Event as part of the Pardes Festival 2026 | September 11–13 | September 18–20 |

The Jewish quarter in Leszno was established in the 17th century in the northwestern part of the city. Its center was the Great Synagogue, accompanied by a complex of communal buildings that included, among others, a Talmudic school, a mikvah (ritual bath), a community building, a slaughterhouse, a matzah bakery, a hospital, and smaller prayer houses. Although repeatedly rebuilt following fires, the quarter remained a significant center of Jewish life until the second half of the 19th century. Following the granting of equal rights to Jews after 1848, residents were free to settle anywhere in Leszno, and after World War II, the majority of the district's historic buildings were demolished.

Our walk will take us through the former Jewish district, though we will also venture slightly beyond its boundaries. We will visit sites that were once key landmarks for the local Jewish community, exploring places linked to the everyday lives of Leszno’s Jews—where they studied, worked, sought medical care, prayed, and engaged with sacred texts. We will uncover the stories embedded in the city’s landscape.

We will begin our walk at one of the most significant sites in the history of Leszno’s Jewish community: the synagogue building. Next, we will head toward the area of ​​the former mikvah. On the way to the Beit Midrash, we will also see a contemporary mural reflecting the city's Jewish heritage. Further stops on our route will include the Wollheim Foundation—which once housed a shelter for the sick—and the General Jewish School located opposite it. We will then proceed to a nearby building that formerly housed the Goldschmidt clothing factory. On the return journey, we will visit the site of the matzah bakery and the Sachs Foundation. Finally, we will take a look at the area around the ritual slaughterhouse and the Hannach Pump Factory.

Guide: Patrycja Paprota-Kosel

Check out the full program for the Pardes Festival 2026.