The Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC) is bringing kosher food back to this once-flourishing Jewish community and adding tefillos to its program in time for the annual March of the Living pilgrimage of tens of thousands of Jews from around the world starting April 23rd.

In addition to providing access to the shul and guided tours of its museum, the Auschwitz Jewish Center’s kosher concession will offer shelf-stable packaged kosher meals for purchase starting just after Pesach. The meals will be available for a nominal fee, and visitors wishing to reserve meals, participate in tours, or attend tefillos can contact the center via https://ajcfus.org/programs/#contact-popup.

Before the Holocaust, Oświęcim was home to a thriving Jewish community, which made up more than half of the population and boasted over 30 shuls. Today, the Auschwitz Jewish Center is the only surviving shul from that time and serves as both a museum and an educational center dedicated to fighting hatred and bigotry.

Since its reopening, the center has welcomed over 800,000 visitors eager to learn about the Jewish history of Oświęcim. Thousands of students, educators, first responders, and military personnel have participated in its impactful educational programs, which teach the lessons of the Holocaust from the very site of Auschwitz, the most iconic symbol of Nazi death and destruction.

“As more and more visitors come to Auschwitz to learn about the Holocaust, many also choose to visit the Auschwitz Jewish Center,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Chairman Simon Bergson. “Opening the city’s first post-war kosher concession was a natural step, ensuring that Kosher-observant visitors could pray or reflect in our synagogue while also enjoying a kosher meal.”

“It is remarkable that nearly a century ago, Oświęcim was more than half Jewish, home to over 30 synagogues, and had kosher butchers, bakeries, and eateries. Opening the town’s first post-war kosher concession is a powerful reminder of the resilience of Jewish life in this city. Our responsibility is to honor the legacy of the Jewish community that once thrived here and provide a space where visitors can learn about the past and experience a piece of that living history. This concession is more than just a place to eat – it symbolizes continuity, resilience, and hope for future generations,” said Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Director General Jack Simony.

The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the lessons learned from Holocaust the to combat hatred and bigotry through educational programs and by providing direct humanitarian aid to victims of mass atrocities. It supports survivors of genocides and other tragedies, including Ukrainian refugees and those impacted by Hamas’s October 7 attacks.