JCC KRAKOW
YEAR IN REVIEW
Welcome
On behalf of 1,100+ Jewish members—including Holocaust survivors, preschoolers, and individuals of all ages—plus hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees, I want to thank you for taking time to learn about JCC Krakow. We are the vibrant hub for a Jewish community that currently thrives where it once faced extinction due to the Holocaust and communist persecution. Since 2008, with the founding vision of King Charles, we have established a welcoming, pluralistic center. We supply innovative programming and support to a growing network of Polish and international Jews. With over 60 full-time staff and nearly 100 volunteers—the majority non-Jewish—plus hundreds of open events, we build bridges across sectarian divides to make Krakow warm, dynamic, and inclusive for all residents. We even operate a visitors’ center for the thousands of tourists who travel to Poland every week: we invite you, too, to come witness this inspiring story of hope, resilience, and courage with your own eyes.
In 2024, we expanded our offerings to meet the rapidly increasing needs. Notable additions included Cafe Hafuch, an affordable kosher option for observant members, international visitors, and the broader community; the Teen Common Room, an after-school lounge for teenagers in our BBYO Tapuzim club to connect; and the Rehovi family, our new Israeli shlichim who bring boundless energy, warmth, and Jewish knowledge. These changes complemented our standard array of classes, activities, and workshops, collectively spreading and strengthening Yiddishkeit throughout Krakow. From weekly Shabbat dinners to age-targeted group outings, we coordinated myriad opportunities for Jews of all stripes to craft authentic Jewish identities among peers of diverse backgrounds.
Many JCC Krakow members are the first in their immediate families able to live an openly Jewish life. As such, they get to share millenium-old traditions both with their closest loved ones and with the wider world. Moreover, they can enact the Jewish imperatives of hachnasat orchim and tikkun olam (“bringing in guests” and “repairing the world”) through our large-scale humanitarian campaign to assist refugee and immigrant neighbors relocating from war-torn Ukraine and Israel. From food, housing, psychological, and other welfare services, our center has become a primary safe haven for the absolute neediest in our vicinity. Having already directly aided over 400,000 displaced individuals, our reborn community has finally come full circle—once targeted for complete destruction, we now bestow the most sacred gift of all: life.
With immense gratitude for our friends the world over who enable this vital work,
Jonathan Ornstein
JCC Krakow CEO
Our community
As we enter 2025, our tight-knit Jewish community numbers over 1,100 strong, ranging from toddlers in the Frajda preschool to nonagenarians in the Senior club. Our members originally hail from Poland, Israel, Ukraine, USA, France, Belarus, Russia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Brazil, Croatia, United Kingdom, Latvia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Colombia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Georgia. They are orthodox, progressive, secular, and simply Jewish—our vibrant center is a home for every Jew in Krakow and the broader community. We offer programming for all age groups and welcome thousands of visitors every month to show the world that Jewish life is thriving a mere hour from Auschwitz.
FRAJDA
Preschool and Nursery
The Frajda Early Childhood Center provides young Jewish children, ages one through six, with a rich and immersive education, steeped in Jewish tradition and culture.
In 2024, Frajda enrolled a total of 17 children, including three from Ukraine and four from Israel, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds and symbolizing resilience, unity, and the continuity of the Jewish people.
BAGEL
Club for Young Families
The Bagel Club for Young Families engages families of children ranging from preschoolers to teenagers. The club hosts gatherings focused on Jewish education and culture, tailoring activities to the specific needs of young children, teens, and parents, providing opportunities for families to explore Jewish traditions and heritage together.
In 2024, we organized 18 Bagel Club meetings, drawing an average monthly attendance of 80 participants. The Bagel Club for Young Families has played a key role in fostering connections among its diverse membership, helping to bridge cultural differences.
TAPUZIM
BBYO Teenagers Club
The JCC Krakow BBYO Tapuzim chapter enriches the lives of Jewish teens by providing a space where they can explore and embrace their identities. Club programming navigates Jewish culture, traditions, history, and holidays while also providing a foundational Hebrew education.
In 2024, we hosted 35 BBYO events, including workshops, classes, museum visits, and other outings. One of the most significant new additions was the Teen Common Room, a dedicated space available twice a week and free of charge. Whether teens want to relax with friends, read a book, or complete their homework, the space provides a welcoming and comfortable environment among Jewish peers.
GIMEL
Hillel Student Club
The Hillel GIMEL student club provides a welcoming community for Jewish university students living in and around Krakow. The club offers a wide range of social and educational activities aimed at fostering Jewish engagement and connection. It is open to individuals of all denominations, cultivating a strong atmosphere of communal unity.
Over the course of the year, Hillel hosted more than 60 events. These programs included outings, social gatherings, lectures, and themed Shabbat/holiday dinners.
REJWACH
Club for members 30+
Launched in September 2023 to satisfy former Hillel members' needs for a new Jewish social space, Rejwach provides community for individuals aged 30 through 45. In the first full year of operation, Rejwach proved massively successful, reaching a total of 128 event participants. Members became increasingly involved in intergenerational programming as well, joining Shabbat/holiday dinners, lectures, workshops, and various outings.
SENIOR CLUB
The JCC Krakow Senior Club serves more than 130 elderly members, including 58 Holocaust survivors—some of whom are Ukrainian refugees who came to Poland to escape war. The club helps members connect with their Jewish identity while also providing essential welfare services.
JCC Krakow covers medical expenses, providesing transportation, and offersoffering financial assistance for utilities and food. It also distributes special packages for Jewish holidays such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah. Recognizing gaps in the Polish welfare system, we have begun offering housing assistance and essential items (such as winter coats and shoes) to needy senior members.
Beyond social services, seniors can participate in programs that promote both physical and mental thriving, including PT, yoga, university-level classes, and memory-training activities.
In 2024, we hosted over 350 programs for seniors, including numerous trips and outings beyond Krakow.
ACHAYOT
Club for women
Achayot, meaning "sisters" in Hebrew, is a group by women for women that focuses on gender-based issues including modern feminism, consent, and reproductive rights. It offers a safe, encouraging environment for female members to propose ideas, lead discussions, and help create relevant programming.
In 2024, Achayot hosted 7 meetings on topical concerns for over 90 participants.
SHABBAT & HOLIDAYS
We celebrate all of the Jewish holidays by hosting a variety of events that allow members of all ages to connect with their faith and heritage. In 2024, including all of our Shabbat dinners, holiday dinners, and holiday events, we had a total attendance of over 7,000 people. Motivated by feedback from our members, we have been organizing an additional earlier seating on Friday nights to better accommodate the needs of senior members and families with young children. These additional seatings have also helped us navigate the challenges of limited event space due to our humanitarian aid operation and growing membership numbers. They allow us to welcome more attendees and provide a more comfortable experience for everyone.
General Programming
In 2024, we held over 950 events, a 20% increase from 2023. Approximately 70% of those programs were targeted to specific age groups (survivors, children, young adults, families, etc.) for optimal impact. We offered a variety of events to facilitate learning, connection, and community building: Shabbat dinners, Jewish holiday celebrations, lectures, workshops, classes, exhibitions, and trips. We organized 150 open events of a cyclical nature (lecture series, etc.) and 137 stand-alone programs.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
JCC Krakow celebrates every Jewish holiday by hosting a variety of events that allow members of all ages to connect with their faith and heritage.
In 2024, we:
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had a total attendance of over 7,000 people,
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hosted 128 cyclical events for members,
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held 45 unique events.
OPEN PROGRAMS
We aim to facilitate dialogue between the Jewish and non-Jewish communities of Krakow, priding ourselves on being an inclusive and welcoming institution. In 2024, we held 114 open events aimed at the broader community for 3,594 participants.
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Jewish Culture Festival
As a partner of the Jewish Culture Festival, the largest in the world, we organized over 40 events, reaching a total of 2,067 people by prioritizing linguistic accessibility for the international audience.
In total, we hosted:
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14 educational lectures/meetings for 615 participants
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13 workshops for 212 participants.
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3 book promotions for 134 participants.
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11 other events with a total of 1,106 participants.
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CHANUKrAków
For our annual Chanukah event, we decided to dramatically enhance our programming by organizing multiple events over the weeks before and during the holiday instead of one day-long event. This series of workshops and lectures reached 148 individuals.
EDUCATION
We offer a wide range of lectures and educational classes for JCC Krakow community members and the broader Krakow community. For members, in addition to holiday programming, we organized 45 Jewish education events, including meetings with rabbis, lectures on Jewish culture/tradition, art workshops, film screenings, and tours.
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DAY
A JCC Krakow project that has blossomed into a global movement, Holocaust Survivor Day (June 4th annually) celebrates survivors’ bravery and resilience and spreads hope to the entire world. In 2024, alongside dozens of international communities, JCC Krakow organized a special dinner honoring our local survivors. Fifteen survivors attended, plus the Chief Rabbi of Poland, members of Hillel Krakow, and other special guests. We also partnered with the Atlanta Jewish community, sending heartfelt notes and creating special posters that decorated each event. Additionally, we partnered with The Commandant’s Shadow, winner of the Yad Vashem Outstanding Holocaust-Related Documentary award.
RIDE FOR THE LIVING
Ride For The Living (RFTL), first held in 2014, is a comprehensive educational, social, and spiritual fitness experience as well as our largest annual fundraiser. Centered on a 60-mile (97-km) bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to JCC Krakow, from darkness to light, RFTL immerses participants in Jewish Krakow—past, present, and future. The in-person program takes place over four days and includes private tours of Auschwitz and Krakow, participation in Poland’s largest (700-person) Shabbat dinner, and events alongside the Jewish Culture Festival.
In 2024, the ninth edition of RFTL hosted 200 participants from seven nations. The itinerary included an additional day to provide a more accommodating schedule for participants, granting them increasing opportunities to reflect on the historical significance and contemporary resurgence of Jewish life in Krakow. Riders included two Holocaust survivors (89-year-old Marcel Zieliński and 95-year-old Bernard Offen), Israeli Ambassador to Poland Dr. Yacov Livne, U.S. Consul General in Krakow Erin Nickerson, and Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich.
HUMANITARIAN AID
On February 24, 2022, Russian troops fully invaded Ukraine, triggering a mass civilian exodus—with many seeking refuge in Poland. The very next day, JCC Krakow began operating as a humanitarian hub for displaced Ukrainian individuals. As of 2025, the center has directly assisted over 400,000 refugees and counting.
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The“Free Shop” distribution center
Our primary framework for distributing basic necessities to Ukrainian refugees is the “Free Shop” based out of our main JCC building. We continue to supply food, medicine, hygienic supplies, toys, and clothing five days a week, free of charge. On average, 700 Ukrainian families visit each week to satisfy their essential needs. In 2024, we also provided over 30,000 fresh meals to refugees visiting the shop.
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Housing
In 2024, our housing assistance program centered on a converted palace complex in a small town outside of Krakow, plus apartments we helped rent throughout the city.
The palace facility accommodated approximately 600 people, primarily women and children, for three-month stays (or longer as needed). Residents participated in a wide range of classes to become fully self-sufficient—including language courses and career-counseling sessions. We provided them with all necessities so they could focus fully on long-term planning and integration.
In Krakow, we grant rent assistance to over 15 families or individuals in precarious situations in addition to other welfare support. We select beneficiaries upon careful review of their financial and medical needs, mindful of our limited resources.
The operation of the center in Paszkówka, located at Pałacowa Street, during the period from February 1 to March 31, 2025, was supported by a grant of PLN 180,000 provided by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the United States, awarded through a call for proposals organized by the Stefan Batory Foundation in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
ISRAELI RESPONSE
In 2024, our Israeli membership increased to 150 people as people continue looking for safer, stabler lives in a post-October-7th world. Emigres to Krakow have included both individuals and families with children, so we have expanded all aspects of our communal operations.
We have made existing programs accessible while also creating new targeted opportunities for the Israeli community based on dynamic feedback. We provide personalized care and attention to smooth transitions. To centralize our campaign of support and solidarity, we hired a Hebrew-speaking community coordinator, creating a welcoming environment for members to express new ideas and communicate needs.
We organize language programs and other activities to foster cultural exchange and appreciation across our diverse community. A hallmark program has been our Israeli Sunday series, weekly social gatherings consisting of brunch, culinary workshops, and other events. We also hosted an October 7th commemoration to allow members to mourn and reflect in the company of community. Such initiatives simplify and enhance life for the Israelis who now call Krakow home.
KING CHARLES VISITS JCC KRAKOW
“Here in Krakow, from the ashes of the Holocaust, the Jewish community has been reborn. And there is no greater symbol of this rebirth than the Jewish Community Centre. (...) In a post-Holocaust world, projects such as this Centre are how we recover our faith in humanity."
- His Majesty King Charles III
On January 27, 2025, the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, JCC Krakow hosted King Charles for a return visit to the center he helped open back in 2008.
During his visit, King Charles spent time at the JCC’s humanitarian distribution centre, an in-house food pantry that provides vital aid, including clothes and food, to thousands of Ukrainian refugees, and Senior Club, including some of the 58 Holocaust survivors in JCC Krakow’s care.
In his only remarks from Poland, King Charles used the backdrop of the center to reflect on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, recalling the millions systematically murdered while celebrating survivors and their testimonies as inspiration to cherish freedom and challenge prejudice. He also spoke of the rebirth of the Jewish community and declared his steadfast support.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
JCC Krakow maintains a robust volunteer program to assist with both daily operations and special events.
In 2024, the 97 unique individuals volunteered—50 of them new. They supported over 200 events and spent over 1,000 hours staffing our reception desk.
We also continued our international volunteer program on behalf of our humanitarian work. We had over 40 volunteers from all over the world sort food for our distribution center, work with Ukrainian refugees, and provide additional aid.
As with every year, we also offered short-term volunteer opportunities for major events, such as Ride For the Living and the Jewish Culture Festival. We continued our cooperation with Serve The City, a global organization aimed at mobilizing volunteers.
CAFE HAFUCH
Cafe Hafuch is a kosher cafe in Kazimierz that we opened in May 2024 in partnership with Cafe Central, an Israeli-owned coffee roastery from Warsaw.
Open daily (except Shabbat!) from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m, Hafuch is more than a café—it’s a vibrant meeting space for community members and a hub for Jewish events.
We celebrated the official opening of Cafe Hafuch with a party for over 250 guests.
EXPENDITURE & REVENUE
Many of our members first learn about their Jewish roots as teens or young adults and enjoy the support of a community ready to welcome and teach them about their Jewish heritage. At the same time, we remain one of the only organizations continuing to provide Ukrainian refugees with support.
Below you can see how our total 2024 budget of $4,200,000 USD is broken down.
Overall Budget
Intergenerational Programming
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Generational Programming
Ukraine Relief
Income by campaign
THANK YOU.
JCC Krakow would like to thank the organizational partners, board and council members, private foundations, and donors whose support makes it possible for us to serve our community.
Founders
JCC Krakow
Council & Board
JCC Krakow
Governing Council
Hilda Worth - President
Shimon Cohen
Michael Berenbaum
Monika Górecka
Magdalena Jenner
Adam Klimek
Stefan Oscar
Dina Shiloh
Vicki Warner
JCC Krakow
Management Board
Paul Anticoni - President
Piotr Nawrocki - Vice President
Marta Derkowska - Treasurer
Ronen Assor
Serhii Chupryna
Monika Elliott
Ryszard Orowski
Karina Sokołowska Folwarczny
Friends of JCC Krakow Board
Vicki Warner
President
Suellen Kadis
Secretary
Dagan LaCorte
Treasurer
Marissa Allen
Carol Becker
Michael Berenbaum
Gregg Epstein
Cheryl Fishbein
Shari Gersten
Justin Kadis
Larry Kadis
Beth Kean
Susan Lerner
Mel Mann
Rabbi Michael Paley
Sheri Sandler
Phil Schatten
Elizabeth Szancer
Eric Schwartz
Top JCC Krakow supporters
The following individuals, couples, families, and organizations have made significant contributions* to JCC Krakow, supporting our work for the Jewish community and Ukrainian refugees.
*lifetime contribution of $25,000 or more
AJC Central Europe
Alight
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Donor
Anonymous Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation
Max (z”l) & Elaine Appel
The Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation
Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center (Aventura, FL)
Bader Philanthropies
Staci Barber & The Barber Family Foundation
Herbert (z"l) & Karen Baum
Jeff & Janet Beck
Carol Becker
The David Berg Foundation
Laura Bessen-Nichtberger & Steven Nichtberger
Beth Torah Congregation
The Boxcar Foundation
The Brause Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund
Brown Rudnick
Andrea Cayton
Charles Grunfeld Foundation
Choose Love
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Poland
Ulrika & Joel Citron
Congregation Beth HaTephila (Asheville, NC)
Congregation Beth Israel (Portland, OR)
Congregation Beth Or (Maple Glen, PA)
Congregation Darchei Noam (North York, ON)
Congregation Ner Tamid (Henderson, NV)
Congregation of Reform Judaism (Orlando, FL)
Felix Dashevsky
Patrick Dumont
Nina & Richard Edelman
Caryl Englander
Jerry & Debbie Epstein & Family
Tom & Darlynn Fellman
Drew & Michele Figdor
Rachael & Mark First
Margie & Steve Fiverson
Fondazione Terre des Hommes Italia
Fundacja Batorego
Bruce & Lori Gendelman
Melinda Goldrich & the Goldrich Family Foundation
Lori & Robert Goodman
Stephen Grynberg & Susan Winfield
Rachel Grynberg
Harbourton Foundation
J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Foundation
Kim & Alan Hartman
Terry & Noel Hefty
Hillel International
Horodas Family Foundation
JCC Global
The Jenoff Family
Jewish Center of the Hamptons (East Hampton, NY)
Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
The Jewish Federations of North America
The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
Suellen & Larry Kadis & the Kadis family
Kaplen JCC on the Palisades (Tenafly, NJ)
Stephen Kaufer
Lisa Kohl
Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner, Temple Emanu El of Closter, NJ & The New Jersey Jewish Community
Koret Foundation
Kevin Kotler
Irene Kronhill-Pletka & The Kronhill Pletka Foundation
Jill & Barry Lafer
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation
Susan Lerner & Michael Roffer
Abby & Gigi Levy
Susan & Bart Lewis
Lainie & Kenny Lipschutz
Dr. Rainer D. Maas & PEGASUS Residenz Dresden GmbH
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation
The Maurer Family
Jen Maxfield & Scott Ostfeld
Madylon & Dean Meiling
Larry Miller
Marcia & Mark Miller Family Foundation
Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji
Geraldine Mittelman
Larry & Carol Mizel
Edward & Cecile Mosberg, z”l
Jessica & Chuck Myers
Dana & Lukasz Niedzielscy
Or Hadasz Progressive Jewish Community of Krakow (Local Supporting Organization)
Michelle Ores & Chip Schorin
Richard Ossoff
Park Avenue Synagogue (New York, NY)
Carla Probus & Jonas Meyers
Drs. Anna and Robert Reed on behalf of over 800 individual donors
Sigmund Rolat, z”l
Marc Rowan
The Russell Berrie Foundation
Susan Saltz
David Sambur
Sheri Sandler
Mara Sandler
Wendy & Neil Sandler
Ken Schack
Bob Schloss
Eric & Erica Schwartz Family Foundation
Edward & Barbara Shapiro
The Shapiro Foundation
Sana & Vlad Shmunis
Robert Sillins Family Foundation
Soka Gakkai Italian Buddhist Institute
SOS International
Larry & Sandra Small
Linda & Jerry Spitzer
Michael Staenberg
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Elizabeth Szancer & Tom Zoufaly
Taube Family Foundation
Temple Emanu-El, New York
Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County (Lafayette, CA)
Temple Sinai (Oakland, CA)
Michelle & Scott Tesser
Gal Tirosh & Safra Catz
Diane & Tom Tuft
UJA-Federation of New York
Alexander (z"l) & Inez White
Wolf Foundation
World Jewish Congress
World Jewish Relief
Get Involved
95% of JCC Krakow's operating budget each year is raised overseas from foundations, Federations, synagogues, families, and individuals.
We need your help to continue building a Jewish future in Krakow. Your gift has a direct and lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of Jews who are revitalizing Jewish life in Krakow and Ukrainian refugees who depend on the JCC for support.