Jewish Center in Oświęcim

The Jewish Center in Oświęcim, operating since 2000, plays a key role in preserving the memory of the city's Jewish community and educating about Judaism, the Holocaust, and human rights. It offers tours of the historic Chewra Lomdei Misznajot Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, and the Kluger Family House. The synagogue, the only preserved Jewish house of prayer in Oświęcim, was built around 1913 and witnessed the tragic events of World War II, including the destruction of its interior by the Germans and its subsequent restoration in 2000. The Jewish Museum, located in the pre-war family home of the Kornreich and Dattner families, presents the history of Jews in Oświęcim over more than 400 years through rich photographic, documentary, and multimedia collections. Among the exhibits are lamps from the Great Synagogue and a register of Jewish residents who returned to the city after the war. The Kluger Family House, where Holocaust survivor Szymon Kluger lived, has been transformed into the museum café Cafe Bergson, which runs projects related to the history of Oświęcim and contemporary human rights issues. The Jewish Center actively engages the community by organizing educational workshops and study programs for various groups. Awarded for its contribution to the memory of Holocaust victims, the Center is an important place for reflection, prayer, and education on antisemitism and intolerance.