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Jewish
Sites in Krakow
From
“KRAKOWSKIE JUDAICA” by Eugeniusz Duda
(Translated by Ewa Dmyterkod)
Synagogues
Built in the second half of the 15th
century, in late Gothic style; reconstructed in a Renaissance style by Mateusz
Gucci from Florence in 1570, and Zygmunt Hendl in 1904 and 1913. Destroyed
during the Nazi occupation. Reconstructed by the State Ateliers for
Preservation of Cultural Property in the years 1956-58 and entrusted by the
Congregation of the Jewish Faith in Krakow to the Krakow Historical Museum. It
now houses a branch of this museum devoted to the history and culture of Krakow
Jews and a permanent museum exposition exhibiting a collection of Judaica
compiled here since the inception of this branch in 1958.
Founded in 1553 by Israel ben Josef,
grandson of Moses Auberach of Regensburg and the father of the famous Krakow
Rabbi Moses Isserles (Remuh). Plundered and devastated during World War II it
was reconstructed in the late fifties. It regained its former late Renaissance
interior decorations. At present the synagogue is open and serves the needs of
the Congregation of the Jewish Faith.
Built between 1556 and 1563. Its
name (High) is connected with the fact that the chapel is situated on the
first floor of the building. The entrance to the chapel is through a hall of
an adjoining building (40 Jozefa Street). During the Nazi occupation the
Synagogue was plundered and devastated. Rebuilt in 1966 and adjusted to the
needs of the State Ateliers for Preservation of Cultural Property. The
original elements which have been preserved in the chapel are the stone frame
of the holy arc and frescoes on its southern wall.
Built in 1638 as a private foundation
by one of the most affluent Krakow Jews at the time, kahal elder, Isaac
Jakubowicz (reb Ajzyk reb Jekeles). Plundered and devastated during World War
II. In the 1950s the building became the property and was reconstructed by the
Fine Arts Association in Krakow. The building had undergone successive
reconstruction works in 1983. The future function of the building has not been
decided yet. The only preserved elements of the former interiors of the
synagogue are the stucco decorations on the ceiling and partially wall
paintings in the gallery for women.
Erected in 1620 as a private foundation
by a wealthy merchant and financier, Wolf Popper. Reconstructed after Nazi
occupation devastation in 1965 and taken over by a local Culture Club. None of
the former interior decorations have been preserved.
Built in the first half of the 17th
century as a foundation of the local kahal (mi-kupatha-kehilla). A
contribution of 200 zlotys by Jewish goldsmiths' guild helped to bring
construction works to a successful end. Plundered and devastated during World
War II ravages it functioned in the early postwar years as a prayer house and
then as a matzoth factory. At present the building is a warehouse and workshop
of one of Krakow's many cooperatives. The elements of the former interiors
which have been preserved till this day are paintings adorning the ceiling and
beams of the gallery for women and also a plate commemorating the foundation
of the fraternity of priests and Levites (1647).
Built in the years 1860-1862 by the
efforts of the Krakow Association of Progressive Israelites. Expanded and
remodeled in the years 1869, 1883, 1893-94 and 1924 it preserved its former
interiors. The most priceless of them all are: the holy arc, wall paintings
and also stained-glass panels in the 36 windows of the ground and first
floors, made in the years 1894-1925. At present the synagogue is rarely used;
it is the property of the Krakow Jewish Congregation.
Cemeteries
Established in 1551 and open since
1800. Totally devastated during the Nazi occupation. Renewed in the years
1949-60. It holds the greatest in Poland collection of Jewish sepulchral art
of the second half of the 16th as well as the 17th and the 18th centuries.
Graves of prominent Krakow Rabbis (like Moses Isserles, Natan Nat Spira, Joel
Sirkes, Jozue Heszl, Jomtov Lipman Heller) belong to the most priceless on the
list of historical monuments as well as many graves of anonymous people,
sarcophaguses - priceless works of sepulchral art.
Founded in 1880 and many times expanded
later on. Completely destroyed during the Nazi occupation. Reconstructed in
1957 operates until this day. From the side of the Miodowa Street it is closed
by a funeral home and adjacent to it from the East two-storey apartment
building and a wall with an entrance gate to the cemetery. The oldest
preserved tombstones date back to the 1840s. Buried there are among others:
Dr. Ozyash Thon (1870-1936), leader of a Zionist Organization in Krakow and a
deputy to the Polish Parliament in 1922-1936; Jazef Sare (18501929),
architect, vice-president of Krakow in the years 19051929; professor Leon
Sternbach (1864-1940), expert in classical philologist, lecturer at the
Jagiellonian University; famous painter, Maurycy Gottlieb (1856-1879); Kalman
and Aaron Epsteins, leaders of the Hasidic movement in Krakow at the turn of
the 19th century, and also Szymon Schreiber (Sofer), a Krakow Rabbi in
1860-1883.
Other
buildings, in alphabetical order of the names of streets
7
Bocheoska Street - building of the former Jewish Theatre (1927-39) now
housing Kolejarza (Railroad Workers') Theatre.
6
Brzozowa Street - bet hamidrash of Solomon Deiches, 20th century,
presently used by a production cooperative.
28/30 Grodzka Street - bet
hamidrash of Mordekhai Tigner, 1913 Refurbished in 1931, presently abandoned.
42
Jozefa Street - bet hamidrash of Kovea Itim L'Tora, 1810, reconstructed in
1912, now an apartment building.
16 Kupa Street
- Mizrachi Synagogue, 20th century, presently under reconstruction.
17 Meiselsa St./5 Nowy Square -
bet hamidrash of bne Emun, 1886. Presently abandoned and neglected.
18
Meiselsa St./13 Bozego Ciala St. - bet hamidrash of Chevr Tehilim, 1896,
now used by the "Krakowiacy" Song and Dance Ensemble.
26 Miodowa St. - Cheder Ivri
popular school and Tachkemoni gymnasium, at present offices of Polmetal Company.
11 Nowy Square - indoor market
place, so called "Okraglak" 1900, since 1927 till 1939 it functioned
as kosher
butchering house for poultry, at present regained its former function of a
market place.
3 Podbrzezie St. - Jewish School
of Commerce 1937-38, at present Biology Institute of the Higher School of Pedagogy.
8/10 Podbrzezie St./5 Brzozowa St.
- primary and secondary school (so called Hebrew Gymnasium). Building complex erected over the years
1918, 1924, 1931, at present housing several vocational
schools.
3 Przemyska St. - Jewish
Students' Hostel, 1924-1926, at present dormitory of the Higher Musical School.
2 Skawioska St./41 Krakowska St.
- seat of the Krakow kahal board, 1911, presently used only in part by
the Congregation
of the Jewish Faith, larger part of the building houses the Poldam cooperative.
8 Skawioska St. - Israelite
Hospital, 1822, rebuilt over the years 1861-1866 and remodeled following World War
II, presently a facility of the Krakow health service.
6 Szeroka St. - ritual bath (mikvah),
17th century, refurbished in the second half of the 19th century and again over the years 1874-1876, presently the building houses
offices and workshops of the Krakow branch of the State Ateliers for
Preservation of Cultural Property.
Localities
devoted to the memory of martyrdom and struggle of Krakow Jews during the Nazi
occupation 1939-1945
Grounds of the former Krakow
ghetto:
Museum established on April 22, 1983 in
the former "Pod Odem" pharmacy, This pharmacy situated on the
Bohaterow Getta Square (former Zgody square) found itself in 1941-43 within
the limits of the Krakow ghetto, Although the Nazis have removed all Poles
from that area the pharmacy continued to be run by its Polish owner, Tadeusz
Pankiewicz. For many Jews it was a place of refuge, an ersatz of freedom in
the "walled in and barred world", a place where they could expect
kindness and help.
The museum holds a permanent exposition
commemorating the developments in the ghetto and the person of Tadeusz
Pankiewicz.
Building which at the time of the Krakow
ghetto was the seat of the Jewish Fighters' Organization (ZOB), exhibiting a
commemorative plate.
Several meters long and three meters
high wall with a commemorative plate, which was placed there on the 40th
anniversary of the ghetto's liquidation.
Grounds of
the former concentration camp in Plaszow:
To pay homage to people of all
nationalities murdered by the Nazis in the Plaszow camp in the years
1943-1945, the citizens of Krakow founded a monument to stand at the place of
their execution, It was unveiled on September 4, 1964, To pay tribute to Jews,
who constituted the majority of the Plaszow camp victims, Krakow Jews founded
a separate monument commemorating this appalling fact.
The Plaszow concentration camp was
established among others at the site of two Jewish cemeteries - the Krakow and
Podgorze cemetery -located between Abrahama and Jerozolimska Streets, These
cemeteries were leveled to the ground while tombstones were used as
foundations for barracks and construction elements to harden the ground in the
area, Some visible signs remained only of the Krakow cemetery: several scores
of bedplates from the destroyed graves and only one tombstone of Chaim Jakub
Abrahamer (died 1932), which was renewed after World War II.
The
downtown area of Krakow
In the years 1939-45 "Cyganeria"
was frequented by SS police officers. They became the target of a successful
assassination plot organized by soldiers of the Polish People's Guards (GL)
and the Jewish Fighters' Organization on the night of December 22, 1942 in
revenge for the June and October bloody displacement actions in the Krakow
ghetto. This heroic act was commemorated with a plate visible on the front of
the building.
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