ŁAŃCUT Jews lived in Łańcut already in the 16th century and the first record concerning their presence in the town dates back to 1554. Jewish community was established in the 17th century. Official restrictions on Jewish settlement in Łańcut, issued by owners of cities and the Republic of Poland rulers, caused initial growth of number of Jews in Łańcut slower then in the other places. In spite of these restrictions people of the Moses confession gradually merged into town's landscape. For some time Elimelech, son of Eleazar Lipman, later famous tzadik of Leżajsk lived in Łańcut. Also Jakub Icchak Horowitz known later as "The Seeing form Lublin " was active here. Łańcut is a place often visited by people interested in Jewish material culture. Close to the castle there is a synagogue from 18th century. Nowadays thanks to performed restoration works we can admire its impressive interior. There is an exhaustive description of this synagogue contained in a guide book "Where the Tailor Was a Poet... Polish Jews and Their Culture" written by Adam Dylewski. Here there is an excerpt: "In the main room there is a bimah situated right in the center. Its basic elements are four massive columns with richly carved capitals. The outer space above arches is filled with symbolic motives like deer's, menorahs. It is worth to look at vaulting of small dome inside the bimah. There is a motif of snake swallowing its tail that symbolizes eternity and immortality that foreshadows Messiah's times. Above the bimah biblical scenes like Temptation of Adam in Paradise , Sacrifice of Cain and Abel, the Noah's Ark and sacrifice of Isaac were painted in 1906. The second important spot in the synagogue is an Aron Ha-Kodes -, a niche in which Torah scrolls are kept closed with parokhet which is situated in the east wall. The most beautiful element of this niche is a symbol of priest - blessing hands made from colorfully painted stucco and decorated with a crown and plant ornament. The upper strip of the walls up to the bottom of vaulting arches is covered with the stucco from the second half of the 18 th century. They strike with their richness of plant and rocaille motives (stylized shells and conches typical for rococo style). A tangle of sophisticated bent lines hide animal figures. Above zodiac signs there are pictures of different holidays chosen to correspond with them. Charming green landscape above Gemini symbolizes Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) during which synagogues are decorated with green plants. View of the Temple and Jerusalem corresponds to Hannukah. Zodiac signs placed in medallions create a circle around prayer space. Worth noticing is lack of human presentations. Along the lover part of walls there is a Syrian moulding that is one of the oldest decorative motives in synagogues. Profiled and colored is raising slightly above the doors and Aron Ha-Kodesh. Under moulding there are arcades; in each there is a text of prayer placed. First prayers were written in the 18 th century the last ones just before the WW II. In the synagogue charts displaying the history of community in Łańcut and many rite items like Torah with its decorations (among others yad - used to point to the text during the Torah reading), menorah, censer, Seder plates, Hannukah menorah' and tallet can be seen". The synagogue is under the administration of Castle in Łańcut. It can be visited from the 1st of June to the 3 st of August, from Tuesday till Sunday between 10.30 AM and 4.30 PM . From the 1st of March till the 31st of May (except of days when museum is closed) and from the 1st of September till the 31st of October the synagogue can be visited between 9 AM and 3 PM if first reported in writing to the Museum Secretariat at least two days before planned arrival (e-mail: muzeum@zamek-lancut.pl, fax no. +48 17 225 20 12) and after receiving confirmation of date and hour of visit (admission fee - PLN 8). Unfortunately personal experience of author of this article proves that Castle office workers ignore private applications and do not respond to e-mails. Hence we strongly recommend to plan visit in the period between the 1st of June and the 31st of August. It is forbidden to take photographs in the synagogue. There are two Jewish cemeteries in Łańcut. The oldest one is located on the top of the hill in Moniuszki street. Till present only few matzevas and pieces survived. There are also two ohels there. Bigger one, on right side, protects grave of Naftali Cwi Horowic from Ropczyce, one of the most famous tzadiks in Galicia, pupil of famous Elimelech from Leżajsk, Menachem Mendel from Rymanów and Izrael from Kozienice, who died on the 8th of May 1827 . Naftali was an author of such books as "Ohel Naftali", "Zera Kodesh" and "Ajala Shelukach". His sons - Eliezer and Jakub - were leaders of Hassid communities in Dzików, Kolbuszowa and Malicz. Naftali Cwi Horowic died in Łańcut during his journey to Lublin. By his grave many Jews still leave small pieces of paper with their pleadings written on them. The second ohel was erected above grave of Eleazar from Łańcut, son of Cwi Elimelech, founder of Hassid dynasty in Dynów. He performed a Rabbi in Rybotycze, Strzyżów an Łańcut and since 1841 was a tzadik in Łańcut. He died on the 3rd of September 186 . Keys to entrance gate and ohels are kept by Ms Helana Kuźniar who lives in 17, Jagiellońska street. Her house is situated behind possession no 19. There is a concrete path leading to it. Although Miss Helena Kuźniar is always willing to show the cemetery, it would be nice to call her in advance (+48 17 225 21 42). The area of cemetery is enclosed and tided. The second Jewish cemetery in Łańcut was set up in 1860 in present Traugutta street. The necropolis was devastated by the Nazis. There are no gravestones over there. Only commemorative plate reminds about tragic fate of local Jews. Some matzevas from Jewish cemeteries are kept inside the synagogue. Text and photos: K. Bielawski |