The Old Synagogue situated by Szeroka Street is the oldest preserved Jewish temple in Poland. Exact date of its foundation is unknown – one of the legends says that it was king Kazimierz the Great who gave permission for its construction. Architectonically the building relates to Gothic synagogues from Worms, Regensburg and Prague. In 1570 the synagogue was remodeled into its Renaissance form by Florence architect Mateo Gucci, who made an unusual decision to leave it’s Gothic groin vault intact. The synagogue was not only religious but also administrative and social center of life in Kazimierz. Despite war damage pieces of the original design survived, namely the framing of aron hakodesz – the Torah Ark (which acts as a container for the holy Tora scrolls) as well as a money box with the date 1407 engraved on it (possibly a date to be connected with the building’s origins).

At the center of the large hall there’s a bima (‘platform’ in Hebrew), an inherent part of every synagogue, from which Tora is read and teachings are recited. It’s functions are similar to these of a Christian pulpit. The Old Synagogue’s bima is particularly beautiful – it consists of a wrought iron canopy placed on a 12-sided stone base. Unfortunately this marvel of Kraków’s craftsmanship created in the 16^th century didn’t make it to our times, but in the fifties it was faithfully recreated.

Currently the Old Synagogue is a department of the Kraków History Museum and it houses a very interesting exhibition dedicated to the synagogue’s interior design as well as holidays and everyday life of Jews throughout history. The museum also periodically puts together theme exhibitions.