Izaak Synagogue

Welcome to the Izaak Synagogue. You may have noticed that no two synagogues in Kraków look the same. Just like churches, synagogues reflect a range of architectural styles. This one is distinctly Baroque, dating back to 1644. It was the largest synagogue in Kazimierz and considered the wealthiest for many years. It’s named after its generous patron, Isaac the Rich, the king’s banker, who lived up to his name. The hardest part of the project was convincing the Bishop of Kraków. The synagogue was to be built near Christian homes, and priests giving last rites to the dying would have to pass in front of the Jewish synagogue — which was problematic at the time. Despite the controversy, the synagogue was built by an Italian architect in the 17th century. Over the centuries, the synagogue endured looting and damage, the most devastating during the Nazi occupation. After the war, it was briefly turned into a Roman Catholic National Church, but strong protests from the Jewish community brought an end to this. It was later used by a group of Polish artists before falling into ruin and catching fire. In 1989, the synagogue was finally returned to Kraków’s Jewish community — though it required a massive restoration. The synagogue reopened to the public in 1997, as a Jewish Education Centre. It now hosts concerts, talks, and exhibitions of archival documents highlighting Jewish life in Kazimierz before the war.