The Rabbi Dances

Rabbi Edgar Gluck dances in the Tempel Synagogue after the close of Shabbos during the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow.

Wroclaw -- White Stork Synagogue

In Wroclaw, I visited the White Stork Synagogue. Renovations have been proceeding slowly.... but now the front facade as been restored, and the Aron ha Kodesh (ark) is also almost ready.

We attended a concert by the Norwegian Jewish singer Bente Kahan, who has settled in Wroclaw (thanks to her Polish husband) and in 2006 established a foundation to raise funds to restore the synagogue and also promote educational programs about Jewish heritage and culture and the Holocaust.

I spoke to Bente in her office, which is in the complex of buildings surrounding the synagogue, which also now houses the Lauder Jewish school, a hostel, a couple of cafes.

She told me that enough funding has been secured to enable the completion of the renovation of the synagogue by 2010. She's managed to do this by making her foundation a "neutral, non-profit organization" that, because of its neutrality, can navigate the sometimes treacherous waters between the municipality and the Jewish community.

Cameron Highland in 2003, Pahang

I accidentally dig out my old photos on Cameron Highland - 2003. So I decided to share with all of you, and it might bring back some of yours fond memory...:)

We (family members) rented the whole express bus together with tour guide to Cameron Highland trip on September, 2003.
We taken a break at Ringlet, the first town we reached. Some pictures of Ringlet during 2003. Wonder any changes now??



Then follow by the Bharat Tea House (N4°27.242' E101°22.147'). The view was beautiful! I cannot forget the enjoyment having a morning tea over the scenery here! Cool breeze and the greenery scene in front of you by the cup of tea in your hand really make my day!!

The path to the Tea Plantation

Beside the tea shop, there was a small grocery shop. I wonder it's still there today?!

The MOBILE vegetables seller

After the tea, our tour guide brought us to one of the garden near by - Rainbow Garden Centre.
Basically, it's just a garden full of several of Cactus, flowers, orchids, plants & etc...




It took about an hour after the Garden, we proceed to check-in to the Golden Wing Apartment (N4°29.540' E101°23.317') at Bringchang.

The apartment was clean & spacious. Too bad I didn't take any photos, I wonder why?
If my memory serve me well, one unit cost us RM400 per day with 3 BIG rooms, kitchen, dining hall & living hall. The temperature was between 18° - 20°C.

When everyone settles with their luggage, it's lunch time!
Free & easy session till night for the first day....

Related post :-
* Cactus Valley, Brinchang - Cameron Highland
* Lata (Waterfall) Iskandar at Cameron Highland

My Cameron Highlands Trip - September 2009
* Rosa Passadena Hotel at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands (D1)

MY TRIPS - Home

Wroclaw en Route to Krakow

The Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow begins tonight...and I am heading there this afternoon from Wroclaw, where I took part in a fascinating conference on Modern Jewish Culture at Wroclaw University. Organized by the university's Jewish Studies Department and the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, it grouped scholars from North America, Europe, Israel and Austria. Several speakers either quoted from or made mention of my book "Virtually Jewish" in their presentation, and it was gratifying and a little overwhelming to see what an impact the book seems to have had.

Coincidentally, or probably not coincidentally, an interview I conducted months ago with Wojtek and Malgosia Ornat, the Jewish tourism entrepreneurs in Krakow who run Klezmer Hois, ran today in the Forward. The Ornats also run the Austeria publishing house, which published "Letters from Europe (and Elsewhere)".

Giant Butterfly at Taman Daya, Johor Bahru

Spotted this BIG Butterfly at Taman Daya (residential area) somewhere close to a child care center.
This rare species always appear around this area? I believe only the residents here can tell.

MY TRIPS - Home

Hidden Chinese Temple at Bkt. Gambir, Muar Johor

Tien Yun Temple located at Bkt. Gambir.

Main Entrance

As usual, the Bodyguard of the temple

I was follows my brother in-law to this new temple (just build not too long ago), too bad I forgot to bring my GPS to log down the coordinates. Because it's located inside a deserted area, there is no proper tar road access to it. The entrance of the road is at somewhere along the Seng Kang Road, which is not far away from the junction....if you are come from Bkt. Gambir town.
Along the laterite road, you can see the navigate signage everywhere until the temple.

Just feel like a hidden temple.

I snap some photos for sharing......

The Main Deities of the temple

On the left side, the man made beautiful pond.....

Just opposite the temple, there's a 30 meter tall "Kuan Yin" statue.

The Deity located at the left outside the temple

Behind the pavilion above, you can see one row of the Deities represent the Chinese Zodiac.


I will get the GPS Coordinates next time I visit it.

Related post :-
Foods of Bukit Gambir, Muar Johor.
Bkt Gambir - 100 Years old village at Muar, Johor
Village Life at Bkt. Gambir, Muar Johor
Village's photos - Muar Trip
Some photos you might not see it today......(Pt.2)
Restaurant Double Lim (Assam Fish), Muar. (CNY 2008 Trips)

MY TRIPS - Home

Synagogue in Jicin, CZ, Restored

Yet another synagogue in the Czech Republic has been restored and opened to the public. Jicin is northeast of Prague -- I saw the building was work was just beginning, in 2006.

Here's the report on the restoration from the International Survey of Jewish Monuments

Restoration of Baroque Synagogue in Jičín (Czech Republic) complete
by Samuel D. Gruber (ISJM)

Following nearly eight years (2001-2008) the restoration of the
magnificent Baroque synagogue in Jičín, North Bohemia (Czech Republic)
is complete. The Prague Jewish Community will officially open the
building to the public on Thursday, June 19, 2008. The restoration
project is part of a continuing effort by the Czech Jewish Community
to reclaim, protect and preserver its historic, cultural and artistic
heritage.

A Jewish settlement is known to have existed in Jičín in the second
half of the 14th century, but Jews were expelled from the town in
1542-45 and again in 1557-63. The now-restored synagogue was erected
in 1773, more than a century after Jews are known to have been
readmitted to the town. According to Dr. Arno Pařík of the Prague
Jewish Museum, "this is an exceptionally pure example of a small, late
Baroque synagogue." It is a rectangular building, approximately 12.5
meters long and 8.2 meters wide, with a fairly high saddle roof over a
barrel-vault, supported on traverse arches and 90 cm. thick walls.
The sanctuary is well-lit by three tall arched windows on the south
and north walls. Smaller windows are set in the west (façade) and east
walls, the latter dominated by the well-preserved masonry Ark, flanked
by twisted columns. The vivid wall paintings – mostly in reds and
blues – have been restored to their 1840 appearance. Photos of the
restored building will be posted soon at www.isjm.org
The building is now one of best preserved late Baroque synagogues
remaining in Central Europe.

The restoration of the synagogue was supervised by engineer Mojmír
Malý at Matana a.s., Administration of Buildings and Cemeteries.
Heritage supervision is provided by the Zecher Foundation for the
Preservation of Jewish Monuments through Dr. Arno Pařík, and the
National Heritage Institute – specialist department in Pardubice.
Financing has been provided by the Jewish Community of Prague, the
Czech Ministry of Culture, the District Authority of Hradec Králové,
and the Municipal Government of Jičín. Financial support for the
synagogue renovation has also been provided by the Jewish Heritage
Program and World Monuments Fund.

A Torah scroll from Jicin is now in the possession of Temple Shir
Tikva in Wayland, Massachusetts (USA).

For more on the history and architecture of the building see Arno
Pařík, "History and Renovation of Jičín Synagogue," Judaica Bohemiae
(40/2004), 104-122.