Krynica, despite mainly being a health-resort, is also publicly known as a meeting place for elite intelectualists and politicians. Unique character of the city and its dynamic development in the past had inspired an influx of Jewish people, who were first mentioned in documents dating back to the turn of the XVIII century. Each and every year even a few thousand Jewish-origin tourists were visitng Krynica and admiring its charms as well as taking advantage of its magnificent Spa values. Krynica’s increasing popularity was also motivated by the process of making Jewish community equal, which became more intense in the second half of the XIX century.
The most advancement of Jewish community in Krynica took place at the turn of the nineteenth century, when two synagogues were built. During the interwar period Jewish people held occupations in trade as well as in tourism, what is backed up by the fact that 6 out of 10 bed & breakfast entities in Krynica were owned by Jews.
II World War aggresively put an end to Jewish community in Krynica. Most of Jews were relocated to ghettos in Grybow, Nowy Sacz and Bobowa. In 1942 they were transported to death camps in which most of them died.
The most preserved tokens confirming the presence of Jews in the region are Jewish Cemeteries located in Krynica, Nowy Sacz and Muszyna. Furthermore, we must menton a Jewish Cemetery in Bobowa, where a Tsadik Dynasty Founder – Szlomo Halberstam I – is buried.
ŻYDZIWKRYNICY.COM - MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN KRYNICA-ZDROJ
CHAIM HALBERSTAM - THE FAMOUS TSADIK DYNASTY FOUNDER
BOBOV DYNASTY IN BOBOWA
JEWISH CEMETERY IN NOWY SACZ
NAFTALI HALBERSTAM - THE GRAND REBBE OF BOBOV