Noble Reception for New Krakow Jewish Community Center

History was made on April 29th, when the new Krakow Jewish Community Center (JCC) was inaugurated in the presence of nobility—Prince Charles of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The royal couple took part in the moving opening ceremony, affixing a mezuzah on the doorpost with the Chief Rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich before unveiling a ceremonial plaque to the cheers of hundreds of local Jews as well as crowds that gathered in the adjacent streets of the Polish city.

The Royals toured the facility, where programs including the JDC-supported Youth Club and Senior Club are already underway. In the JCC, the Prince and Duchess mingled with children and madrichim and drank tea with the members of the Senior Club. Visibly moved by the horrific stories of the survivors, the Royal couple was also impressed by the resilience of the community and the tireless efforts to renew Jewish life in Poland, of which JDC is a principal engine.

The Prince’s participation in the Center’s opening was the culmination of his 2002 visit to Krakow, during which he was moved by the plight of the remaining elderly members of the Jewish community and vowed to act to improve their lives. He engaged the UK-based World Jewish Relief (WJR) in the building of a new JCC and himself made a significant contribution to the building, whose programs are developed and coordinated as a three-way partnership among JDC, WJR, and the Krakow Jewish community.

"The realization of this project and the ongoing impact that it will have on the Jewish community of Krakow is testament to our long and fruitful partnership with WJR," said Andres Spokoiny, JDC Area Director for Poland/Baltic States.

The JCC is located in the heart of Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter that is also fast becoming a trendy area of Krakow, adjacent to the historical Tempel synagogue. The four-floor facility, boasting multi-purpose halls, will house social, educational, and religious programs for all members of the community. It will also host exhibitions and be open to the thousands of tourists, Jewish and non-Jewish, who visit Krakow each year.

Tadeusz Jakubowicz, President of the Krakow Jewish community, expressed the thoughts of so many of the people who witnessed the historic event: "This is one of the happiest days of my life!" With JDC support and the commitment of the local Jewish community, it should be the first of many.

May 2008