Kuzmir, in Polish: Kazimierz – the Jewish heart of Christian Krakow, the generous land of the Galician Jews.
In 1988, following the steps of the generations of the Jews, present here for more than five centuries, we came to Kazimierz, dedicating our Jewish Culture Festival to all of them . Since then, I have lived in this realm of time lost in a City whose soul is filled with Jewish eternity to the brim.
And to this bright soul in the dark picture of Kazimierz, that we dedicate this year’s 34th Jewish Culture Festival.
Janusz Makuch
Founder and Director of the Jewish Culture Festival
This year’s Jewish Culture Festival was a true celebration of Kazimierz – not the tourist attraction full of kitsch and nightlife, like hundreds of similar places around the world, but the real Kazimierz, whose heritage continues to shape our contemporary identity.
We brought out what is most important, most beautiful, and above all – most authentic in Kazimierz.
We created a space for all who love Jewish culture, who value genuine community, meaningful conversation, and who appreciate moments shared with others.
The festival was wonderful. First of all, I was delighted by the topic, which helped me settle into the here and now. Times are tough, and I needed to get away from big politics, government decisions, and wars, so as to focus on what’s around me and what’s close to me. Delving into Kazimierz’s past, the history of its residents, music, smells, and tastes made history meet the present once again. I feel that this edition of the Festival is extraordinary and that, despite all the turmoil going on around us, the participants have managed to save something most precious—the opportunity to meet each other..
I came back absolutely delighted, with new energy and zest for life. I had a great time and I am convinced that the atmosphere is unique. For a few days, Kazimierz completely changed. Suddenly, there were no more tipsy tourists, and the discos fell silent. On the streets, you could see Orthodox Jews and feel like my grandparents did before World War II…
I took part in diverse events and all of them were perfectly prepared and conducted. I learned a lot of new and important stuff about Jewish and Israeli culture, understood on broad terms. A very high intellectual thematic standard and diversity seem to be the most important features of the Festival..
(audience feedback from an anonymous satisfaction survey)
Just before the start of the 34th Jewish Culture Festival – on June 13, 2025 – the conflict between Israel and Iran entered a new phase: airstrikes and bombings on both sides led to the closure of Israeli airspace. As a result, the invited artists from Israel were unable to travel to Kraków for the 34th Jewish Culture Festival.
Consequently, we were forced to cancel a total of 10 events:
- 4 guided walks through Kazimierz with Rabbi Boaz Pash
- The concert “Shalom from Kazimierz”, which was to feature mainly Israeli artists (Boom Pam, Dudu Tassa, The Piyut Ensemble)
- The Ziryab Trio concert
- The Shabbat concert by Maya Belsitzman and Matan Ephrat with their band
- Two Israeli craft workshops
- A meeting with the Ambassador of Israel to Poland
For the same reason, four additional events had to be modified:
- The concert of Mordechai Gebirtig’s songs took place without Maya Belsitzman
- Rabbi Boaz Pash’s lecture was held online
- Instead of Rabbi Boaz Pash, the Torah portion by Ozjasz Thon was read by Prof. Michał Galas
- Israeli artists (one cantor and the cantors’ choir) were unable to participate in the Cantors’ Concert – they were replaced by musicians from Europe and the U.S., including Israeli performers who were abroad and unable to return to Israel
Additionally, the Ethnographic Museum in Kraków withdrew from organizing two lectures they had previously proposed for the 34th Jewish Culture Festival, as partners of the Shalom from Kazimierz concert. This decision was communicated to us just two days before the start of the festival, leaving us no opportunity to replace the canceled events.
