Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery Krakow

The Remuh Synagogue at Szeroka 40 is the smallest of Kazimierz's historic synagogues and the only one that has served as a regular house of prayer almost continuously since the 16th century. Beside it lies the old Jewish cemetery, founded in 1552, where Rabbi Moses Isserles is buried. Together they form the most important active Jewish religious site in Krakow.

What it is

This is a working Orthodox synagogue and a Renaissance-era cemetery in one walled enclosure on Szeroka Street, the historic centre of Jewish Kazimierz. The site is named after Rabbi Moses Isserles, known by the acronym Remuh, one of the most influential scholars of Jewish law. His rulings are still studied in yeshivas around the world, and his grave remains a place of pilgrimage.

History in brief

The synagogue was founded in the 1550s by Israel ben Josef, a royal banker, and named after his son, Rabbi Moses Isserles, who lived from about 1525 to 1572. The cemetery beside it served Krakow's Jewish community from 1552 until around 1800, when burials moved to the New Jewish Cemetery on Miodowa Street. During the Nazi German occupation the site was devastated and many tombstones were smashed or carried away. After the war, hundreds of Renaissance tombstones were recovered during excavations and restored to the grounds, while fragments too damaged to re-erect were set into a memorial wall along the Szeroka Street side, often called the wailing wall.

What to see

The prayer hall: small and plain, with historic furnishings and the quiet character of a space still used for worship rather than display.
The grave of Rabbi Moses Isserles: the most visited tomb in the cemetery, where pilgrims leave small stones and written prayers.
Renaissance tombstones: some of the finest 16th and 17th century Jewish funerary carving in Europe, with restored inscriptions and symbolic reliefs.
The wall of fragments: broken matzevot recovered after the war and assembled into a memorial wall along the street side of the cemetery.

Practical information

The site is open to visitors from Sunday to Friday and closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays; Friday hours are usually shorter, especially in winter. A modest entry fee supports the Jewish Community of Krakow, which runs the site; check current hours and prices with the community before you go, as they change with the religious calendar. Most visitors spend 30 to 60 minutes here. One ticket covers both the synagogue and the cemetery, entered through the same gate.

Getting there

Szeroka Street is about 1.5 km from the Main Square, a walk of roughly 20 minutes through the Old Town and along Miodowa Street; trams stop at Miodowa. The site pairs naturally with the Old Synagogue at the far end of the street and the Isaac Synagogue two blocks away. For the wider context of the district, see our page on the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, or cover the whole area comfortably on our Kazimierz electric cart tour.

Etiquette

Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. Men are asked to cover their heads in both the synagogue and the cemetery; paper kippot are available at the entrance. Keep your voice low, do not photograph worshippers, and follow the custom of leaving a small stone, rather than flowers, if you wish to pay respects at a grave.

Frequently asked questions

Who was the Remuh?

Rabbi Moses Isserles, known as the Remuh, was a 16th-century Krakow rabbi and one of the most important codifiers of Jewish law. His glosses on the Shulchan Aruch made that code usable for Ashkenazi Jews and are still studied today.

Is the Remuh Synagogue still active?

Yes. It is the main active synagogue of the Jewish Community of Krakow, with regular Shabbat services. That is why it closes to tourists on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Can you visit the cemetery?

Yes. The cemetery is part of the same site and is entered through the synagogue gate on Szeroka Street. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, like the synagogue.

What should I wear to visit?

Modest dress is expected: covered shoulders and knees for everyone, and a head covering for men. Paper kippot are usually provided at the entrance if you do not have your own.

How long do you need at the Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery?

Plan 30 to 60 minutes. The site is compact, but the tombstone carvings and inscriptions reward unhurried attention, and many visitors find it one of the most memorable stops in Kazimierz.