Shabbat Beauty – Kupa Synagogue In Krakow

Kupa Synagogue (Polish: Synagoga Kupa) is a synagogue in Krakow, Poland. It is located in the former Jewish quarter of Kazimierz developed from a neighborhood earmarked in 1495 by King Jan I Olbracht for the Jewish community, which has been transferred from the budding Old Town… The Synagogue was founded in 1643 by the Kazimierz Jewish district’s kehilla (a municipal form of self-government), as a foundation of the local kahal… The Synagogue is richly decorated with paintings from the 1920′s featured on walls, the ceiling and in the women’s section. The depictions include the holy places of Hebron, Tiberias, and Jerusalem. There are also Biblical scenes and illustrations to verses in Psalms, such as the painting showing people standing by the rivers of Babylon (Psalms 137:1-3), or musical instruments (Psalms 150:3-6). Another painting depicts Noah’s ark including the figure of Noah… The artist, although unidentified, was clearly professional.