In the Third Polish Republic
(1990 – present)
During the Third Polish Republic, the Jewish community in Wrocław experienced a renaissance, rebuilding its institutions, promoting culture and education, and engaging in intercultural dialogue. Thanks to these efforts, Wrocław has become an important center of Jewish life in Poland, preserving the memory of the past and looking to the future with hope for further development.
In the Third Polish Republic.
Reconstruction.
The victory of the Solidarity trade union over communism in 1989 brought about the revival of a sovereign and democratic Poland. Polish Jews and people of Jewish origin also made a significant contribution to this. The regained freedom of speech and association made it possible to gradually, although with difficulty, rebuild the Jewish religious and cultural community in Poland.
In 1993, at the initiative of a group of young Jews led by Jerzy Kichler, the Jewish Religious Community of Wrocław was established. In addition to the 43 Jews – members of its predecessor, the Wrocław Moses Congregation – new members joined, rediscovering their Jewish identity. Today, the Community (since 2006, the Branch of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities of the Republic of Poland in Wrocław) has 327 members.
The Synagogue under the White Stork.
On September 24, 1995, within the walls of the completely devastated White Stork Synagogue, 400 people participated in the first religious service in years, commemorating the Rosh Hashanah holiday. It was also the first time that the White Stork Synagogue Choir, conducted by Stanisław Rybarczyk, performed.
Thanks to the efforts of the Municipality and with the support of Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, the Archbishop of Wrocław, and the Ministry of Culture, the White Stork Synagogue was returned to its rightful owners on April 10, 1996.
The revitalized municipality.
The first rabbis of the revitalized community were Aron Hoffberg (2000–2001) and Ivan Caine (2002–2003), both from the USA and representing conservative Judaism. Since 2006, the Jewish community of Wrocław and Silesia has been led by Rabbi Isaac Rapoport, an Orthodox rabbi from Sweden. He is also supported by Dawid Ringel, a respected member of the Wrocław Jewish community and cantor, who has lived in Wrocław since 1945.
The community (and since 2006, the Branch of the Jewish Religious Community in Poland) has been led by the following chairpersons: Jerzy Kichler, Ignacy Einhorn, Karol Lewkowicz, and currently Józef Kożuch. The community, among other things, takes care of organizing Sabbath services, Jewish holidays, the operation of a kosher canteen, assistance to the elderly and the sick, and ensuring burials in accordance with Jewish requirements in the Jewish cemetery. Together with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the community organizes the activities of a Sunday school and a youth club. The community participates in interfaith cooperation within the so-called District of Four Temples, where Jews cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect with their Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox neighbors. Since 1946, the Jewish Religious Community in Legnica has been operating continuously, with its own prayer house and kosher canteen.
Social and cultural life.
The first rabbis of the revitalized community were Aron Hoffberg (2000–2001) and Ivan Caine (2002–2003), both from the USA and representing conservative Judaism. Since 2006, the Jewish community of Wrocław and Silesia has been led by Rabbi Isaac Rapoport, an Orthodox rabbi from Sweden. He is also supported by Dawid Ringel, a respected member of the Wrocław Jewish community and cantor, who has lived in Wrocław since 1945.
The activities of the Community (and since 2006, the Branch of the Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Poland) have been successively led by the following chairpersons: Jerzy Kichler, Ignacy Einhorn, Karol Lewkowicz, and currently Józef Kożuch. The Community, among other things, takes care of organizing Sabbath services, Jewish holidays, the operation of a kosher canteen, assistance to the elderly and the sick, and ensuring burials in accordance with Jewish requirements in the Jewish cemetery. Together with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Community organizes the activities of a Sunday school and a youth club. The Community participates in interfaith cooperation within the so-called District of Four Temples, where Jews cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect with their Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox neighbors. Since 1946, the Jewish Religious Community in Legnica has been operating continuously, with its own synagogue and kosher canteen.
