Jewish Community of Konin
The first written evidence of Jews settling in Konin dates to 1397. A wooden synagogue was built in 1763-1766. The current standing building was built in 1829. The first rabbi in Konin was Rabbi Amsterdam, between 1810-1849. In 1918, the first Jewish gymnasium was established. The community had a beit midrash, mikvaot, synagogues, a few prayer halls (such as "Hevra Tehilim"), active youth movements, a library, a Jewish elementary school and a Jewish high school. In November 1941, 3000 Jews of Konin were murdered by the German SS in the forests of Kaziemesh (Kleczew), north of the city.
Read more about this topic: Konin
Famous quotes containing the words jewish and/or community:
“The exile is a singular, whereas refugees tend to be thought of in the mass. Armenian refugees, Jewish refugees, refugees from Franco Spain. But a political leader or artistic figure is an exile. Thomas Mann yesterday, Theodorakis today. Exile is the noble and dignified term, while a refugee is more hapless.... What is implied in these nuances of social standing is the respect we pay to choice. The exile appears to have made a decision, while the refugee is the very image of helplessness.”
—Mary McCarthy (19121989)
“The heroes of the world community are not those who withdraw when difficulties ensue, not those who can envision neither the prospect of success nor the consequence of failurebut those who stand the heat of battle, the fight for world peace through the United Nations.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (19111978)