Wolf Popper Synagogue
{{Short description|Former synagogue, now cultural center, in Kraków, Poland}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Wolf Popper Synagogue
| native_name = {{langx|pl|Synagoga Poppera (Bociana)}}
| native_name_lang =
| image = Wolf Popper Synagogue, 16 Szeroka street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Poland.jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
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| caption = The former synagogue, now cultural center, in 2020
| religious_affiliation = Judaism {{small|(former)}}
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| rite = Nusach Ashkenaz
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| organisational_status = {{ubl|Synagogue {{small|(1625–1965)}}|Cultural center {{small|(since 1965)}}}}
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| functional_status = {{ubl|Inactive {{small|(as a synagogue)}};|Repurposed}}
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| location = 16 Szeroka Street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
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| country = Poland
| map_type = Poland Lesser Poland Voivodeship
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| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the former synagogue
in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
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| coordinates = {{coord|50|03|09|N|19|56|55|E|source:cswiki_region:PL_type:city(800000)_type:landmark|display=it}}
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| architecture_type = Synagogue architecture
| architecture_style = Baroque
| founded_by = Wolf Popper
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| year_completed = 1620
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| materials = Stone
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| footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://cja.huji.ac.il/browser.php?mode=set&id=47312 |title=Wolf Popper (Bocian) Synagogue in Kraków |work=Historic Synagogues of Europe |publisher=Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem |date=n.d. |access-date=31 July 2024 }}
}}
The Wolf Popper Synagogue ({{langx|pl|Synagoga Poppera (Bociana)}}) is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at 16 Szeroka Street, Kazimierz, in Kraków, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of Poland.
Founded by the eponymous Wolf Popper and completed in 1620, the synagogue served as a house of prayer until it went into decline after the passing of its founder and chief benefactor. The former Popper Synagogue serves as bookshop and also as an art gallery in the women's area upstairs.{{cite web |work=Adam Mickiewicz Institute |url=http://edit.diapozytyw.pl/en/site/slady_i_judaica/krakow/Synagoga_Poppera |title=The Popper Synagogue |date= |access-date= }}
Architecture
The Wolf Popper Synagogue was one of the most splendid Jewish houses of prayer in the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. Its entrance was once adorned with openwork doors depicting four animals: an eagle, a leopard, a lion, and a buck deer, which symbolize the main traits of a devout man. The synagogue featured porches, annexes, Aron Kodesh, rich furniture. and decorations.
History
Wolf Popper, nicknamed "The Stork" for having been able to stand on one leg when lost in deep thought, founded the synagogue in 1620.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-14 |title=Jewish Krakow - Wolf Popper |url=http://www.jewishkrakow.net/en/synagogues/wolf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214052732/http://www.jewishkrakow.net/en/synagogues/wolf |archive-date=2008-02-14 |access-date=2022-11-05 }} He financed its construction towards the end of his life. Popper made his fortune in large-scale international trade in cloth and saltpetre (main ingredient in the making of gunpowder), and eventually became Kazimierz's richest banker with a fortune reaching 200,000 zloty, making him one of the richest men in Europe.
The Popper family lost much of its wealth following Wolf Popper's death in main part due to historical wars, local epidemics, fires, and costly tributes of allegiance. The once-grand synagogue never again enjoyed the wealth of its original sponsor, who was the only person that could prevent its slow but unrelenting decline. The rich interior was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II.{{cite web |work=Jewish Virtual Library |url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Cracow.html |title=Bociana or Popper’s Synagogue - ul Szeroka 16 |date= |access-date= }} Its Arabesque doors were moved to the Wolfson Museum in Jerusalem.
In 1965, the Jewish Council handed over the building to the communist authorities. In the ensuing renovation, most traces of its previous religious role were erased and the Old Town Youth Cultural Centre (YCC) was established in its place. At present, the Centre is a vibrant and busy place with long-running programs, educational activities, art studio, and classes in Jewish dance. The YCC Study Workshop on Jewish History and Culture, is an initiative that began in 1995 as the first of its kind in Poland. Art classes are designed to widen the students' knowledge of symbolism and artistic motifs in Jewish art. An annual competition in art and photography is being held there as well as lectures on Jewish Kazimierz, the Holocaust, and a series of film showings.
Notable members
- Edward Mosberg and family{{cn|date=July 2024}}
Gallery
File:Wolf Popper Synagogue, Entrance gate, 16 Szeroka street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Poland.jpg|Inner courtyard with exit to Szeroka Street
File:Wolf Popper Synagogue, interior, 16 Szeroka street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Poland.jpg|Interior
File:Wolf Popper Synagogue, interior1, 16 Szeroka street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Poland.jpg|Interior with gallery
File:Wolf Popper Synagogue, commemorative plaque, 16 Szeroka street, Kazimierz, Kraków, Poland.jpg|Commemorative plaque in Polish and English language
See also
{{stack|{{portal|Judaism|Poland}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Popper Synagogue of Kazimierz, Kraków}}
- {{cite web |author=Strzala, Marek |url=http://www.krakow-info.com/synagogs.htm |title=Synagogues of the Kazimierz district |work= |date= |access-date= }}
- {{cite web |author=Kalemba, Aneta |url=http://weblogs.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/poland3/2004/12/21 |title=Poland: Online presentation |date=21 December 2004 |access-date= }}
- {{cite web |author= |publisher=Steven Spielberg's Righteous Persons' Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226155830/http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/CJA/NL13-Poland.htm |archive-date=2007-02-26 |title=Exploring the Synagogues of Poland |url=http://www.hum.huji.ac.il/CJA/NL13-Poland.htm |date= |access-date= }}
- {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.krakow.jewish.org.pl/index.php?lang=e |title=The Jewish Community of Krakow |work= |date= |access-date= }}
- {{cite web |author= |work=The New York Times |title=Sir Isaac and Lady Edith Wolfson Museum |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/middle-east/israel/jerusalem/attraction-detail.html?vid=1154654611889 |date= |access-date= }}
- {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293983-d320891-Reviews-Wolfson_Museum-Jerusalem.html |title=The Wolfson Museum |work=Trip Advisor |date= |access-date= }}
{{Synagogues in Poland}}
{{Jews and Judaism in Poland}}
Category:17th-century synagogues in Poland
Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Poland
Category:Baroque architecture in Poland
Category:Baroque synagogues in Poland
Category:Cultural centers in Poland
Category:Former synagogues in Poland
Category:Holocaust locations in Poland