Trzebinia synagogue returns to Jewish owners

The historic synagogue in Trzebinia, Poland, changed hands on Tuesday. The building is now owned by a group of partners dedicated to Jewish heritage preservation.

This acquisition prevents the structure from being sold to a buyer who intended to use it for non-Jewish purposes. The municipality of Trzebinia listed the property for sale after the local Jewish community gave up its claim to the building.

The new ownership group consists of three specific individuals. Meir Bulka, who leads the organization J-NERATIONS, headed the Israeli delegation. Jacek Purski, the director of the Auschwitz Research Center on Hate, Extremism and Radicalisation, joined the effort. Marcin Majchrowicz, a businessman and philanthropist active in the Silesian region, completed the trio.

The partners have outlined specific plans for the site. They intend to restore the synagogue to its original purpose. A Jewish museum will be established within the building. Additionally, the group will create a hospitality center for visitors traveling to the nearby Jewish cemetery.

The cemetery holds the graves of several revered rabbis and Hasidic leaders. The synagogue is located just 40 minutes by car from Kraków. Bulka noted that the site will become another destination for Jews visiting the region.

The Jewish community in Trzebinia has deep roots. Records show a presence dating back to at least the 1500s, with a more prominent population emerging in the 1700s. An independent community was formally established in 1815.

By 1921, Jews made up 23% of the city's population. Between the two World Wars, the city supported four synagogues, a Talmud Torah, yeshivas, prayer houses, and charitable institutions.

Rabbi Dov Berish Weidenfeld, known as the Gaon of Tchebinas, and Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam, the second Rebbe of Bobov, served as prominent religious figures in the city. The Holocaust decimated this community, with many residents deported to ghettos and concentration camps. Numerous residents were murdered at Auschwitz.

The remaining synagogue is the only surviving structure from that era. The partners said they will use historical documents and archaeological evidence to guide the restoration. They aim to recreate the site's appearance as it existed before the Holocaust.

A foundation will be established in Poland to manage the project. The group stated that donations and investments will be accepted to fund the work.