Yesterday, February 18, our long-serving Chairman of the Jewish Community in Krakow (1997–2022) —affectionately known among Krakow’s Jews and community staff simply as “Mr. President”—would have celebrated his 87th birthday. Tadeusz Jakubowicz was born in Krakow on February 18, 1939, the son of Maciej and Róża (née Pistol). He served on the board of the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland and the Jewish Community Center Krakow, and was also a member of the Social Committee for the Restoration of Krakow Monuments (SKOZK). In recognition of his contributions to the restoration of Krakow’s historic monuments, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2000 and the Officer’s Cross of the same order in 2023. In 2019, the Society of Lovers of Krakow…
Yesterday, among friends and members of our Community, we lit the last, eighth, candle of Hanukkah. With a shared dinner, we concluded the eight-day holiday, which in the Jewish calendar begins on the 25th of Kislev and ends on the 2nd of Tevet. Special guests of this special evening were the United States Consul General in Krakow, Ms. Gretchen Cureton, and Polish Senator, Mr. Jerzy Fedorowicz. They both had the honor to lit one candle. The ceremony was opened by the Chairwoman of the Community Board, Helena Jakubowicz. Next, the Community’s Gabaj, Kuba Lewinger and the Community’s Rabbi, Boaz Gadka, spoke, explaining the historical events surrounding the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabean dynasty. The evening passed in a joyful atmosphere, with sweet gifts given to the…
The first Yahrzeit, or anniversary of the death of Blessed Tadeusz Jakubowicz. On Wednesday, 5 November, we gathered at the New Cemetery at 55 Miodowa Street to mark the first anniversary of the death of Blessed Tadeusz Jakubowicz. The anniversary of the passing of Tadeusz Jakubowicz (Yahrzeit in Hebrew) falls on the 17th day of the month of Cheshvan, according to the Jewish calendar. In Jewish tradition, it is believed that on this day the soul of the departed returns to the places most deeply connected to their life — the burial site, the family home, and the synagogue where they prayed. This year, the Yahrzeit coincided with a Saturday, so the commemoration was naturally held a few days earlier. At the newly placed monument to Tadeusz Jakubowicz, the ceremony…
“HEALTHCARE TRADITIONS IN KRAKOW – COMPARATIVE STUDIES. ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE NEW BUILDING OF THE JEWISH HOSPITAL IN KRAKOW (EST. IN 1866)” On Monday, October 27, 2025, an academic conference entitled “Traditions of healthcare in Krakow – comparative studies. On the 100th anniversary of the opening of the new building of the Jewish Hospital in Krakow (est. in 1866).” The idea to organize this conference arose not only from the historic moment marked by the opening of the new Jewish Hospital building in Kraków and the forthcoming 160th anniversary of its establishment, but also from the need to reflect anew on the harmonious coexistence between Christians and Jews — a coexistence that, as Rev. Prof. Stanisław Piech observed, thrived “in the shadow of churches and…