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The Weissensee Cemetery

The Weißensee Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located in the neighborhood of Weißensee in Berlin, Germany. It is the second largest Jewish cemetery in Europe covering approximately 100 acres and contains approximately 115,000 graves.

Directly in front of the entrance is a Holocaust memorial, a commemorative stone, surrounded by further stones, each with the names of concentration camps. Next to this, there is a memorial to Jews who lost their lives during World War I (which was dedicated in 1927) and also a commemorative plaque to those who fought Nazism.

The plot of land was bought by the Jewish community of Berlin, comprising – besides congregants of orthodox and reform affiliation – mostly observants of mainstream Judaism (in today’s term described at best as conservative Judaism). The old Jewish cemetery in Große Hamburger Straße, opened 1672, had reached its full capacity in 1827. The second cemetery in Schönhauser Allee, opened in the same year, reached its capacity in the 1880s, offering only few remaining gravesites in family ensembles mostly reserved for widows and widowers next to their earlier deceased spouses. Weißensee Cemetery was designed by renowned German architect Hugo Licht in the Italian Neorenaissance style. It was inaugurated in 1880. The surrounding walls and main building (where the archives are kept and the cemetery is administered) were constructed with a distinctive yellow brick. A second building (built in 1910) was destroyed during World War II.

The grave plots are arranged into 120 different sections, each with its own geometric shape. The lavish way in which the more well-to-do individuals and families interred here chose to fashion their mausoleums using the latest art nouveau designs is immediately noticeable. The periphery of the cemetery is predominantly reserved for the upper and middle classes, while the center is occupied by the less well off, in areas which are harder to reach and often overgrown by foliage.

With the rise of Nazism the existence of the cemetery was at risk (many Jewish cemeteries in Europe were destroyed) but the site survived relatively unscathed. Some 4000 graves are estimated to have been damaged by Allied bombing. After World War II, Jews from all parts of Berlin continued to use the cemetery up until 1955. Between 1955 and German reunification in 1990, only the small Jewish community in East Berlin used it.

During the four decades of the German Democratic Republic, the cemetery was relatively neglected because most of Berlin’s Jewish community had been murdered during, or had fled from, the Holocaust. Many of the graves were left unattended and became overgrown with weeds. In the 1970s, plans to build an expressway over part of the cemetery were considered, linking Michelangelostraße to the newly constructed Hansastraße. This proposal was dropped due to strong objections from the remaining Jewish community.

It has been estimated by cemetery officials that the cost of fully repairing the damage caused by years of neglect would amount to 40 million euros. On the occasion of the cemetery’s 125th anniversary, appeals were made to the Berlin government to increase funding, so that a bid can be made to add the site to the UNESCO world heritage list. The bid was supported by Berlin’s former mayor Klaus Wowereit.

Image Attribution:
Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-1988-0911-020 / Schindler, Karl-Heinz / CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE , via Wikimedia Commons;
Neuköllner, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons;
OTFW, Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The New Jewish Cemetery

The New Jewish Cemetery is a historic necropolis situated on 55 Miodowa Street in Kraków, Poland. Located in the former Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz, it covers an area of about 11 acres. Since 1999, the cemetery is a registered heritage monument. The grounds also feature a well-preserved mortuary. The New Jewish Cemetery was founded in 1800 on grounds purchased by the Jewish Qahal from the Augustinians. It was enlarged in 1836 with additional land purchased from the monks.

Following Poland’s return to independence, the New Cemetery became nearly full. From 1932 on, burials were directed to a new plot bought in 1926 by the Qahal along Abrahama Street and the one at nearby Jerozolimska Street, both in the Wola Duchacka neighborhood (now part of Podgórze district). These two other cemeteries formed the site of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp during the Holocaust and no longer exist. The Jews from the Kraków Ghetto were sent there.

Following the Nazi invasion of Poland in World War II, the New Cemetery was closed to outsiders and the Germans sold the most valuable stonework to local masons. Other headstones, as well as slabs, were turned into construction material and used for paving the supply road to the camp, including the courtyard of commandant Amon Göth, who is known for having insisted that the Jews pay for their own executions.

Meanwhile, the old bones at the cemetery were often left uncovered and scattered around in what looked like an open-pit mine. Caretaker Pina Ladner, who used to live on premises, was sent to Płaszów and shot. Soon after the war ended, a local civil engineer identified only as Mr. Stendig, likely Jakub Stendig, a camp survivor, recovered many tombstones from the Płaszów camp site, and arranged to have them reinstalled at the New Cemetery.

In 1957, the grounds were renovated with funds from the Joint Distribution Committee. After the collapse of communism on March 24, 1999, the cemetery, including the 1903 mortuary, were entered into the register of historical monuments of Kraków. The New Jewish Cemetery features a renovated brick mortuary hall from 1903, as well as the postwar lapidary memorial fitted with old headstones and crowned with a block of black marble. The cemetery contains over 10,000 tombs, the oldest dating from 1809. There are many monuments commemorating the death of Jews killed during the Holocaust.

Liban Querry

As an unmaintained site, the quarry is rather overgrown with nature and has become somewhat of a sanctuary for several types of bird such as waterfowl and pheasants, among other critters. The rusted refinery lies surrounded by steep limestone cliffs, covered with a thick forest of pines. The original fence posts and barbed wire can still be found hidden within the shrubbery that surrounds the quarry. There is a slightly eerie feel to the quarry, given its lack of use and derelict state, but it hosts a wealth of history nonetheless.

Established by two Jewish industrial families from Podgórze in 1873, the quarry was connected to a railway line for easy transportation of materials. The quarry was active until the Nazi occupation, where it was then used as a labor camp for young Polish prisoners from 1942 until 1944. When the camp was liquidated near the end of the war, 21 inmates were executed and a small, overgrown memorial lies on the cliffside towards Za Torem. Although it is quite possible to find and explore the Liban Quarry on your own, a guide can provide an enhanced visit and a deeper insight into the history and nature of this unique site.

Image attribution:
Mateusz Giełczyński, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Tempel Synagogue

The Tempel Synagogue is a synagogue in Kraków, Poland, in the Kazimierz district. Tempel Synagogue is not only a major place of worship, but also a booming center of Jewish culture, which hosts numerous concerts and meetings, especially during the Festival.

The main room is spacious and airy, with a high ceiling and inner balconies that are matched in golden floral decor. The Tempel Synagogue is adorned with beautiful mosaic work of gold foliage, pale blues and burgundy. The bimah sits in the middle of the main hall, along with a white marble and golden-crowned Aron Kodesh that is detailed with houses resembling Polish folk art, as opposed to the Moorish designs found in the rest of the building. During World War II, the Nazis stored ammunition in the synagogue, which had many elements destroyed during that period. However, soon after the war, Tempel was reopened for prayers and in 1947 the synagogue saw the addition of a mikvah.

The synagogue was used for prayer until 1985 and in the 90s it saw a massive renovation that brought it to the state it is in today. As one of the active synagogues in Kazimierz, the Tempel Synagogue hosts many celebrations and festivities throughout the year but does not host regular prayer sessions. For this, community members head to the Remuh Synagogue. Nonetheless, a visit to this beautiful worship space is highly recommended.

Image attribution:
Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Marcin Konsek / Wikimedia Commons

Remuh Synagogue

Built in 1558, the Remuh Synagogue was named for Rabbi Moses Isserles, famed for writing a collection of commentaries of the Shulchan Aruch. The origin of the synagogue is somewhat up for debate: some believe that Isserles’ father, a royal banker and merchant, founded it for his son, whereas other evidence indicates it was built in memory of Isserles’ mother, Malka.

The synagogue underwent many renovations over the centuries, thanks to fires and the constant changing of ownership. The building in its current state dates back to a restoration from the 1820s, although there were some improvements made after World War II. During the war, the German Trust Office took control of the synagogue and used it for storing equipment. Although the building remained intact, many historic, ceremonial finishes – the bimah, included – were ruined. The Remuh Synagogue underwent its last major renovation in 1957.

When you visit the synagogue, you can find the Jewish Remuh Cemetery next door. Dating back to the mid-16th century, the Cemetery is renown for being the burial site of many notable Polish Jews, including Rabbi Moses Isserles. Once a year, on the anniversary of the Isserles’ death, many Jews from all around the world come and pay tribute to this important figure in Jewish history.

Image Attribution:
Yair Haklai, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Zygmunt Put, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Kazimierz

Kazimierz is the historic Jewish Quarter of Krakow, now a jumble of indie galleries, quirky shops, vintage clothing stores and bars that range from hip cocktail dens to shabby-chic spaces. Established in 1335, and named after its founder, King Kazimierz the Great, Kazimierz was an independent city for many centuries. It was also home to one of the largest congregation of Jews in Poland and was seen by many as a hub for Jewish life in Europe. Situated just south of Old Town, Kazimierz thrived economically thanks to its many Jewish merchants and the cultural values of the community thrived alongside the businesses.

The Jews of Kazimierz were a real part of Poland, they endured the invasions and political changes throughout the centuries alongside their non-Jewish neighbors. By the time World War II began, there were roughly 64,000 Jews living in Kraków, including 70% of Kazimierz’s residents. The Nazi occupation saw a systematic destruction of Kazimierz’s Jewish population and at the end of the war, less than 4,000 Krakówian Jews had survived in. Jewish life in Kazimierz would be forever changed. The period after World War II was not easy. The community was small and struggled to rebuild. During the communist era, Kazimierz became a seedy district that was derelict and full of despair. Many buildings and historically significant sites were simply left to fall apart. Just a few years after the communist era ended, the town of Kazimierz was rediscovered.

Thanks to the fall of the communist regime and the global attention that Speilberg’s Schindler’s List brought to the region, Kazimierz entered a period of growth and revival. Kazimierz had long been the home of many Jewish synagogues and institutions. Although much of that changed since the war, today the town boasts seven synagogues and several buildings that were once used as private prayer spaces. There are also two Jewish cemeteries, one of which is the historically-significant Old Jewish Cemetery, the burial site to many famous Jews through history.

Today’s Jewish community of Kraków is small but active and growing. Like in the past, it’s nestled in the heart of Kazimierz, and is filled with cafes, galleries, shops and a rich, vibrant culture and history. It is a huge tourist draw for non-Jews and Jews alike. Today, the entire town of Kazimierz is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Museum of the History of Polish Jews

The POLIN Museum is unique in that it’s creation involved the first public-private partnership of it’s kind in Poland. The main supporters of the museum’s creation are the City of Warsaw, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, and the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland. These three partners, along with much support of a widely established international network led to the birth of the museum. Thanks to the financial support of private donors and founders across Europe and the USA, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews officially opened its doors in 2005.

In 2016, POLIN Museum won the title of the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA 2016). POLIN Museum rose up to the challenge of creating an engaging and persuasive core exhibition without a substantial collection of artefacts. The programme of temporary exhibitions, educational activities, conferences, academic and artistic residences make the Museum a vibrant platform for dialogue and spreading the knowledge on Jewish history and heritage – reads the EMYA Jury statement.

POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is the first public-private partnership institution formed together by the government, the local government, and a non-governmental organization. In compliance with the signed tripartite agreement, the public partner covered, among others, the cost of the construction of the Museum building and its interior fittings. The Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland was responsible for, among others, financing and organization of the process of creating the core exhibition (for details please go to: Public-Private Partnership).

The Museum is a modern institution of culture – it is a historical museum which presents the 1000 years of Jewish life in the Polish lands. It is also a place of meeting and dialogue among those who wish to explore the past and present Jewish culture, those eager to draw conclusions for the future from Polish-Jewish history, and finally those who are ready to face the stereotypes and oppose xenophobia and nationalistic prejudices that threaten today’s societies. By promoting the ideas of openness, tolerance and truth, POLIN Museum contributes to the mutual understanding and respect among Poles and Jews.

Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum

While the metal items factory was originally established by three Jewish entrepreneurs, the company changed ownership many times before filing for bankruptcy in 1939. Oskar Schindler took over the factory and used the premise during World War II to produce enamelware and later ammunition shells – the latter of which was in order to prove the factory’s value to the Nazi Party.

By doing this, Oskar Schindler was able to hire over 1,000 Jews and keep them employed throughout the Nazi occupation. When the Germans started losing the war, he went as far as bribing SS officials to prevent the execution of his Jewish employees by relocating them with his factory to a safer location in Brünnlitz. The SS official, Amon Goth’s secretary compiled the list of 1,200 Jews who were relocated thanks to Schindler’s efforts – thus giving the inspiration for Stephen Spielberg’s multi-award winning Schindler’s List.

Oskar Schindler died on October 9th, 1974 and was the only member of the Nazi Party be buried on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. In 1993, the Israeli government named Schindler and his wife, Emilie, were named Righteous Among the Nations. See remnants of Oskar Schindler’s heroic deeds in person during a memorable visit to the Oskar Schindler Factory.

Kupa Synagogue

Built in 1643, this Baroque-style synagogue was made possible thanks to the contribution of local Kazimierz goldsmiths. The Kupa Synagogue’s interior is intricately decorated with stunning paintings on the walls and ceilings. Currently, the synagogue serves as Kraków’s Jewish center for religious and cultural ceremonies and festivities, including the annual Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków. It also holds regular Shabbat services and dinner for community members, as well as special ceremonies during the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Simchat Torah, Pesach, Purim and Chanukah. Attend a holiday event at the Kupa Synagogue and you’ll be in for a cultural treat.

Although the original Kupa Synagogue was erected in 1643, it has undergone many renovations since then. The original square prayer hall was annexed with a second story and an entrance hall with washrooms, in 1834. Less than 30 years later, a western wing was added and by the end of the 19th century, the synagogue was annexed to an adjacent building. Although the synagogue was severely damaged during World War II, it was carefully restored in 2000, any many artefacts from before the war – like the wall murals – were uncovered.

Image attribution:
Zygmunt Put Zetpe0202, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Galicia Jewish Museum

Before World War II, the museum building was used as a mill. The establishment of the museum is really attributed to its founding director, photojournalist Chris Schwarz, whose partnership with British anthropologist Jonathan Webber, led not only to the Traces of Memory exhibit, but the opening of the museum. Chris drove from the UK to Poland and utilized the help of local friends to transform the old warehouse into a stunning museum. The renovated site retained many of the building’s original characteristics, which are complemented by the addition of metals, glass and dark wood that give the museum a contemporary feel, while playing tribute to its industrial past. Chris passed away prematurely in 2007 and since then the museum has worked hard to grow into the values that Chris instilled in the museum’s purpose: to share the complicated and fascinating culture of Jewish Polish Galicia.

The Galicia Jewish Museum is located in the Jewish heart of Kraków, in the district of Kazimierz. This innovative institution celebrates the culture and history of Jewish Polish Galicia and serves as a remembrance to the victims of the Holocaust. The stunning interiors and historic past have made this a popular venue for local performers, artists and musicians and hosts many culture and social events, thanks to the versatility of the space. Furthermore, as a registered Polish charity, the museum aims to educate Jews and Poles about their combined histories and challenge the stereotypes of the intricate past of Jews in Poland.

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