The synagogues of Kraków are a collection of monuments of Jewish sacred architecture in Poland. The seven main synagogues of the Jewish District of Kazimierz constitute the largest such complex in Europe next to Prague. These are:[1][2]
- The Old Synagogue
- Wolf Popper Synagogue
- Remah Synagogue
- High Synagogue
- Izaak Synagogue
- Temple Synagogue
- Kupa Synagogue
Two other houses of prayer, both from the 19th century, could be classed as synagogues, both of them on Meiselsa street: the B'nea Emun prayer house and the Hevre Tehillim, psalm brotherhood house of prayer.[citation needed]
It[clarification needed] was put on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites along with the entire city district in 1978.
History
editKraków was an influential centre of Jewish spiritual life before the outbreak of World War II, with all its manifestations of religious observance from Orthodox, to Chasidic and Reform flourishing side by side. There were at least ninety prayer-houses in Kraków active before the Nazi German invasion of Poland, serving its burgeoning Jewish community of 60,000–80,000 (out of the city's total population of 237,000), established since the early 12th century.[3]
Most synagogues of Kraków were ruined during World War II by the Nazis who despoiled them of all ceremonial objects, and used them as storehouses for ammunition, firefighting equipment, and as general storage facilities. The post-Holocaust Jewish population of the city had dwindled to about 5,900 before the end of the 1940s, and by 1978, the number was further reduced in size to a mere 600 by some estimates.
In recent time, thanks to the efforts of the local Jewish and Polish organizations including foreign financial aid from Akiva Kahane, many synagogues and prayer-houses underwent major restorations, while others continue to serve as apartments.[3]
Main synagogues
editThe synagogues of Kraków represent virtually all European architectural styles of the past millennium, including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism and Modernism. Among the most prominent are: the Old Synagogue, the High Synagogue, Remah Synagogue, Wolf Popper Synagogue, Tempel Synagogue, Kupa Synagogue and the Izaak Jakubowicz Synagogue. At present, only two of them are still active, and only one serves as a house of prayer, the Remuh Synagogue.[3]
The Jewish History Museum
editThe Old Synagogue on Szeroka Street, is the oldest Jewish house of prayer in Poland, built in 1407. Nowadays, the synagogue serves as the Jewish History Museum, a Division of the Historical Museum of Kraków. The exhibits are divided into four sections: synagogue furnishings and paraphernalia, Jewish rituals and festivals, the history of Kazimierz District, and the Holocaust. The museum features numerous items related to religious ceremonies, for example, candle holders, Chanukah and menorot lamps, covers for the Torah, parochot Holy Ark covers, tallit prayer shawls, and kippahs or yarmulkes. The museum holds also a considerable collection of books including 2,500 volumes of Hebrew manuscripts and prints. On the walls, there are original oil paintings on display made by Maurycy Gottlieb, Józef Mehoffer, Tadeusz Popiel, Jerzy Potrzebowski and Jonasz Stern.[4]
The Remah Synagogue
editThe Remah Synagogue (Hebrew: רמ״א) on the west side of Szeroka, is one of the few functioning synagogues in the city, built along the old row houses (kamienice).[5] It was founded in 1556 by a royal banker, Izrael (Isserl) son of Joseph, for his own son the rabbi Moses Isserles also known as Remah.[6] There are also a Remah Cemetery named after him, and the mikvah (ritual bath). Located further down on Szeroka Street is a bookshop that was formerly the Synagogue of Wolf Popper, the father of Joachim Edler von Popper.
The High Synagogue
editThe High Synagogue on Jozefa Street was built in 1556–1563 in a Romanesque style, and the Kupa Synagogue, founded in 1643 by the Jewish district's kehilla (a municipal self-government) as foundation for the local kahal.[7] The Isaak Jakubowicz Synagogue built in 1644, is located on Kupa Street.[8] Currently it houses Kraków's Chabad Lubavitch community. The Tempel Synagogue on Miodowa Street, was designed in the 1860s, on the pattern of the Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna, at a time when Kraków was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.[9] Right after World War II a mikvah (ritual bath) was built at the side of the Tempel Synagogue, as the Remah Synagogue's mikvah was no longer able to serve. The mikvah at the Tempel Synagogue is for men only. On Józefa Street, there is the Kowea Itim le-Tora House of Prayer established in 1810. It was once owned by the Society for the Study of the Torah.
Active synagogues
editInactive synagogues
edit- Bobov Synagogue (Kraków)
- Old Synagogue, now housing a Jewish History museum
- Wolf Popper Synagogue
- High Synagogue
Gallery
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Tempel Synagogue, interior -
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Remuh Synagogue, interior -
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Kupa Synagogue, interior -
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Zucker Synagogue, Podgórze -
Chewra Ner Tamid Synagogue -
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Bne Emuna Prayerhouse -
Ahawat Tora -
Ahawat Raim -
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Chewra Thilim Synagogue -
Deiches Synagogue -
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High Synagogue, interior -
Cypres Prayerhouse -
Lednitzer Synagogue -
Chassids from Radom -
Damasz Prayerhouse -
Talmud Torah Synagogue -
Szejrit Bne Emun Synagogue
List of Kraków synagogues by street name
editFor list of Synagogues in alphabetical order, please use table-sort buttons.
# Street Synagogue 1Św. Agnieszki 5 Cypres Hirsch Michael Synagogue (Stowarzyszenia Modłów i Dobroczynności) 2Św. Agnieszki 11 Meisels Izrael Synagogue 3Augustiańska 22/12 Beit Shlomo Synagogue 4Augustiańska 22 Chasids from Radomsko Synagogue 5Augustiańska 25 Tiferes Israel Synagogue 6Bocheńska 4 Szejrit Bne Emun Synagogue 7Bonifraterska 1 Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 8Brzozowa 9 Ansche Chail Synagogue 9Brzozowa 6 Deiches Salomon Synagogue 10Brzozowa 17 Planczner Synagogue 11Celna 5 Rabi Skawiński Synagogue 12Ciemna 15 Chasids from Radomsko Synagogue 13Ciemna 17 Chewra Sandlers Synagogue 14Dębnicki Square
(pl. Dębnicki 6)Jedność Izraela Synagogue 15Dietla 17 Chasids from Działoszyce Synagogue 16Dietla 58 Chajotim Synagogue 17Dietla 64 Damash Synagogue 18Dietla 64 Chasids from Piaseczno Synagogue 19Dietla 107 Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 20Długa 22 Dorshe Shalom Synagogue 21Długa Grosmann Synagogue 22Estery 6 Chasids from Czortków Synagogue 23Estery 6 Chasids from Dzikowo Synagogue 24Estery 6 Talmud Torah Synagogue 25Estery 6 Chasids from Góra Kalwaria Synagogue 26Estery 12 Bobov Synagogue 27Estery 12 Chaim Halberstam Synagogue 28St Gertrudy 20 Lejw Tojw Synagogue 29Grodzka 28 Tigner Mordechaj Synagogue 30Izaaka 7 Chewra Szijur Synagogue 31Izaaka 7 Dajons Majer Synagogue 32Izaaka 5 Stowarzyszenia Bóżniczego Szir (Szijer) Synagogue 33Jakuba 21 Mosi Hamite Synagogue 34Jakuba ? Ansche Emes Synagogue 35Józefa 8 Aufim Synagogue 36Józefa 22 Ahawat Tora Synagogue 37Józefa 24 Chasids from Stropkowo Synagogue 38Józefa 5 Chewra Kadisza Synagogue 39Józefa 32 Chewra Ner Tamid (High) Synagogue 40Józefa 12 Etz Chaim Synagogue 41Józefa 42 Kowea Itim le-Tora Synagogue 42Józefa 16 Kromol Synagogue (annex) 43Józefa 16 Krymałowska Synagogue 44Józefa 22 Machsike Jesziwa Keter (Kejser) Tora Synagogue 45Józefa 33 Reb Aron Klaus Synagogue 46Józefa 15 Chasids from Radom Synagogue (New) (Stowarzyszenia Modlitwy i Dobroczynności) 47Józefa 26 Chasids from Żarki Synagogue 48Józefa 37 Epsztein Aron Synagogue 49Kalwaryjska 21 Chewra Thilim Synagogue 50Kalwaryjska 21 Nose Hamitah Synagogue 51Kalwaryjska 26 Rabi from Zielin Synagogue 52Kalwaryjska 29 Gmilus Chasudim & Menachem Aweilim Synagogue 53Katarzyny 5 Chasids from Husiatyń Synagogue 54Kościuszki 27 Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 55Krakowska 7 Bojaner Synagogue 56Krakowska 21 Chewra Sandlers Synagogue 57Krakowska 26 Bojaner Synagogue 58Krakowska Gmilus Chasudim Talmud Tora Synagogue 59Krakowska 51 Joller Synagogue 60Krakowska 29 Meisels Berisch Synagogue 61Krakowska 13 Susser Leib Synagogue 62Krakowska 21 Tomchej Orajse Synagogue 63Krakusa 7 Rabinacka Synagogue 64Kupa 16 Ner Tamid Synagogue 65Kupa 16 Mizrahi Synagogue 66Lelewela 5
(later Tatarska 4)Bnei Jeszurim Synagogue 67Limanowskiego 13 Bikur Cholim Synagogue 68Matejki Square
(pl. Matejki 4)Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 69Matejki Square 2 Adas Jeszurim Synagogue 70Mazowiecka Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 71Meiselsa 14 Aleksander Synagogue 72Meiselsa 17
(pl. Nowy 5)Bnej Emun Synagogue 73Meiselsa 18 Chewra Thilim Synagogue 74Meiselsa 14 Chasids from Aleksandrowo Synagogue 75Meiselsa 32 Lykower Synagogue 76Meiselsa 1 Tycziner Synagogue 77Miodowa 11 Assiriri (Machsi Ke-Choklim) Synagogue 78Miodowa 15 Beit (Bet) Israel Synagogue 79Miodowa 13 Chasids from Cieszanowo Synagogue 80Miodowa 12 Temichas Narej Bnej Israel Synagogue 81Mostowa 8 Chana and Abraham Lednitzer Synagogue 82Mostowa 2 Nosei Massu Haszejno Synagogue 83Na Przejściu 2/77
(Dajwór 23)Gewoha Bargiel Synagogue Na Górce 84Nowy Square 1
(pl. Nowy 1)Chaduzim Synagogue 85Nowy Square 7 Chowewe Tora Synagogue 86Podbrzezie 4 Horowitz Aszer Synagogue 87Podbrzezie 6 Mcyjrim Imizgagim jad Charucium Synagogue 88Podbrzezie 6 Reichenberg Chaim (from Zaleszczyki) Synagogue 89Podbrzezie 6 Rosenbaum Synagogue 90Podgórski Square
(pl. Podgórski 3)Benzion Halberstam Synagogue 91K. Brodzinskiego 8 Schornstein Synagogue 92Prądnik Czerwony Landesdorfer Synagogue 93Rakowicka 14 Bejt Jehuda Synagogue 94Rękawka 30 Anszei Chail Synagogue 95Skałeczna 3 Bach Synagogue 96Skawińska 2 Synagogue in Jewish Hospital 97Starowiślna 37 Agudas Achim Synagogue 98Stroma 11 Bikur Cholim Synagogue 99Szeroka 16 Ner Tamid Synagogue 100Szeroka 40 Ner Tamid Synagogue 101Szeroka 28 Gmilus Chasidim Debais Hakneses Synagogue (Stara) 102Szeroka 2 Landau Szaul Synagogue 103Szeroka 40 Mekarwin Latora Synagogue 104Szeroka 28 Reichenberg Synagogue 105Szeroka 25 Szezarim Synagogue 106Szeroka 24 Szomrim Laboker Synagogue 107Szeroka 24 Szywe Kryjim Synagogue 108Szewska 1/2 Chasids from Bobowa Synagogue 109Szlak 13 Merkaz Jeszyja Synagogue 110Szpitalna 24 Ahawas Rajim Synagogue
(now Eastern Orthodox church)111Tatarska 4 Bnei Jeszurim Synagogue 112Trynitarska 18 Bet Hamidrash Synagogue 113Twardowskiego 15 Ansche Emes Synagogue 114Warszauera 8 Ner Tamid Synagogue 115Warszauera 1 Zauwche Zywche Cedek Synagogue 116Św. Wawrzyńca 9 Ahawat Szalom Synagogue 117Węgierska 6 Bnei Emun Synagogue 118Węgierska 6 Bnei Chinim Synagogue 119Węgierska Zucker Synagogue (Podgórze) 120Węgierska 7 Chasids from Góra Kalwaria Synagogue 121Węgierska 7 Benzion Halberstam Synagogue 122Węgłowa 3 Chasids from Bełz Synagogue 123Wolnica Square
(pl. Wolnica 14)Chasids from Husiatyn Synagogue 124Zwierzyniec 21 Cendeszim Synagogue # Street As per Krakow.Jewish.org.pl [10]
See also
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Notes and references
edit- ^ "Synagogues of the Kazimierz historic district in Krakow". krakow-info.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Kazimierz!". jewishkrakow.net. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ a b c Adam Dylewski, Where the Tailor Was a Poet... website created under the aegis of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Warsaw; chief editor: Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywinski. Editorial assistance: Dr. Anna Marta Szczepan-Wojnarska, and Kaja Wieczorek from Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw
- ^ The Jewish Krakow, Old Synagogue. A guide to Kazimierz. Page stored at Internet Archive
- ^ "Remuh Synagogue, A relic of Kazimierz's golden age". Cracow-Life.com. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
- ^ "The Remuh Synagogue of Krakow, Poland". The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
- ^ Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "Exploring the Synagogues of Poland: Wall Painting and Decoration" from the Internet Archive
- ^ Isaak Synagogue, Krakow, Poland
- ^ JewishKrakow.net, A guide to Tempel Synagogue Archived 2007-10-08 at archive.today as well as the Krakow's old Jewish quarter
- ^ List of synagogues in Kraków between the wars Archived 2012-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
External links
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- List of synagogues and Betei Midrash in Kraków between the wars
- Traces of the Past, Synagogues of Krakow
- Engraving of synagogue interior
- A guide to Kazimierz, Krakow's Jewish Quarter including the Old Synagogue: ul. Szeroka 24
- Who's who in the Jewish World?
- The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot, The Remuh Synagogue of Krakow, Poland
- The Jews of Kraków and its Surrounding Towns, The "Old" (Remuh) Cemetery of Krakow
- Michał Rożek, Żydowskie zabytki krakowskiego Kazimierza, Kraków 1990, ISBN 83-85104-01-1 (in Polish)
- Aneta Kalemba, "Poland: Online presentation"
- Jewish guide and genealogy in Poland - Casimir / Kazimierz [1]
