Sunday, April 11th, 1999 – Krakow, Poland
Arrived in Krakow around 4PM local time, 10AM EST. Was bussed from plane to airport where I went through customs and waiting around for our luggage, I met our guide, Peter, and got on the Orange Bus, 105.
I recall that Krakow did not seem equipped for a 747, and they had a single man driving the luggage cart and unloading it, then going back for more. And when we tried to assist in unloading, we were stopped by the armed guards. In 1999, the airport had less than half a million enplanements. It had over 4 million in 2015. The airport has a variery of discount carriers, and a new terminal opened in 2015. The older terminal is being remodeled.
Jewish Quarter – Isaac Synagogue
We arrived in the Jewish Quarter of Krakow and walked to the Isaac Synagogue, which is over 300 years old and now a museum. We all davened minchah there and Chaim Lauer spoke of his feelings and mentioned the Song of the Day for Wednesdays. Then one of the Rabbis, a survivor, I think it was Moskowitz, spoke of his feelings, of how all Jewish buildings would someday be in Israel. He quoted off the wall on which fading words were written from the Midrash.
He urged us to experience and capture a moment. We then sang Kol Haolam Kulo, which was written in Krakow, and returned to the bus.
The Isaac Synagogue was built in 1644 in the Kazimierz district of Krakow. The synagogue was funded by Isaac Jakubowicz, aka Isaac the Rich, who is buried in the Remuh Cemetery. The Gestapo destroyed the interior of the building during the war, after which it was used by a theater company, an exhibition space, and ultimately renovated. I cannot recall the details of who allegedly wrote Kol Haolam Kulo in Krakow allegedly. The words are based on a quote from Reb Nachman of Breslov. I believe the composer of the tune we sung was Shlomo Carlebach.
