Auschwitz Jewish Center
Encyclopedia
The Oświęcim Synagogue, also called the Auschwitz Synagogue, is the only active synagogue in the town of Oświęcim
, Poland
. The formal as well as pre-war name of the synagogue is Khevre Loymdei Mishnayos (English translation: Association of Those who Study Mishna). It is now part of a museum called the Auschwitz Jewish Center.
The Oświęcim synagogue was the first building restored to the Jewish community under the Polish government’s post-Communism law governing the restitution of Jewish communal property seized by the German occupiers during World War II, and retained by the Post-war Communist government. The building was claimed by, and is now owned by, the Jewish community of nearby Bielsko-Biala
.
in New York.
The Auschwitz synagogue was not the largest synagogue in Oświęcim. The better known Great Synagogue of Oświęcim was destroyed by the Nazis on November 29, 1939, and its remains were demolished. At the time of the Nazi invasion, more than half the population of Oświęcim was Jewish. The community was more than 400 years old and there were more than 20 synagogues in the city. The last native Jew of Oświęcim
died in 2000. At present, a lone Jewish woman from Belgium lives near the camp, dedicating her life to memorializing the Shoah. Oświęcim also has an old Jewish cemetery open to visitors.
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The formal as well as pre-war name of the synagogue is Khevre Loymdei Mishnayos (English translation: Association of Those who Study Mishna). It is now part of a museum called the Auschwitz Jewish Center.
The Oświęcim synagogue was the first building restored to the Jewish community under the Polish government’s post-Communism law governing the restitution of Jewish communal property seized by the German occupiers during World War II, and retained by the Post-war Communist government. The building was claimed by, and is now owned by, the Jewish community of nearby Bielsko-Biala
Bielsko-Biala
-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
.
History
The synagogue was built circa 1913. During World War II, the Nazis demolished its interior and used the building as a munitions depot. After the end of war, a small group of Jewish survivors restored the synagogue to its proper function. However, the custodians soon left Poland and the synagogue ceased to operate. In the 1970s, under the Communist Poland, the empty building was used as a temporary carpet warehouse. The synagogue reopened in September 2000, completely restored to its pre-war condition by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation in New York, at the cost of one million dollars. It is an active synagogue, used for prayers by groups and individuals visiting Auschwitz. The adjoining house was purchased by the foundation and turned into a compelling contemporary museum called the Auschwitz Jewish Center (Żydowskie Centrum Edukacyjne). It depicts the life of Jews in pre-war Oświęcim. Both, the Synagogue and the Center are affiliated with the Museum of Jewish HeritageMuseum of Jewish Heritage
The Museum of Jewish Heritage, located in lower Manhattan, is a living memorial to those who perished in the Holocaust. The Museum honors those who died by celebrating their lives – cherishing the traditions that they embraced, examining their achievements and faith, and affirming the vibrant...
in New York.
The Auschwitz synagogue was not the largest synagogue in Oświęcim. The better known Great Synagogue of Oświęcim was destroyed by the Nazis on November 29, 1939, and its remains were demolished. At the time of the Nazi invasion, more than half the population of Oświęcim was Jewish. The community was more than 400 years old and there were more than 20 synagogues in the city. The last native Jew of Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
died in 2000. At present, a lone Jewish woman from Belgium lives near the camp, dedicating her life to memorializing the Shoah. Oświęcim also has an old Jewish cemetery open to visitors.