Isaac Jacobowicz Synagogue

The Isaac Synagogue, also known as the Ajzyk Synagogue, stands in Kraków's Kazimierz, on the corner of Kupa and Izaaka streets. It was built in 1638-1644 and for many years was regarded as the most impressive and richest synagogue in the city. Today it is open for visits, concerts and educational programmes.

Founder and construction

The founder was Isaac Jacobowicz, a merchant and leader of the Jewish community of Kazimierz. Among the named founders is also his wife Brajndla, mentioned in an inscription. The consent of King Władysław IV was obtained on 30 April 1638, and construction was delayed by the opposition of the abbot of a nearby monastery.

The Italian architect Giovanni Trevano is regarded as the designer, and some sources also name Jan Laitner. The building was entered in the heritage register in 1974.

Architecture and interior

It is a late Baroque brick building on a rectangular plan. The main prayer hall measures 17.8 by 11.4 m and has a barrel vault with stucco decoration. A five-arch colonnade with Tuscan columns separates it from the women's gallery.

During conservation work in the 1980s and 1990s, polychromes with liturgical texts in ornamental frames were discovered. The Aron ha-kodesh (Torah ark) with the tablets of the Decalogue topped by a crown was also reconstructed.

Occupation and post-war history

During the German occupation the interior was devastated and valuable furnishings were destroyed, including the ornate bimah. According to the Wikipedia entry, on 5 December 1939 the head of the community, Maksymilian Redlich, was ordered to burn the Torah scrolls. He refused and was shot.

After the war the building served as a warehouse, in 1946 its conversion into a Catholic church was considered, and in the 1950s and 1960s it housed an artists' association studio. After a fire in 1981, the Jewish community regained the synagogue in 1989. Conservation lasted from 1983 to 1996, and in 1997 the synagogue was opened to visitors.

The legend of Isaac's treasure

A folk tale is linked to the founder, not a confirmed historical fact. According to the legend, a mysterious voice told Isaac to look for treasure under a stone bridge in Prague. The search yielded nothing, until a soldier he met told him that he had dreamed of a treasure hidden under Isaac's stove in Kazimierz. After returning, Isaac took the stove apart and found the treasure, which was to finance the synagogue and his trade.

Nearby

About 100 m away stands the Old Synagogue. The Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory is a little over a kilometre away.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Jakuba 21, Kraków, Kazimierz (Old Town).
• Check visiting hours and the rules of entry before your visit with the site's administrator, as no official website was identified.
• The building is a place of worship, and appropriate dress and behaviour are required.