Krakow rabbi spurs Jewish revival
BBC News, Krakow, Poland
Poland was home to one of the largest and most important Jewish communities in the world before World War II.
Ninety percent of that community was wiped out by the Nazis in the Holocaust.
Later, the communist authorities suppressed Jewish culture and most of the remaining survivors emigrated during party-led anti-Semitic campaigns.
But since communism collapsed in 1989, people have felt free to talk about their own Jewish past. Thousands of Poles have recently discovered they have Jewish roots.
Now, for the first time in decades, a rabbi has been appointed for the Jewish community in Krakow.
“There is huge potential here,” Rabbi Avraham Flaks told the BBC. “There are old people who need care and attention. There are young people with Jewish roots.
“They’re interested and want to rediscover their roots. A major part of my work will be with them.”
There are just 157 registered members of the Jewish community left in Krakow. Not enough to provide a Polish rabbi.
Family surprise
That is why Poland’s chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, himself an American, had to turn to the Shavei Israel foundation in Jerusalem to provide the Russian-born Mr Flaks.
“The vast majority of survivors following the Holocaust opted out of Poland after the war. The smaller group that did opt to remain often didn’t tell their children and grandchildren they were once Jewish,” said Rabbi Schudrich.