The 19th Century Chevras Tehillim Shul in Krakow has been rented out and is now being used as a disco. Chabad Shaliach Rabbi Eliezer Gur Aryeh is quoted by the daily HaMevaser lamenting the “major mistake” by those involved in the decision to rent out the shul to be used in such a fashion. The rav fears that in addition to the desecration of the shul, it sets a dangerous precedent regarding other shuls in Eastern Europe.
Local Jewish leaders were shocked, telling the media they were unaware that such a deal was made, pained over seeing opening night and the presence of a DJ and dancing in the holy building. The president of the local Jewish community, Tadeusz Jakubowicz, told the local media the decision stemmed from the difficult financial realities facing the community and their inability to maintain the building. He added that for years they tried renting the building to Jewish organizations but despite a number of promises, nothing occured.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Its easy for the Chabad shaliach to criticize but I don’t see where he offered the funds needed to maintain the building. The article clearly states that there had been efforts to find a more appropriate tennant but none of the yiddeshe mosdos came forward. It would be nice to maintain all the pre-War shuls and yeshivos in Eastern Europe but thats not going to happen so at least the building will get a new life, albeit not as a makom kodesh. I’m sure if someone wants to buy out the disco’s lease and come forward with the funds, YWN editors can put the donor in contact with Reb Jakubowicz in Krakow.
for the record: The Rav in Krakow’s name is R Eliezer Gurari and he’s a real talmid chacham.
what is left out from the story and is important is who is responsible for the shul and who did the renting it out?
For the record they rented out the shul not KNOWING that it was going to be used as a disco, only after the contract was signed did the tenents advise what their plans were