Szymon Kluger & the Kluger Family Home

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Szymon KlUger, was the last Jewish survivor from Oświęcim, famously known as: “tHE LAST JEW OF Auschwitz”.

Born into a Hasidic Jewish family in 1925, Szymon witnessed the devastating impacts of the Holocaust firsthand. He survived several concentration camps, including Blechhammer and Buchenwald, marking him as a poignant symbol of resilience and remembrance. After the war, against the wishes of his surviving family, Szymon returned to Oświęcim in 1962, living alone in his family home adjacent to the Oświęcim Synagogue.

Throughout his later years, Szymon became a guardian of Jewish memory in a town haunted by its past. His home, filled with personal memorabilia and situated beside the restored synagogue, became a focal point for those seeking to connect with the Jewish life that once flourished in Oświęcim. Szymon’s dedication to preserving his heritage transformed his residence into a living museum, encapsulating the enduring spirit of the Jewish community.

 

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After Szymon's death in 2000, his siblings donated his home to the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation.
In 2014, through community support and a Kickstarter campaign, the house was renovated and transformed into Café Bergson. Today, the café serves as an educational exhibition space where visitors can learn about the Jewish past of Oświęcim and engage in discussions about human rights and fighting hatred. The original entrance door with a mark of a mezuzah (Jewish parchment with holy words written on it, which is encased and put on doorposts) has been preserved along with other historical elements. Szymon Kluger’s legacy inspires visitors at Café Bergson, where his story is a testament to survival and remembrance. His life and the café now occupying his home remind us of the importance of preserving history and fostering a culture of understanding and acceptance.

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32-600 Oświęcim, Poland

Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation

57 West 57th Street, Rm 424 New York NY 10019