Description of the attraction
Kazimierz, today a district of Krakow, once an independent city, testifies to the historically established good-neighborly relations between Jews and Poles. It housed Jewish public, cultural, artistic and sports organizations, political parties representing Jews in parliament.
The spiritual life of the Krakow Jews was concentrated in Kazimierz. They prayed in six orthodox synagogues (Stara, Remu, Wysoka, Isaac, Popper, Kupa) and in the Tempel synagogue, which was run by the commune, in addition, there were many prayer houses belonging to religious organizations and individuals. With the arrival of the Nazis in December 1939, Jews were taken to the Podgórze region, where in 1941 a ghetto emerged, from where only one road was prepared for them - to the gas chambers of Brzezinka and Auschwitz (Osiwecym).
Some buildings have survived or were restored after the war. For example, the Isaac synagogue, built by Italian architects in the 17th century with money from the banker Isaac Yakubovich, was restored in the post-war years. A documentary film about the history of Krakow Jews is shown here, as well as evenings of Jewish music and art exhibitions.
The Remu Synagogue was built in 1553 and is a working synagogue. There is a Jewish cemetery not far from it.
Kazimierz is also home to the magnificent Church of the Corpus Christi, founded in 1340 by Casimir the Great himself. In the 15th century, a monastery was built nearby and the temple came under its jurisdiction.
The shooting of Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" took place in Kazimierz.
