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…