2023 was a year of adversity, and a year of hardship, but also a year of joy and inspiration and growth. As we reflect on the past 12 months, we wanted to share some important moments with you - our friends and supporters from around the world. We are happy to be on this challenging, complicated, and ultimately meaningful and rewarding journey with you.
Am Yisrael Chai!
January
2023 started with an unprecedented visit to the JCC. On the 78th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, we were honored to welcome a U.S. government delegation led by the Second Gentleman, Douglas Emhoff, to our Friday night Shabbat dinner. The Second Gentleman joined us alongside other distinguished guests, including Israeli and US representatives and Holocaust survivors.
February
As February unfolded, a solemn milestone was marked - one year since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, we participated in a march through the streets of Krakow, underscoring our ongoing commitment to stand united with Ukraine in the face of adversity.
Our JCC continues to provide support to displaced Ukrainians while simultaneously sending aid into Ukraine. In February 2023, we received a gift from one of the Ukrainian battalions we had supported with medical supplies - a Ukrainian flag signed by members of the unit, hand-sown by a daughter of one of the soldiers.
March
In March we had a really special Purim celebration. We had the honor of hosting members of Hillel from various regions of Ukraine, Germany, and Belarus. Almost 40 people from Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, and Odessa traveled hundreds of miles to Krakow to celebrate together with us.
One Ukrainian Hillel member mentioned that, for the Ukrainians, it was their first time in over a year that they had been out after 11 o'clock, because of their wartime curfew, and they were so happy to join us in one of the only normal experiences they have had since the war began.
The main theme of the Purim celebration at the JCC was the rainbow. It was not just another meeting or celebration but an act of unity and support for all members of our diverse community.
April
In April, JCC Krakow published an album by our long-time friend and photographer Chuck Fishman. "80 Years Later: JCC Krakow’s Response to the War in Ukraine" documented our community's efforts in providing assistance to displaced Ukrainians.
Our Passover celebrations this year had us welcome hundreds of community members from Poland and Ukraine. We even developed a new recipe combining the traditional matzo ball soup with Ukrainian borscht.
On Yom Hashoah, thousands of people commemorated the victims of the Holocaust by marching from Auschwitz to Birkenau during March of the Living. JCC Krakow welcomed over 2,000 MOTL participants from around the world who visited us in 2 days!!! to learn about contemporary Jewish life in Poland and meet our community.
May
In May, we celebrated JCC Krakow’s 15th birthday! We invited our community as well as the Ukrainians that we’ve been helping to the Paszkówka Palace, where we’ve been running a housing facility for the displaced since April 2022. The birthday was an opportunity for us to thank our members and clients for being part of the JCC family as well as to honor the JCC Krakow staff.
June
At the beginning of June we celebrated Holocaust Survivor Day. What started as an idea in our JCC during the COVID pandemic in 2020 has since expanded into an international holiday. A day (June 4th) to celebrate survivors' lives, thank them for their contributions and their lessons, and respond to help survivors in need today. Here in Krakow, we celebrated Holocaust Survivor Day with a special Shabbat dinner for our survivors, in honor of long-time JCC friends Marcia and Mark Miller. We even incorporated the Atlanta, Georgia survivors community, by beginning the evening with a shared ZOOM program.
July
End of June and beginning of July was time for one of the most important events at JCC - Ride For The Living! This year 200 participants rode with us from Auschwitz-Birkenau to JCC Krakow, among them US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, US Consul General Erin Nickerson and Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich. We started the ride alongside Marcel Zieliski and Bernard Offen, two Holocaust Survivors. We paid respects to victims of the Shoah, but also celebrated the revival of the Jewish life in Poland. After the ride, we met at a record-breaking Shabbat dinner organized during the Ride and the Jewish Culture Festival with 750 participants.
August
In August, JCC Krakow welcomed two JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps Fellows. Jake Wisnik and Isaac Lichtman began their (at least) 10-month fellowship in Krakow and joined the JCC team to help us take care of our community, provide support to Ukrainians and Israelis, and teach us a thing or two about the Jewish community in the US. Thank you fellas! This year marked the 10th year that the JCC is part of the Entwine Fellowship program - we are so thankful to all our previous fellows: Justin, Jessica, Jennifer, Jenny, Gaby, Ryan, Klementyna, Jordana, and Dalia!
September
In September JCC Krakow rang in the new year with 5 Rosh Hashanah dinners for over 275 community members. We had dinners for our families with young children, Holocaust survivors, Hillel students, and then topped off the night with two dinners for everyone else. Thank you to everyone who joined Rosh Hashanah and all other High Holiday celebrations this year.
October
Following the October 7th terror attacks in Israel, we immediately knew we needed to do whatever we can to support Israelis. We created a support center for Israelis with kosher snacks, a play area for kids and work stations for Israelis who were stuck in Krakow. We also provided them with accommodation and psychological support, medications and health care services, and access to our Frajda kindergarten. Since October 7, our JCC has been serving dozens of displaced Israeli families in Krakow and will continue to do so for however long it is necessary.
We also organized Poland's first demonstration in support of Israel after the Hamas attack. A joint initiative of JCC Krakow and the local Chabad Lubawicz community, it took place in the city's Main Square and attracted big crowds.
Am Yisrael Chai!
On the one month commemoration of the terror attacks in Israel, our community was joined by visiting Israelis and representatives of the U.S. Consulate in Krakow to light 1,400 candles in the JCC’s courtyard, honoring the 1400 Israelis and others murdered by Hamas on October 7. The first candles were lit by U.S. Consul General of Krakow, Erin Nickerson, and 94 year-old Holocaust Survivor, Bernard Offen.
Earlier that day, we were honored to welcome the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. During his visit to JCC Krakow, Secretary Buttigieg learned about our core work rebuilding Jewish life in Krakow as well as our support for Ukrainian refugees, and displaced Israelis.
December
For Chanukah, we welcomed over 240 guests over 5 separate dinners to celebrate the first night. Now more than ever, the story of Chanukah, a miraculous example of Jewish resilience, must be told and celebrated. Of the 5 dinners, 1 was held for our Israeli members, including newly displaced Israelis.
We finished Chanukah with a march organized in response to the antisemitic incident carried out by one of the Polish Parliament Members. We took the streets in a solidarity march organized in cooperation with Chabad Krakow and the Krakow Association of Christians and Jews. This was a terrible and antisemitic incident, but what is more important to us is how Poland responded.
The year 2023, marked by our 15th anniversary, has not only been a reflection of our past accomplishments but also a testament to the resilience and vibrancy of our community. As we welcomed new members, celebrated significant milestones, and stood in solidarity against hate and intolerance, your role in these achievements has been invaluable.
We are profoundly thankful for your ongoing commitment, generosity, and the spirit of family you bring to JCC Krakow. It is with heartfelt appreciation that we look forward to continuing this journey with you, building a brighter, more inclusive future for all members of our community. Thank you for being an integral part of the JCC Krakow family.