Hungary ultra-Orthodox Jews make yearly pilgrimage

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews on Thursday made their annual pilgrimage to the burial place of Grand Rabbi Steiner Saje.

Saje was a former resident of the eastern Hungarian village of Bodrogkeresztur, with the yearly visit marking the anniversary of his death in 1925.

A prominent religious leader of his time, his popularity was mainly due to his puritanical lifestyle and his commitment to supporting the poor.

The foundation which organized the pilgrimage said 4,500 mostly American and Israeli Orthodox Jews visit the burial place during the three days long event.

According to the beliefs and perceptions of the pilgrims to the memorial site, the holy people are in direct contact with the Eternal, so the prayer told around sacred places can be heard more easily.

The large event was held as Hungary continues to struggle with a powerful surge in coronavirus cases which has given it the highest per capita death rate in the world in recent weeks.

While bars and restaurants remain closed, an overnight curfew is in effect and events are prohibited.

Hungarian government pandemic regulations allow for religious communities to hold ceremonies at their own discretion.

This religious exception means churches may hold services, and, that such religious events may still be held despite pandemic concerns.

As of Thursday, 24,521 people had died of COVID-19-related causes in Hungary, and a brief decline in the rate of new infections has reversed course in recent days.