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Judaica
Foundation and its Center
for Jewish Culture in Krakow
From
the 16th century on the Jewish quarter at
Kazimierz
– once a separate city in its own right, now a district
of downtown Krakow – was the capital of Poland’s Jews and
one of the main centers of Diaspora in Europe. After World War II its Jewish traditions seemed to belong to
the past until they have been revived by the
Judaica Foundation since 1991. In 1993 it set up
the Center for Jewish Culture (Centrum Kultury
Zydowskiej in Polish) in
Krakow’s Kazimierz neighborhood.
Krakow's
hub of Jewish culture.
Both
the Judaica Foundation and the Jewish Cultural Center have
their seats in a corner building at 17 Rabbi Meisels street
and Plac Nowy square, now
thoroughly refurbished, which once served as the B’nai
Emuna prayer house in the 19th-century. Their motto is “L’dor
v’dor” (“from generation to generation”
in Hebrew) and they protect Poland’s Jewish
heritage, popularize it, and conduct research.
Activities
of the Jewish Cultural Center in Krakow.
Every
year numerous shows, recitals, conferences and other
cultural and scholarly activities take place in the Jewish
Cultural Center at 17 Meiselsa street. It's also a popular
venue for concerts of classical music.
The
flagship program of the Judaica Foundation is called Bayit
Khaddash –
Month
of Encounters with Jewish Culture. Bayit Khaddash
translates as 'New Home' and the program consists in
series of events –
from lectures to concerts to various shows –
taking place in the Jewish Cultural Center almost every day
from late September through November. They have been organized
yearly since 1996 and every of the events may feature either
Jewish or Polish cultural and historical traditions but
preferably both.
Contact
information of the Center of Jewish
Culture
Postal
address: Centrum Kultury Zydowskiej, ul. Meiselsa 17, 31-058
Krakow, Poland. Phone
(+48) 124306449. Fax (+48) 124306497. Email info@judaica.pl
Web site www.judaica.pl
Other
hot spots in Krakow
Grand
Square
Krakow’s central Grand Square (Rynek
Glowny), the largest plaza of medieval Europe and
one of the world’s finest with its spectacular
landmarks, has remained the hub of the city since
the 13th century.
Palace
of Arts
Temple of Fine Arts from the turn of the
20th century.
Bunker
of Arts
Bulwark of the newest art.
Manggha
Japan Culture and Technology Center
Fine example of the world's newest
architecture is the scene of numerous cultural
events, and most have something to do with Japan.
Pod
Baranami Cabaret
Poland's cult venue for high-brow
entertainment.
Jama
Michalika Cafe
Century-old Bohemian hideout in its 1908
Art Noveau splendor.
International
Culture Center
Exhibitions, conferences, and much more.
Villa
Decius
Almost perfect Renaissance Italian villa
shelters Krakow's European Academy.
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