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Prince opens Krakow Jewish centre | |
(about 12 hours later) | |
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have opened a Jewish community centre in Krakow, Poland. | |
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 community centre project was initiated by the Prince on a 2002 visit when he met Holocaust survivors. | |
During their one-day trip the couple are also visiting St. Mary's Basilica, and Wawel Castle. | |
Charles and Camilla were greeted by hundreds of tourists when they got out of their chauffeur-driven car in Krakow's main square. | |
The city is a popular tourist destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage. | |
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. |