Kazimierz Dolny
The town of Kazimierz Dolny is located 50 Km East of Lublin, on the bank of the Vistula River. It is a small, picturesque town of 2,300 inhabitants in the midst of natural forests and attracts many artists and writers. In the 14th century the town belonged to King Kazimierz Wielki The Great who constructed a castle on a nearby hill. The town prospered due to investments by Kaimierz The Great and taxes collected from travelers on the Vistula. Today most townspeople earn a living from tourism, small hotels and hostels.
Click on photo to enlarge
The town of Kazimierz Dolny is located 50 Km East of Lublin, on the bank of the Vistula River. It is a small, picturesque town of 2,300 inhabitants in the midst of natural forests and attracts many artists and writers. In the 14th century the town belonged to King Kazimierz Wielki The Great who constructed a castle on a nearby hill. The town prospered due to investments by Kaimierz The Great and taxes collected from travelers on the Vistula. Today most townspeople earn a living from tourism, small hotels and hostels.
Click on photo to enlarge
The small town square was the Jewish Square and in it they conducted trade in wheat, barley and other agricultural yield. Kazimierz The Great married Estherke, who ran away from home in order to marry him. Estherke bore 4 children; two daughters who were brought up Jewish and two sons who were raised Christians. This arrangement was in everyones liking, Kazimierz the Great treated the Jews well and Estherkas name became popular all over the kingdom.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
In the 17th century the Jewish Square was destroyed in battles between Cossacks and Swedes and the wooden synagogue was burnt down. The reigning king rebuilt it of stone. Today the synagogue building serves as a theater. Ichezkel Taub established the Kazimierz Hassidim Sect in the 18th century. The Jewish community of Kazimierz Dolny was liquidated in the Holocaust. The synagogue building survived after being converted into stables.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Climbing to the top of the Hill of the Three Crosses enables a beautiful view of the town, the Vistula River basin and Kazimierz the Greats castle.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
The old Jewish cemetery was completely destroyed. The Nazis used the tombstones for paving. Polish workers, who were ordered to erase the writing from the tombstones, positioned the tombstones with the writing downward in order to preserve it.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
In 1985 some 600 tombstones were gathered by the municipality and used for erecting a monument in memory of the Jewish heritage in the region.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
At the memorial site we read a Testimony Page written by Rosa Zilber at Yad Vashem. Rosa was a resident of Kazimier Dolny and tragically lost her daughter, Rachel, who was murdered by the Nazis. Rosa asks anyone visiting the site to remember her daughter. We conducted a memorial service with Rachel in our minds. It was a very emotional moment. We have Grandmother Shoshanas brothers in our thoughts. They did not survive either.
Click on photo to enlarge
Click on photo to enlarge
Lublin
Lublin was an important town for commerce. The old city was the center of Polish nobility until the 16th century. Its buildings are decorated in Renascence style. In the 16th century some 2,500 Jews lived here. Lublin hosted Jewish autonomy and Jews were their own tax collectors. The first Jewish printing press was established here and Talmudic books were dispersed from here to all of Europe.
Click on photo to enlarge
Lublin was an important town for commerce. The old city was the center of Polish nobility until the 16th century. Its buildings are decorated in Renascence style. In the 16th century some 2,500 Jews lived here. Lublin hosted Jewish autonomy and Jews were their own tax collectors. The first Jewish printing press was established here and Talmudic books were dispersed from here to all of Europe.
Click on photo to enlarge
New gallery comment: requires approval
Name:
Link:
To foil spammers, enter this code: in this box: Code unreadable?
in this box: Code unreadable?