Museum of Yeshiwa's History and Sages of Lublin
We are inviting you to the multimedia exhibition Museoum of Yeszywa's History and Sages of Lublin.
Exhibition shows history of Jewish people who were living in Lublin, life of Rabbi Meir Shapir and history of Yeshiwa Chachmei Lublin - the largest and most prestigious rabbinical school in the world.
In 2017 there was 130 anniversary of Rabbi Meir Shapir's birthday who was funder and rector of Yeshiwa. For commemoration of him and to spread the knowledge about polish and worlds famous Jew we decided to create this mulimedia exhibition which is located in the heatr of Yeshiwa in Lublin.
Factual material presents profile and achivments of Rabbi Meir Shapir, history of Yeshiwa besides the history of Jewish Lublin, enviroment and student's daily life.
We are sharing with you library where you can find the Yeshiwa's archives with prewar newspsppers, books and articles about Yeshiwa Chachmei Lublin.
As a guest of our hotel you can visit this unique exhibition for free.
Synagogue
Synagogue was built in 1930 together with the entire complex of Jeszywas Chachmej Lublin. In addition to her religious functions, she also served as a lecture hall and could accommodate more than 200 students. The 200 m² synagogue is located at the height of the second and third floors of the building's southern wing. The single-spatial main prayer room has a gallery for women with an entrance at the height of the third floor, which is also accessible by a separate staircase . It is supported by eight green, round, Corinthian columns, orbiting the room from three sides.
On the eastern wall there is aron ha-kodesz, in front of which there is an increase surrounded by forged railing, led to by five steps. On the left side of the cabinet there is a small tamid ner and a plaque with hebrew inscription, and on the right also a plaque with hebrew inscription, gold-plated menora and a commemorative plaque in English commemorating the extermination of Lublin Jews with the text: "This menorah, symbolizing the reborn State of Israel is a gift to jewish community in Lublin in memory of 40,000 Lublin Jews killed by Nazi Germans during World War II. On the day synagogue was rededicatet." In the middle there is a square, two-entry bima, also surrounded by forged railing.
The official opening of the synagogue after the renovation took place on February 11, 2007. It was the first celebration of its kind in post-war Poland, because the reconstruction of the interior of the synagogue was entirely financed by the Polish Jewish community. More than 600 people came to the ceremony, including representatives of the Polish and foreign Jewish communities, university, cultural and religious communities, Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, President of the Polish People's Republic Piotr Kadlčik, President of the Lublin branch Roman Litman, Ambassador of Israel Dawid Peleg, Archbishop Józef Życiński, President of Lublin Adam Wasilewski and representatives of the local authorities, Rabbi Yehiel Kaufman from Boro Park in Brooklyn, Yehuda Widawski, residents Lublin and other guests.
On November 4, 2008, during the 75th Annual Celebrations of the anniversary of rabbi Majer's death, the reconstructed Aron ha-kodesz was solemnly unveiled by Rabbi Israel Meira Lau. Members of the Jewish Religious Community in Warsaw, auxiliary bishop mieczysław Cisło, representatives of lublin's local authorities, came to the ceremony. The concert was performed by Yitzchak Meir Helfgot from the Park East synagogue in New York.
Old Jewish Cemetery in Lublin
The oldest Jewish cemetery in Lublin and one of the oldest in Poland, the Old Jewish Cemetery is home to tombstones (matzevot) that are among the most valuable Jewish monuments in Poland and Europe. The cemetery covers an area of approximately 1 hectare and contains over 60 matzevot, the oldest dating back to 1541.
Due to the establishment of a new Jewish cemetery and lack of space, the Old Cemetery was closed in 1830, with the last official burial taking place in the same year.
New Jewish Cemetery in Lublin
Located on Walecznych Street, the New Jewish Cemetery spans over 8 hectares and contains around 50 gravestones.
The cemetery is the resting place of the tzaddik Jakub Lejb Eiger, also known as Jehuda Lejb of Lublin. The ohel (tomb structure) built over his grave also housed the remains of Abraham Eiger, son of Jehuda; Israel Eiger, son of Abraham; and Cadok ha-Kohen, son of Jakub.
The cemetery also holds the graves of Lublin rabbis, including Joszua Heszel Aszkenazy, whose grandson was the historian Szymon Aszkenazy. It is estimated that since its establishment, over fifty thousand Jews have been buried here. The cemetery grounds were expanded several times through additional land acquisitions. The size of the cemetery is described by Majer Bałaban:
"Thousands of large and small gravestones appear beyond the cemetery’s rectangular wall, testifying to the size of the current Jewish community in Lublin."
Additionally, the cemetery is the resting place of Rabbi Meir Jehuda Szapira, a prominent religious and socio-political figure, and founder of the famous Lublin Talmudic school, Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, whose premises now house Hotel Ilan
