Something may be moving — or about to move — in efforts to restore the derelict synagogue in Grybów, southern Poland.
On a visit to the town this week, the Israeli ambassador to Poland, Zvi Rav-ner, examined the ruined building and discussed its plight with local officials, including the mayor, the president of the city council, the police chief and the president of the volunteer fire brigade.
As we reported in February, the synagogue, built in 1909 and long abandoned, has been hit by deliberately set fires several times in recent months. It is owned by the Krakow Jewish community. Regional authorities have allocated 45,000 zlotys (about $15,000) toward restoration of the building, but this is a drop in the bucket compared to the costs of full restoration, estimated at 4 to 5 million ($1.5 million).
In an interview with Iga Michalec for the local information portal Sądeczanin.info, quoted by Virtual Shtetl, Rav-ner said:
The synagogue used to be magnificent. It hurts to see it in such a bad condition. We have agreed here and during the talks with the Jewish Community in Krakow that something must be done in this matter. The synagogue needs to be restored and open for Grybów citizens and tourists, who are keen to visit this place. This is the case with Bobowa, for example. Why should Grybów be any different, especially if we remember that it used to be the heart of the Chasidic movement.
Virtual Shtetl writes that:
The engagement of the Israeli Ambassador could potentially help in finding a sponsor who would be willing to supply funds for the restoration of the synagogue in Grybow. Leasing the building to a company who would pay for the restoration is a possibility which is being considered by the management board of the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków at the moment.
Read full article on Virtual Shtetl
Read full article (in Polish) on sadeczanin.info