Interior of Old Synagogue in
Kazimierz
October 2005 photo
of the interior of the Old Synagogue
The photo above was taken inside the
Old Synagogue in Kazimierz, which is currently the Museum of
Jewish History and Culture. It houses a collection of photographs
of life in Kazimierz before the Nazi occupation, as well as paintings
by Jewish artists and religious objects. Of all the cities in
Poland, Krakow has the most evidence of Jewish culture; Kazimierz
is the old Jewish quarter of Krakow.
There is an admission charge to the Museum,
and visitors must pay an extra 10 Zloty for the privilege of
taking photographs. I took lots of photos because I wanted to
get my money's worth.
The Old Synagogue was almost completely
destroyed by the Nazis during World War II; it was restored after
the war, but the 16th century wrought-iron bimah in the center
of the main prayer hall is original. The bimah is shown in the
center of the photo above and also in the old photo below, taken
before the German occupation of Poland began in 1939.
Interior of the Old
Synagogue in Kazimierz before 1939
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