Shtetl Mszana Dolna in bicultural Krakow

On 9.06.2024 a group of residents of our city went with us on a tour of the Jewish traces of Krakow, among which are also our own, Mszana's. First of all, in the cemetery on Miodowa Street, where the first two rabbis of Mszana Dolna, father and son, Josef and Natan David Holländer, are buried. The second place of importance to us is the mass grave of the Holocaust Victims, murdered in Tymbark in the fall of 1942. Among them were 16-year-old Naftali Zins and the brothers of survivor Leib Gatterer, Isaac and Wolf. We don't know more names, but it is likely that up to several dozen people associated with our town may rest there. At their graves we recited Psalms, laid pebbles brought from Mszana Dolna, and lit memorial candles.

Then it was the turn of Kazimierz in Cracow; we visited the Remuh synagogue and cemetery, strolled through the streets among the charming courtyards, passages and numerous synagogues. Finally, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Broo on St. Catherine Street.

The purpose of the tour was to show the multiculturalism of the city and the region, so further steps led us to Wawel Hill, the Market Square and the historical buildings of the Jagiellonian University. We also passed many of Krakow's churches, including non-Catholic ones. We ended the tour at the Florian Gate.

We are pleased that our 34-person group of participants were able to learn about the important historical contexts of Krak's city and its ties to the Jewish (and other) history of our city.
The tour was part of the 3rd edition of our educational project “The Story of Bicultural, Pre-War Mszana Dolna. Edition 2024." Its next item is this Friday, 14.06.2924 at 17:00 at the City Hall; details coming soon
„Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage under the Programme of the National Centre for Culture EtnoPolska. Edition 2024”. 

Photo by Rachela Antosz-Rekucka, Anna Pękała, Marek Rekucki