About JCC

In June 2002, Prince Charles of Wales made a visit to Cracow. Kazimierz-the old Jewish quarter of Krakow-had made a strong impression on him. During a meeting with representatives of the Jewish Religious Community in Krakow, word came to him that the community lacked a placed where its members could meet beyond the synagogue. The Prince promised to help.

I didn’t believe that he would take this to heart –recalled Tadeusz Jakubowicz, the leader of the Jewish Religious Community of Krakow. A few weeks later, representatives of World Jewish Relief arrived in Krakow. They were being sponsored by the Prince to discuss certain investment matters. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee also took part in the initiative.  

The formalities associated with acquiring a building permit took quite a long time and it was on November 14th 2006 that the inauguration ceremony finally took place at the Tempel Synagogue. Taking part in the ceremony were Nigel Layton, the leader of World Jewish Relief, Jossi Erez, leader of the American Joint Distribution Committee, Piotr Kadlcik, leader of the Jewish Relious Community in The Republic of Poland, Tadeusz Jakubowicz, leader of the Jewish Relious Community in Krakow, Head Galicia Rabbi Edgar Gluck and Head Rabbi of Cracow Boaz Pash.  

Construction was completed in 2008. The result was a square structure with a surface area of around 800m2 situated on Miodowa Street 24, right next to the Tempel Synagogue. On April 24th 2008, the grand opening of the newly built Jewish Community Centre took place. Taking part in the ceremony were Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Dutchess of Cornwall. The Prince aided in the ceremonial affixing of the Mezuzah to the main doors of the building. Statements were made among others by: 

Head Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich: The Jewish Community in Poland has suffered a lot through the centuries. What had once been one of the largest Jewish communities in the world is today on of its smallest. However, thanks to the graciousness of the Royal Couple, Krakow, which once was a bustling center of Jewish life, now has a true chance of returning to its former glory.  

Nigel Layton, leader of World Jewish Relief:  The enthusiasm of the young people here is wonderful. They want to learn, they want the Rabbis to come visit. This is the future of the Jewish community. Krakow, with its incredible Jewish heritage as well as its small, but very active Jewish community, is reappearing on the map of Jewish communities of Europe.

Tadeusz Jakubowicz, leader of the Jewish Religious Community in Krakow: We have waited for this day for many years. I wanted to thank the foundation and the Prince himself, for he had been the one person who kept the word he had given several years back. 

From this time on, less than a year has passed, and the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow has become a vibrant and living place, an educational and cultural centre, and the main meeting place for the local community. The JCC is an organization that serves the needs of the local community. In this goal, the JCC engages itself in the realization of various projects geared towards specific groups within the Jewish Community of Krakow. The Centre is a place that allows various groups and their representatives to meet, older people, younger people, children and their families, as well as inhabitants of Cracow and tourists-at the very least during our weekly Sabbath dinners. Everybody has the opportunity to take part in the fruition of our religious, educational and community projects.