# 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:
* 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.
It was put on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites along with the entire city district in 1978.

## 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.
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.

## 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.

### 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.

### The Remah Synagogue

The 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). 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. 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

The 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. The Isaak Jakubowicz Synagogue built in 1644, is located on Kupa Street. 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. 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

* Remah Synagogue
* Izaak Jakubowicz Synagogue
* Tempel Synagogue

### Inactive synagogues

* Bobov Synagogue (Kraków)
* Old Synagogue, now housing a Jewish History museum
* Wolf Popper Synagogue
* High Synagogue

## Gallery

* Old Synagogue
* Tempel Synagogue
* Tempel Synagogue, interior
* Remuh Synagogue
* Remuh Synagogue, interior
* Wolf Popper Synagogue, Kazimierz
* Kupa Synagogue
* Kupa Synagogue, interior
* Mizrachi Synagogue, Kazimierz
* Izaak Synagogue, Kazimierz
* Hevra Shir Prayerhouse, Kazimierz
* Kowea Itim le-Tora
* Zucker Synagogue, Podgórze
* Chewra Ner Tamid Synagogue
* Chassids from Radomsko
* Bne Emuna Prayerhouse
* Ahawat Tora
* Ahawat Raim
* Bobov Synagogue
* Chewra Thilim Synagogue
* Salomon Deiches Synagogue
* High Synagogue
* High Synagogue, interior
* Cypres Prayerhouse
* Lednitzers Synagogue
* Chassids from Radomsko
* Damasz Prayerhouse
* Talmud Torah Synagogue
* Szejrit Bne Emun Synagogue

## List of Kraków synagogues by street name

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