History of the Jews in Kraków

The first recorded history of Jews in Kraków, Poland dates back to the 13th century. Jews began to own land and homes in their quarter and in neighboring quarters of the city in 1312.

The city was an important scholarly center during the Golden Age of Polish Jewry (c. 1500-1648) and was home to prominent rabbis such as Rabbi Joel Sirkes (1561-1640), known as the "Bach" after his halachic work (published 1631-1640); and Rabbi Moses Isserles (1530-1572/82), author of the Mapah, glosses on the Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Joseph Caro.

In 1648-1649 a peasants' revolt swept through southern Poland and Ukraine, surprising many because of its rapid spread and popular support. Because of the peasants' antisemitic leanings and because the Jews were city dwellers and not part of rural life, they were among those social groups targeted by the peasants. Thousands of Jews died, although their exact number remains unknown. In Jewish history this dramatic event is known as the ‘Gzeyres Takh Vetat’ massacre. Jewish life quickly restored after the revolt although the trust in a stable and secure existence for Jews in Krakow was lost.

Even after the events of 1648-1649 the city remained a Jewish center until the Holocaust. Rabbis included Rabbi Samuel Ehrenfeld (1835-1883), known as the Chassan Sofer. During the Nazi occupation, most of the 68,000 Jews of Krakow were expelled from the city (1940), 15,000 remained in the Kraków Ghetto until 1943 when they were deported to Belzec extermination camp, where they were murdered.

Today there are 25,000 Polish Jews living in Krakow as part of the ever-growing community. Experts believe this number is much larger as many Poles have Jewish roots and heritage but are unaware.

See also

• Kazimierz
• History of the Jews in Poland