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Prince Charles in visit to Poland Prince opens Krakow Jewish centre
(about 12 hours later)
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are to open a Jewish community centre on a visit to Poland. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have opened a Jewish community centre in Krakow, Poland.
The couple will spend time in the city of Krakow, where they will also visit historic and cultural sites. Prince Charles took part in the Jewish custom of fixing a Mezuzah - a scroll inscribed with a Hebrew prayer - to the building's entrance.
The Prince became patron of the community centre project after visiting Poland in 2002. The community centre project was initiated by the Prince on a 2002 visit when he met Holocaust survivors.
It was funded by donations raised by the charity World Jewish Relief (WJR), which is based in London and helps Jewish communities around the world. During their one-day trip the couple are also visiting St. Mary's Basilica, and Wawel Castle.
The charity, which was founded in 1933, is credited with helping 10,000 Jewish children escape from the Nazis. Charles and Camilla were greeted by hundreds of tourists when they got out of their chauffeur-driven car in Krakow's main square.
The prince and Camilla will also tour the city's famous Cloth Hall and its main church, St Mary's Basilica. The city is a popular tourist destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage.
They will also see Poland's former political and cultural centre, Wawel Castle, during their one-day visit. At the opening ceremony in the Kazimierz Jewish quarter, Charles spoke to several Holocaust survivors - some of whom had inspired him to initiate the project when he first met them in 2002.
Local resident Ryszard Orowski, who lost his entire family to the Nazis, said: "Never did we imagine that we would have a centre, a home for the whole community of Krakow.
"I stand here today remembering the family and loved ones whom many of us lost so tragically in the Holocaust but now I can look to the future with true hope that our wonderful community can again come alive," he added.
Centre director Jonathan Orstein said the Prince had made a "substantial contribution" to help finance the project.
"The reason we are here today is because of Prince Charles's idea and involvement," Mr Orstein said.
The couple are also visiting Wawel Castle - Poland's former political centre
The London-based charity World Jewish Relief (WJR) funded and oversaw the centre's construction.
It will be used by around 1,000 people including the elderly and Jewish students studying at Krakow University.
Jewish and non-Jewish community members will also be able to access facilities for social, educational and religious programmes.
Earlier in the day Charles and Camilla were shown around St. Mary's Basilica, the gothic church in Krakow's main square, and toured the nearby cloth market.
They will also visit Poland's former political and cultural centre, Wawel Castle.
World Jewish Relief was founded in 1933, and is credited with helping Jewish children escape from the Nazis.
Prince Charles has visited Poland and Krakow twice - in 1993 and 2002. For Camilla this is her first visit.
The Mezuzah is a piece of parchment inscribed with a special Hebrew prayer. It is fixed to the front door frame of Jewish homes. Observant Jews fix one to the doorway of all the main rooms.
The parchment is prepared by a scribe who has undergone years of training. The verses are written in black ink with a quill pen and then placed in a case.