Remuh Synagogue /

The Remuh Synagogue, (Polish: Synagoga Remuh), is named after Rabbi Moses Isserles c.1525-1572, known by the Hebrew acronym ReMA, רמ״א, (pronounced ReMU) who's famed for writing a collection of commentaries and additions that complement Rabbi Yosef Karo's Shulchan Aruch, with Ashkenazi traditions and customs. Remuh Synagogue is the smallest of all historic synagogues of the Kazimierz district of Kraków. It is currently the only active synagogue in the city. According to one popular tradition Israel ben Josef, the grandson of Moshe Auerbach of Regensburg, founded the synagogue in honor of his son Moshe Isserles, who already in his youth was famed for his erudition. A more plausible motive for the synagogue's origin stems from the Hebrew inscription on the foundation tablet which reads: Husband, Reb Israel, son of Josef of blessed memory, bound in strength, to the glory of the Eternal One, and of his wife Malka, daughter of Eleazar, may her soul be bound up in the portion of life, built this synagogue, the house of the Lord, from her bequest. Lord restore the treasure of Israel. This implies that the synagogue was built in memory of Malka, the wife of Israel ben Josef. The year 1552