Rabbi Gershon Shaul Yom-Tov Lipmann ben Nathan ha-Levi Heller’s yahrzeit began last evening at the Remuh cemetery. Heller (1579-1654) was an exceptional Talmudist and the author of religious literature and numerous works in the fields of kabbalah, philosophy, maths and astronomy. He was born in Wallerstein and according to Majer Bałaban, Lipmann was a far cry from regular Polish Jews. He was balanced, versatile and was not keen on pilpul. Before coming to Krakow, Lipmann Heller was a rabbi in the Czech Republic (Mikulov, Moravia), Austria (Vienna) and Poland (Niemirowo and Włodzimierz Wołyński). For 28 years he held the position of a dayan in Prague. During the Thirty Years’ War, he faced the difficult decision to establish the contribution that particular members of the Prague Community were to pay. As…
On 19th and 20th June 2023, Krakow held yorcayt on 200th death anniversary of rabbi Kalman Kalonimos Epstein, also known as Maor wa Shemesh. Kalman Kalonimos Epstein (1754-1823) was a Hasidic leader, also called Maor wa-Szemesz thanks to his work. He was a student of notable tzaddik: Elimelech of Leżajsk and Jakub Izaak ha-Choze (Widzący) of Lublin. In 1785, Maor wa Shemesh organised the first Hasid group in Krakow which was met with the official Jewish Community backlash. He was cursed twice by the Rabbi of Krakow and his rabbinical court. His main work, Maor wa-Szemesz (From the light and the sun) is one of the basic Hasidic books. Written as a commentary of the Pentateuch, it includes the description of life and the activity of several…
The Jewish Religious Community in Krakow opened classes for the youngest members of our Community. During regular meetings run by Kuba Lewinger, children will learn the basics of the Hebrew alphabet, the Jewish traditions and religion . Meetings take place at Miodowa 55 or Miodowa 27. For all inquiries please contact our office at (12) 429-57-35. Classes are available exclusively to the members of the Jewish Religious Community in Krakow.
Our Community celebrated Lag ba-Omer on 18th – 19th May 2022. The celebration ended with a barbeque party at the Community HQ at Miodowa 27 in Krakow. On behalf of all participants, we would like to thank the organisers for a wonderful evening.
Chag Pesach Sameach!
A photoreport from the Purim Festival which took place at Kupa Synagogue on Wednesday evening. After a long break we finally got a chance to meet in a larger group in order to read the Book of Esther and to spend some time together. We were pleased to have the Community members as well as invited guests including Ukrainian Jewish refugees.
Chag Purim Sameach!
Boaz Gadka, Rabbi of The Jewish Religious Community in Kraków, talking to the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yitzhak Yosef, at the 31st Conference of Rabbi Property Court Judges (3rd February 2022).