The New Jewish Cemetery

We promise that the tour isn’t all graveyards, but this one is too important to skip. This is Kraków’s New Jewish Cemetery, an essential stop in the Kazimierz district, and free to visit. When the cemetery beside the Remuh Synagogue closed in 1800, this new burial ground was created to serve the growing Jewish community. Walking through it is a quiet yet powerful reminder of the sudden and near-total disappearance of Poland’s Jewish population during the Holocaust. It may not be as stark or well-known as Auschwitz, but it’s no less moving. Around 10,000 tombs are scattered across four hectares, overgrown with tall grass and shaded by leafy trees. You’re welcome to walk through it freely and respectfully. At the entrance, you’ll find an information board that points out some of the most notable graves. Let me offer a few tips to help you interpret the symbols carved into the headstones. If you see a pair of hands raised in prayer, you’re looking at the grave of a rabbi. A carved bowl marks the tomb of someone from the Levite lineage—those who assisted with religious rituals, like washing the priests’ hands. Books are for booksellers or scholars of the Torah and Talmud. Candles and menorahs often symbolise women, who traditionally light the Sabbath candles. A crown stands for piety and learning. If the crown is slightly off-centre, it means the person buried there was the head of the family. A piggy bank or coin denotes wealth or generosity of the deceased. A lion represents a descendant of the Tribe of Judah, part of the people of Israel. A bird often symbolises the soul. If you spot chicks, they sadly represent children left motherless. A snake indicates an apothecary. Flowers or vines refer to the tree of life—if the tree is broken, it suggests a sudden or untimely death. Finally, if you come across a unicorn, it marks the grave of a righteous man. With these symbols in mind, you’re now ready to explore the cemetery with new eyes.