site status.
The EC announced that the 158-year-old synagogue, the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, would be added to the list of 38 heritage sites next year, joining the likes of Italy’s Fort Cadine and Slovenia’s Javorca Church.
“The Dohány Street Synagogue Complex is a symbol of integration, remembrance and openness to dialogue,” the commission said. The synagogue is the latest building to “symbolize European ideals, values, history and integration."
According to JTA, the synagogue is considered the birthplace of Central Europe’s Neolog denomination of Judaism, which is similar to the Conservative or Masorti movement.
The Dohany Street Synagogue has a capacity for 3,000 people and welcomes thousands of tourists each month. The site is operated by the Mazsihisz federation of Jewish communities.