BS”D note: all photographs were taken with proper respect to Jewish Laws and only the Jewish Religious Community of Kraków is allowed to reproduce them This morning, bright and early, as it often happens, a large group of religious Jews came to pray Shacharit at the Remuh Synagogue. The prayers were very joyful and the walls of the Synagogue shook with the intensity of the faith of the visitors, whom we welcomed with open arms. As often said, we do not discriminate on minhag and do not impose ours on others. The sun shone onto those who were praying, as if to give witness of the harmony of Creation. After the beautiful daily prayers, our friends visited the Remuh Cemetery. Later, the Gabbai was kind enough to…
BS”D 6 Tamuz 5781 It was with great sadness that I see that the Chabad L. foundation in Kraków has set up a web-page in English and Hebrew suggesting that they are being evicted because of evil machinations of the Community after “400 years” of Jewish life in Kraków and ask for money. Have they not any shame? Have they lost sight of the basic tenets of Judaism? It is very sad to see that they twist the truth for mundane gain. Does the Jewish community ever publish a web page asking for money? It is sad that they publicly smear the Jewish Religious Community and its members, who went through the horrors of the Shoah, who had their family killed! Shame on these so-called “Rabbis” who…
BS”D 6 Tamuz 5781 Today we were blessed with the arrival of the Rabbi of Kraków, R. Boaz Gadka, coming directly from Eretz Israel. He had a good flight and could be heard praying bright and early. He blessed us with his presence at our daily lunch, where we have been serving meals to the Community for decades. Tamuz is a month in which Israel sinned and believed in false gods. The unaware tourist should beware that there are organisations which try to lead people of good heart into error. The only organisation which is the actual Jewish Religious Community of Kraków is this one. The only “Rabbi of Kraków” is R. Boaz Gadka. Nobody else. Others that claim the title and self-style themselves as the “Community”…
We are now publishing a chapter by chapter summary of Majer Bałaban’s Historia Żydow w Krakowie i na Kazimierzu 1304-1868 (Kraków, “Nadzieja”, 1931) – History of the Jews in Kraków and in Kazimierz – which will be able to be found under the category “Bałaban” and “History”. We express our hopes that it might be useful. This is chapter three, tome one, pages twenty-nine to thirty-eight, titled “Beginning of the intolerance against the Jews in the reign of Wladyslaw Jagielly (14th-15th centuries)”. The reign of Wladyslaw Jagielly was not good for the Jews of Krakow. The king, a recent convert to Christianity, was under great influence of the church. Right at the beginning, he did not renew the Privileges that had been granted by his predecessor. Already…
BS”D 5 Tamuz 5781 We have reached today paragraph 7 of chapter 2 of Mesillas Yesharim, in which R. Luzzatto concludes the second chapter. R Luzzatto reminds the reader that even if one takes the proper time for reflection and guards his actions, this alone will not be sufficient for salvation. One, without the assistance of the Holy One, blessed is He, will not be able to achieve salvation. “If one oversees himself” – states further Rabbi Luzzatto – he will be saved from the evil inclination. However, it is essential to observe one’s behaviour. If one does not do that, then the Holy One, blessed is He, will not watch over him. If one is not compassionate towards himself then who will show him compassion? In…
Last Friday, 11 June 2021, Counsellor Tal Ben-Ari Yaalon, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., of the Embassy of Israel in Poland visited Mr Tadeusz Jakubowicz, Chairman of the Board of the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków, in his office. Counsellor Ben-Air Yaalon was warmly received and had an interesting discussion with our Chairman of the Board, touching on future projects for the Jews in Kraków. The Chairman of the Board expressed his wishes for the political stabilisation of Israel and for peace in the region as well as the personal and professional success of Counsellor Ben-Ari Yaalon. The meeting was fruitful and we look forward to more similar opportunities for sharing our views with the Israeli Embassy. opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not…
BS”D 4 Tamuz 5781 We begin now with paragraph five of chapter two of Mesillas Yesharim by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, of blessed memory. In this paragraph, the author compares the advice of the evil inclination (to make oneself busy and consequently avoid thinking about one’s actions) to the order of the wicked Pharaoh that work should be made hard so that men would spend their day working and be unable to avoid reflection on their deeds. This is a common trait of totalitarian governments and cults: the victims are made to overwork, stay hungry and kept too tired so that they will have no time to think. Additionally, this makes them more vulnerable to brain-washing. In fact, there are even modern corporations that try to eliminate…
We are now publishing a chapter by chapter summary of Majer Bałaban’s Historia Żydow w Krakowie i na Kazimierzu 1304-1868 (Kraków, “Nadzieja”, 1931) – History of the Jews in Kraków and in Kazimierz – which will be able to be found under the category “Bałaban” and “History”. We express our hopes that it might be useful. This is chapter two, tome one, pages sixteen to twenty-eight, titled “Kazimierz the Great and his Time” The greatest financial force in Krakow was Lewko the son of Jordan and Kaszyca. He died around 1395. He was described in documents as a trustful man. Documents show he used to buy and sell land, as well as to lend money on interest. He lent money outside of Krakow, reaching Tarnow and he…
BS”D 3 Tamuz 5781 R. Luzzatto then (Mesillas Yesharim par. 3, chap. 2) touches on self-awareness, reminding the reader that Yirmeyahu was aware of the evils of his generation, saying that many were paying no heed to their actions and instead just kept doing whatever they were doing. Impulsiveness, as R. Luzzatto states, leads into wrongdoing. The text can be easily applied to the present day. I find that resisting against impulsiveness in the current world is much harder than – say – twenty years ago. The temptation to write and send text, to buy without thinking, is much greater than before the advent of instant communication. Messages are written and sent immediately without thought. They do not take hours to write – compared to a letter…
Plaques dedicated to the victims of the forced labour camps of Julag II and Baudienst were unveiled on the last 11 June at midday, on ul. Podmiłów and on the corner of Bieżanowska and Młodzieży in Kraków-Prokocim. Present at the ceremony were: Counsellor Tal Ben-Ari Yaalon, Chargé d’affaires, a.i., of the Embassy of Israel in Poland; the Chairman of the Council of the City of Kraków, Dominik Jaśkowiec; the substitute of the President of the City of Kraków, Bogusław Kośmider, the Chairman of the Council of the 12th district of Kraków, Zbigniew Kożuch; the Director of the Institute of National Remembrance (INR) in Kraków, Cecylia Radoń; the Director of the Galicia Jewish Museum, Jakub Nowakowski as well as counsellors of the City and of the 12th district,…