Synagogues of Kraków

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]

  1. The Old Synagogue
  2. Wolf Popper Synagogue
  3. Remah Synagogue
  4. High Synagogue
  5. Izaak Synagogue
  6. Temple Synagogue
  7. Kupa Synagogue
Interior view of Old Synagogue, Kraków, Poland

(it is worth noting 2 other houses of prayer, both from the 19th century, which could easily be classed as synagogues, both of them on Mieselsa street: the B'nea Emun prayer house and the Hevre Tehillim, psalm brotherhood house of prayer)

It is a unique on the European scale religious complex prescribed on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites along with the entire city district in 1978, as the first ever.

History

Kraków 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

The 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

The 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

The Remah Synagogue (Hebrew: רמ״א‎) on the west side of Szeroka, currently one of the few functioning synagogues in the city, is perhaps the most interesting of all Kraków's synagogues, 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 great rabbi Moses Isserles also known as Remah, who already in his youth was famed for his erudition.[6] There are also a Remah Cemetery named after him, and the mikvah. Located further down on Szeroka Street is the Synagogue of Wolf Popper, the father of Joachim Edler von Popper. It serves as a bookshop now.

The High Synagogue

Equally notable are the High Synagogue on Jozefa Street, 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 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 currently serving men only). On Józefa Street, there's the Kowea Itim le-Tora House of Prayer established in 1810 (probably built before this time). It was once owned by the Society for the Study of the Torah hence its name.

Active synagogues

Inactive synagogues

List of Kraków synagogues by street name

For list of Synagogues in alphabetical order, please use table-sort buttons.

# Street Synagogue
1
Św. Agnieszki 5Cypres Hirsch Michael Synagogue (Stowarzyszenia Modłów i Dobroczynności)
2
Św. Agnieszki 11Meisels Izrael Synagogue
3
Augustiańska 22/12Beit Shlomo Synagogue
4
Augustiańska 22Chasids from Radomsko Synagogue
5
Augustiańska 25Tiferes Israel Synagogue
6
Bocheńska 4Szejrit Bne Emun Synagogue
7
Bonifraterska 1Bet Hamidrash Synagogue
8
Brzozowa 9Ansche Chail Synagogue
9
Brzozowa 6Deiches Salomon Synagogue
10
Brzozowa 17Planczner Synagogue
11
Celna 5Rabi Skawiński Synagogue
12
Ciemna 15Chasids from Radomsko Synagogue
13
Ciemna 17Chewra Sandlers Synagogue
14
Dębnicki Square
(pl. Dębnicki 6)		Jedność Izraela Synagogue
15
Dietla 17Chasids from Działoszyce Synagogue
16
Dietla 58Chajotim Synagogue
17
Dietla 64Damash Synagogue
18
Dietla 64Chasids from Piaseczno Synagogue
19
Dietla 107Bet Hamidrash Synagogue
20
Długa 22Dorshe Shalom Synagogue
21
DługaGrosmann Synagogue
22
Estery 6Chasids from Czortków Synagogue
23
Estery 6Chasids from Dzikowo Synagogue
24
Estery 6Talmud Torah Synagogue
25
Estery 6Chasids from Góra Kalwaria Synagogue
26
Estery 12Bobov Synagogue
27
Estery 12Chaim Halberstam Synagogue
28
St Gertrudy 20Lejw Tojw Synagogue
29
Grodzka 28Tigner Mordechaj Synagogue
30
Izaaka 7Chewra Szijur Synagogue
31
Izaaka 7Dajons Majer Synagogue
32
Izaaka 5Stowarzyszenia Bóżniczego Szir (Szijer) Synagogue
33
Jakuba 21Mosi Hamite Synagogue
34
Jakuba ?Ansche Emes Synagogue
35
Józefa 8Aufim Synagogue
36
Józefa 22Ahawat Tora Synagogue
37
Józefa 24Chasids from Stropkowo Synagogue
38
Józefa 5Chewra Kadisza Synagogue
39
Józefa 32Chewra Ner Tamid (High) Synagogue
40
Józefa 12Etz Chaim Synagogue
41
Józefa 42Kowea Itim le-Tora Synagogue
42
Józefa 16Kromol Synagogue (annex)
43
Józefa 16Krymałowska Synagogue
44
Józefa 22Machsike Jesziwa Keter (Kejser) Tora Synagogue
45
Józefa 33Reb Aron Klaus Synagogue
46
Józefa 15Chasids from Radom Synagogue (New) (Stowarzyszenia Modlitwy i Dobroczynności)
47
Józefa 26Chasids from Żarki Synagogue
48
Józefa 37Epsztein Aron Synagogue
49
Kalwaryjska 21Chewra Thilim Synagogue
50
Kalwaryjska 21Nose Hamitah Synagogue
51
Kalwaryjska 26Rabi from Zielin Synagogue
52
Kalwaryjska 29Gmilus Chasudim & Menachem Aweilim Synagogue
53
Katarzyny 5Chasids from Husiatyń Synagogue
54
Kościuszki 27Bet Hamidrash Synagogue
55
Krakowska 7Bojaner Synagogue
56
Krakowska 21Chewra Sandlers Synagogue
57
Krakowska 26Bojaner Synagogue
58
KrakowskaGmilus Chasudim Talmud Tora Synagogue
59
Krakowska 51Joller Synagogue
60
Krakowska 29Meisels Berisch Synagogue
61
Krakowska 13Susser Leib Synagogue
62
Krakowska 21Tomchej Orajse Synagogue
63
Krakusa 7Rabinacka Synagogue
64
Kupa 16Ner Tamid Synagogue
65
Kupa 16Mizrahi Synagogue
66
Lelewela 5
(later Tatarska 4)		Bnei Jeszurim Synagogue
67
Limanowskiego 13Bikur Cholim Synagogue
68
Matejki Square
(pl. Matejki 4)		Bet Hamidrash Synagogue
69
Matejki Square 2Adas Jeszurim Synagogue
70
MazowieckaBet Hamidrash Synagogue
71
Meiselsa 14Aleksander Synagogue
72
Meiselsa 17
(pl. Nowy 5)		Bnej Emun Synagogue
73
Meiselsa 18Chewra Thilim Synagogue
74
Meiselsa 14Chasids from Aleksandrowo Synagogue
75
Meiselsa 32Lykower Synagogue
76
Meiselsa 1Tycziner Synagogue
77
Miodowa 11Assiriri (Machsi Ke-Choklim) Synagogue
78
Miodowa 15Beit (Bet) Israel Synagogue
79
Miodowa 13Chasids from Cieszanowo Synagogue
80
Miodowa 12Temichas Narej Bnej Israel Synagogue
81
Mostowa 8Chana and Abraham Lednitzer Synagogue
82
Mostowa 2Nosei Massu Haszejno Synagogue
83
Na Przejściu 2/77
(Dajwór 23)		Gewoha Bargiel Synagogue Na Górce
84
Nowy Square 1
(pl. Nowy 1)		Chaduzim Synagogue
85
Nowy Square 7Chowewe Tora Synagogue
86
Podbrzezie 4Horowitz Aszer Synagogue
87
Podbrzezie 6Mcyjrim Imizgagim jad Charucium Synagogue
88
Podbrzezie 6Reichenberg Chaim (from Zaleszczyki) Synagogue
89
Podbrzezie 6Rosenbaum Synagogue
90
Podgórski Square
(pl. Podgórski 3)		Benzion Halberstam Synagogue
91
K. Brodzinskiego 8Schornstein Synagogue
92
Prądnik CzerwonyLandesdorfer Synagogue
93
Rakowicka 14Bejt Jehuda Synagogue
94
Rękawka 30Anszei Chail Synagogue
95
Skałeczna 3Bach Synagogue
96
Skawińska 2Synagogue in Jewish Hospital
97
Starowiślna 37Agudas Achim Synagogue
98
Stroma 11Bikur Cholim Synagogue
99
Szeroka 16Ner Tamid Synagogue
100
Szeroka 40Ner Tamid Synagogue
101
Szeroka 28Gmilus Chasidim Debais Hakneses Synagogue (Stara)
102
Szeroka 2Landau Szaul Synagogue
103
Szeroka 40Mekarwin Latora Synagogue
104
Szeroka 28Reichenberg Synagogue
105
Szeroka 25Szezarim Synagogue
106
Szeroka 24Szomrim Laboker Synagogue
107
Szeroka 24Szywe Kryjim Synagogue
108
Szewska 1/2Chasids from Bobowa Synagogue
109
Szlak 13Merkaz Jeszyja Synagogue
110
Szpitalna 24Ahawas Rajim Synagogue
(now Eastern Orthodox church)
111
Tatarska 4Bnei Jeszurim Synagogue
112
Trynitarska 18Bet Hamidrash Synagogue
113
Twardowskiego 15Ansche Emes Synagogue
114
Warszauera 8Ner Tamid Synagogue
115
Warszauera 1Zauwche Zywche Cedek Synagogue
116
Św. Wawrzyńca 9Ahawat Szalom Synagogue
117
Węgierska 6Bnei Emun Synagogue
118
Węgierska 6Bnei Chinim Synagogue
119
WęgierskaZucker Synagogue (Podgórze)
120
Węgierska 7Chasids from Góra Kalwaria Synagogue
121
Węgierska 7Benzion Halberstam Synagogue
122
Węgłowa 3Chasids from Bełz Synagogue
123
Wolnica Square
(pl. Wolnica 14)		Chasids from Husiatyn Synagogue
124
Zwierzyniec 21Cendeszim Synagogue
#Street
As per Krakow.Jewish.org.pl [10]

See also

Notes and references
  1. "Synagogues of the Kazimierz historic district in Krakow". Synagogues of the Kazimierz historic district in Krakow. krakow-info.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. "Welcome to Kazimierz!". Welcome to Kazimierz!. jewishkrakow.net. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. 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
  4. The Jewish Krakow, Old Synagogue. A guide to Kazimierz. Page stored at Internet Archive
  5. "Remuh Synagogue, A relic of Kazimierz's golden age". Cracow-Life.com. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  6. "The Remuh Synagogue of Krakow, Poland". The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  7. Hebrew University of Jerusalem: "Exploring the Synagogues of Poland: Wall Painting and Decoration" from the Internet Archive
  8. Isaak Synagogue, Krakow, Poland
  9. JewishKrakow.net, A guide to Tempel Synagogue Archived 2007-10-08 at Archive.today as well as the Krakow's old Jewish quarter
  10. List of synagogues in Kraków between the wars Archived 2012-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
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