Historic Polish synagogue acquired through tender, to be restored after years of neglect

After years of neglect, the historic synagogue in Trzebinia, Poland, has been acquired through an international initiative aimed at restoring it to its original purpose and returning it to the Jewish community.

The plans include the restoration of the building, the establishment of a Jewish museum, and the creation of a hospitality center for visitors to the graves of revered rabbis and Hasidic leaders at the local Jewish cemetery.

The historic synagogue, located in Poland’s Silesian region, was returned to the Jewish people on Tuesday, after years of decay.

The Jewish community of Katowice relinquished its right to reclaim the building, after which the municipality put it up for sale through a tender process.

In response, a group of partners joined forces to prevent the property from being converted into a non-Jewish venue, and to ensure that it would be preserved as a site of Jewish historical significance.

The acquisition of the synagogue was made possible through cooperation among three parties: the Israeli delegation, led by Meir Bulka, known as the “Grave Hunter,” who heads J-NERATIONS, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage in Europe; Jacek Purski, director of Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalisation; and Marcin Majchrowicz, a businessman and philanthropist committed to preserving Jewish heritage in Poland’s Silesian region.

Community history  

The Jewish community in Trzebinia dates back to at least the 1500s, with a more prominent presence from the 1700s onward.

An independent Jewish community was established in the city in 1815, growing to its peak in 1921 when Jews accounted for 23% of Trzebinia's population.

Between the two World Wars, Trzebinia was home to four synagogues, a Talmud Torah, yeshivas, prayer houses, charitable institutions, and aid organizations.

Among the prominent rabbinical figures who served in the city were Rabbi Dov Berish Weidenfeld, known as the Gaon of Tchebinas, as well as Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, the second Rebbe of Bobov.

Adjacent to the synagogue is the Jewish cemetery, where rabbis and several spiritual leaders are buried.

However, the Holocaust destroyed the vibrant Jewish community. Many members of the community were deported to concentration camps and ghettos, and numerous residents of the city were murdered at Auschwitz.

The Jewish community’s properties were destroyed, leaving the surviving synagogue as the only remaining testimony to the city's Jewish heritage.

“The synagogue, located just a 40-minute drive from Kraków and now returned to the Jewish people, will soon become another destination for Jews visiting the region,” said Meir Bulka.

“I am deeply moved that we have succeeded in preventing the desecration of Jewish religious heritage and in making a meaningful mark on the history of the Jewish people in Poland."

"This is not merely about saving a synagogue; it is also about taking responsibility for preserving the memory of an entire community.”

Polish synagogue restoration aims to preserve Jewish heritage for future generations

Jacek Purski, director of Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalization said that saving a synagogue is not purely about preserving a building, but about recognizing that Jewish life is "not only part of Poland’s past, but also part of its present and future."

Wherever possible, the partners said they will use historical documentation and archaeological evidence to recreate the site's appearance before the Holocaust.

In the coming days, a foundation will be established in Poland to manage the restoration of the synagogue, and it will be possible to participate through donations and investments.