Remuh Synagogue

The Remuh Synagogue was designed in a Renaissance style in the mid sixteenth century. It is the smallest synagogue in Kazimierz in Kraków and the only one still in use. The Remuh Synagogue was first created as a small wooden Jewish temple that was burnt to the ground and was rebuilt exactly as it was first designed. The synagogue is named after the founder’s son, an important astronomer, historian, philosopher and geometrician of the period.The Remuh Synagogue is one of the few synagogues in Kazimierz that survived the Holocaust and remains an active place of worship. It is usually open until 6:00 P.M and can be visited by tourists. The highlight of the Remuh Synagogue is its old cemetery. It still houses numerous tombstones with Hebrew inscriptions on them, despite it being destroyed by the Nazis during World War II.

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Historically rich Kraków was once home to a flourishing Jewish presence. Jews started to settle in Krakow in the twelfth century and since then their activity has been expanding. Since the fifteenth century, they have been living mostly in one part of Krakow – Kazimierz. Krakow’s Jewish population thrived in the Kazimierz district, which became the main Jewish quarter. About 64 000 Jews lived in Krakow before World War II. They worked as bankers, merchants, they were owners of popular restaurants, cafes and bars and they were the best craftsmen in the city. Jewish communities spoke and wrote in Hebrew and Yiddish and led rich cultural and religious lives, spending time in synagogues and houses of prayer. They were extremely active in Krakow, where they built 6 synagogues. Furthermore, Kazimierz was an ideal of a Jewish community for the rest of Poland. World War II This is for sure the most dramatic and heartbreaking time for Jews in Poland. Since 1939 the Jews of the city were displaced from Krakow. In 1941 Jews were forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to Podgórze which became a ghetto that was completely closed off from other parts of the city. Starvation, death, and misery followed, most who survived were killed during the liquidation of the ghetto or deported to concentration camps (Auschwitz, Dachau) where the chance of survival was close to none. Only 10 percent of Cracovian Jews (3 000-4 000) survived the World War II, a lot of them with the help of Oskar Schindler. The awful crime known as the Holocaust led to a truly great loss of culture. Most of Jews who survived never returned to Poland. Today, Krakow is a hidden gem awaiting discovery. With its remarkable Renaissance architecture, charming shops, and delightful dining options, the city entices a diverse array of travelers. The vibrant Kazimierz district with its many surviving synagogues, a prewar Jewish cemetery, and the largest medieval market square in Europe is a popular area to explore. Today, the Kazimierz district is experiencing a revival, and visitors can go for Polish-Jewish food, synagogues, and cultural activities. Kazimierz is also home to art galleries, shops, and vintage clothing stores. Kazimierz is rich with atmospheric cobbled streets and wall murals, so much of the pleasure here is just wandering around and getting to know the area.

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