Remah Synagogue and Cemetery, Krakow

The Remah Synagogue was founded in the mid-16th century on the initiative of a Jewish merchant who dedicated the prayer house in memory of his wife and in honour of his son, Moses Isserles (better known by the acronym “ReMA”). Isserles became one of the most important scholars in Ashkenazi Judaism, and his commentaries on Jewish law remain influential to this day. Although the first wooden building was destroyed by fire, a masonry synagogue rose in its place around 1557, and the structure standing today largely reflects that period.

The synagogue is modest in size — among the smallest historic synagogues in Kraków — yet its authenticity compensates for its scale. Inside, original elements survive: the stone Torah ark from the 16th century, a donation box near the doorway once collected alms, and, after recent conservation, colourful wall and ceiling paintings have been revealed, including biblical motifs and zodiac symbols.

Beside the synagogue lies the Old Jewish Cemetery, whose gate can be found behind and to the right of the building, along a wall filled with memorial plaques. The cemetery was founded between 1535 and 1551, making it one of the oldest surviving Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Over the centuries, it served as the burial ground for many of Kraków’s most prominent rabbis, scholars, and community members — among them Moses Isserles himself.

During World War II, many tombstones were removed or destroyed, and the site was extensively damaged. After the war, renewed efforts led to the restoration of numerous gravestones — today roughly 700 are visible, richly carved with Hebrew inscriptions and traditional Jewish symbols. Walking slowly among these weathered monuments, visitors may notice ornamental motifs such as crowns (symbolising virtuous lives), grapevine leaves (signifying wisdom and maturity), or carved vessels marking graves of members of the Levite community.

Because Remah remains a functioning religious site, visitors are encouraged to treat it with respect: modest dress, a quiet demeanour, and appreciation for its dual role as a place of prayer and a site of memory. For anyone interested in Jewish heritage or simply quiet spaces that invite reflection, Remah offers a deeply human experience — modest in scale, profound in meaning.