Krakow Jewish life
I would love to write in more detail about this but I thought I would start off a post on Krakow Jewish life.
Do any Jews still live in Krakow Poland?
This is a good question. I live in the old Jewish ghetto of Krakow. My street was the border where the wall divided the Jewish ghetto with the other part. I have be casually reading about the history of Jewish Krakow for about seven years. I am not an expert but how can I not have an interest if I live here? I have many stories that really are other worldly I would like to write about, but this post is less ambitious. It is simply to explain that yes Yiddish and Hebrew is spoken on the street and among the tourists and there are Jews living in Krakow.
The flag of Israel proudly flies along the Polish and American flags in Krakow.
Cracow’s Jews
Often times the question comes up, do any Jewish people live in Krakow? And if so what is it like for them?
The answer is there are about 100 active Jews here, going to synagogue and observing the rites. However, I would say 1000s of inactive Jews in Krakow. Many people here are Jewish or were born of Jewish mothers and converted to Christianity for obvious reason. Remember about 25% of the city was Jewish, 60,000 people and back then that was a lot of people. Plus all over the coutryside there were people living and this number is often ignored and would bring the figure much higher if ou include the metropolitian area.
Many of my students in Krakow have told me they have a Jewish grandmother or something. I would say about 15% of my Polish students have some Jewish blood. The owners of my building are Jewish. The owners of my friends building are Jewish and come to Krakow sometimes for a long-term stay. I know Jews from England and other places that have set up businesses etc in Kazimierz. There are also over a million Jewish tourists to Kraków every year.
So even though there are a few thousand inactive Jews in Krakow and about 100 active Jews here do not believe the numbers. There are thousands of Jews from all over the world everyday visiting as this is an important city of culture. Their ancestors lived here as long as the Poles did in peace. This is why in my opinion is an important Jewish city today.
You can buy a Yamaka in Krakow on the street no problem.
What is life like for a Jewish person in Krakow? I think it is like anywhere, the focus is on observing the law of God, living peacefully and in community.
JCC in Kazimesh
I think Krakow is like 19th century Jewish city. If you live here and are not a just coming through you will see how magical it really is. It is like a time machine. In fact, irony is people have written articles telling people not to come to here as they do not want to spoil this too hidden gem of a city. Maybe, I am a bit guilting of telling people not to come here as I do not want to spoil it myself as it is not too commerical, at least yet.
Do Jewish people experience problems in Krakow?
Did you know if you make a remark to someone based on religion or country of origin etc in Poland it is 2 years in prison? Article 67 of the Polish law protects rights and if you look into Polish law you will find if someone even makes a comment or remark about you in a bad way based on who you are you will get two years. The Police are very strict about this because of the history and the connection with Israel.
Maybe someone has experienced problems but I have never heard of it personally. For sure there are some guys who live in the blocks in the bad section of town, that hold less than enlightened ideas in their small brains, but this is everywhere in the world not just Poland.
Photos of Jewish Kraków
The following are some more photos of Kazimierz
I was out the other day with my camera. There are not professional photos but just some I took while I was in Kazimierz waiting to get a haircut. You can decide for yourself if in Kazimierz or any other part of Krakow, if there are any traces of Jewish culture.
An active Jewish Synagogue in Krakow
Jagiellonian University is where people study Hebrew and about Jewish culture.
Door to the Jewish studies program at Jagiellonian University
I can not even begin to go into the history as it is beyond the scope of this post.
Small holocaust memorials are in many places in Krakow - God bless the souls of the departed.
Do you like sitting at a cafe and reading? This is a Krakovian tradition. And you are in luck because…
There are book shops you can buy Hebrew, Yiddish English and Polish language books about Jewish culture in Krakow.
Orthodox or conservative rituals of cleasing are important. In fact, I heard this one of the first thing that was built in the community here. It makes sense as you should be pure in body and mind to ask for God’s wisdom to build a new community.
Mikveh -An active ritual Jewish bath house Krakow
I think most people cook at home, but it always helps if you have somewhere to go when you want to go out.
Do you like Yiddish food or want a Kosher meal? There are shops and restaurants in Kazimesh.
Even the big commercial shops have Kosher food, just like in the USA.
There is plenty of art in Krakow with Jewish themes lie in these buildings.
Kazimesh has it all when it comes to culture. But after about a couple of weeks you might see all the tourist things and then take a few years to settle in and enjoy the atmosphere.
These small Jewish shops in Krakow make you feel like your in another century.
I would be more than happy to answer any questions if you are coming to Krakow. I am not Jewish. I am an American Catholic and Polish also. However, if you have any questions about Jewish Krakow or Poland in general I will do my best to answer them.
11 responses to Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
I live in Israel the last 50 years, lately I renewed my Polish passport and I and my wife consider to move to Krakow for a year or two, to travel around and discover the roots of my family,and to experience the life in Krakow. Is there a Jewish comunity center where I can find friends? Are there Israelis like me in Krakow or somewhere else in Poland? I will appriciate your answer. Joseph.
I think there are like a million Jewish visitors a year to Krakow. Everyday I see many people from all over the world. But also there is a small community of Jews who live all year around in Krakow. If you want to connect with others you will have no problem. I am not Jewish, but I live here and the people are very nice. I think you will like your experience of living in Poland. If you have any problem when you are here I can connect you with people.
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
Thank you for the photos and information. Connecticut, USA
You are welcome from Krakow. If you have any questions about Krakow or Jewish Krakow just write.
Shalom Mark.. Another great site of yours I found by googling.. Amazing how visible you are on the web. Krakow is a place of so much, almost ancient, history for the Jewish people. It is also a place of many sorrows and place were so many atrocities happened. It is hard to believe that more Jews lived in Poland than New York, only about 100 years ago.
Anyway, I do hope that the Jews can revive their communities and perhaps the Jewish culture of Krakow can be brought back to its glory before The Shoah. Most likely it won’t. However, many Israelis don’t like being stuck in Israel, this is not a joke. Israel is a very small country as well and it would be hard to contain the population forever, unless we reclaim our ancient lands, which won’t happen anytime soon.
If the Polish government would accommodate these Jews by giving them citizenship, many may be eager to live in Poland and help support Poland, as well as bring to life a new Polish Jewish community.
As of now, Poland has 50,000 Jews.. A lot less than the 3,000,000 or so that lived there prior to WWII.
I am eager to experience Krakow’s Jewish community in Kazimierz and I don’t want to miss the Jewish festival. I am reading it is every 2 years.
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
I think many Jews from around the world are rediscovering their European roots. It was kind of an unofficial homeland for Jews for about 500 years when there was no Israel. That is when they fled other parts of Europe they thrived in Poland. They set up Synagogue, schools, businesses, and debated the Torah. When you are in Krakow you can feel this history.
I think if a Jewish person who has roots in Poland and wants citizenship has the same chance under Polish law to get EU citizenship as any person of Polish ancestry. I think it just takes a lot of work and commitment.
Many ethic Poles go to Israel by the way as the weather is warm and sunny and earnings are relatively better and I think the two countries have a pretty good relationship. It is funny when I went to visit Israel, the people traveling on Polish passports, had no problem crossing the border. But I used my American passport at the time and they really check me out good and gave me 101 questions. I would have thought the opposite to be true, but it just goes to show you perception is not always reality. But in all fairness I think it was because I was the odd one out traveling from Poland.
You have to see Kazimierz, it is really like a small 19th century Jewish town, that is alive today.
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
Currently in Krakow from America
Hello,
We just arrived in Poland today. We are Jewish and our grandparents are from Poland. I was wondering if there were Jewish people in Poland and that is why I accessed your blog. I think you are right. Jewish people all trying to find their roots, and although Poland has been a difficult place for Jews in WWII, I wanted to see what it was like here. I am not very religious, but wanted to see what Poland was all about. I was also an interviewer for The Shoah Foundation, Stephen Speilberg.
Krakow is a beautiful town, and I thank you for your kind comments.
I hope that Krakow would one day fourish with Jewish people. We had dinner in Kasmariz (spelling) this evening and saw a Klesmer band…the food was typical Jewish, but I was sad because you could see what it used to be like here for the Jewish community, with the sights, tastes, smells and even the furniture of the place we went to. But one thing was missing…the actual Jewish people…that I was sad for.
Kind regards,
Maureen Halpert
Southern California
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
I think Jewish people are coming back to Krakow. Further, many Poles have Jewish roots themselves and are rediscovering this. I mean many of my students have at last one Jewish grandparent.
Further, like you many Jewish people are not religious so you can not notice them, even if they live here. I only know when they tell me they are Jewish or part Jewish because I know them personally.. It is like Jewish people in the USA. Growing up, I could see more people as they were more traditional and religious, but now society has changed and there is no big difference, uniculture.
If you have any questions, please let me know. I live right here in the heart of Krakow. There are a lot of good walks connected to Jewish history few people go. For example next door to me was a Synagogue during the ghetto occupation most people do not know about.
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
Jewish life in Krakow
Hi Mark,
My name is Jonathan Ornstein and I’m the director of the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow.I would like to thank you for your insightful piece about contemporary Jewish life in our beautiful city. Most people have very little idea that there is a thriving, growing Jewish community here and are all too focussed on the difficult, often tragic past.
I’d love to invite you to the JCC and have a chance to talk to you about your observations.
Please contact me if you are interested and have some time.
Best,
Jonathan
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
Hello from Warsaw - Israel to Poland
We came from Israel to Poland year and a half ago and we enjoy living in Poland very much. Krakow is beautiful and charming city and it seems that people always celebrate there.
I think also there are that many of the Polish people have Jewish roots and they are interested to discover them now. It was amazing for me, since in Israel you’re being taught that the Jews that had survived WWII left Poland after the war.
Thanks for your blog and I have a blog too – tanyasolodar.com, may be it will be interesting to you.
Regards,
Tanya
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
Tanya, your blog on healing is very interesting by the way, and I noticed it is in Polish and English, so your Polish must be good.
About Poland it is a wonderful place to live and to explore. I have lived here many years and am not tired of it yet. Israel is also beautiful. I think the dream is to live in Poland and vacation in the winter in Israel maybe.
Jews lived in Poland for hundreds of years and there is no way that they did not become part of Eastern European people and culture and the visa versa also. I have met many Poles with Jewish ancestry.
Jewish Krakow – Do Jews still live in Poland?
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