Kraków Ghetto Jewish Council

[2] The Jewish Council in Kraków was in direct contact and controlled by Nazi officials on most matters, but had some limited degree of autonomy.

[3] The Krakow Jewish council had 19 separate departments that oversaw labor, welfare, health and finance, among other items.

After the arrest of Artur Rosenzweig, the staff moved to Wegierska street 16, while the former building at the corner of Limanowski and Rynek Podgorski was used as a warehouse for things stolen from the deported Jews.

Tasks imposed by the authorities, such as conduct of the census of the Jewish population, the supply of forced labor and registration of candidates for a work camp, for deportation, etc.2.

[9] The first chairman of the Kraków Jewish Council was chosen by SS-Oberscharfuhrer Mark Siebert, who ordered that role to be filled by Marek Bilberstein.

[13] To highlight the ingenuity of children in the ghettos, despite the horrific conditions, 14-year old Jack Gruener, who arrived with his parents, was told by the Kraków Jewish Council to share a three-bedroom apartment with 12 other people; the lack of privacy was difficult for most families, but Jack later discovered a dwelling for him and his family in the attic of the house they were inhabiting.

[15] As Jews were isolated in the ghetto from the surrounding society, the Kraków Jewish Council was also given permission by the German authorities to pass judgement on certain litigation including, but not limited to, mediation between sub-tenants and tenants.

In February 1940, The Kraków Health Department was established by physicians and run by Dr. Moritz Haber, a council member.

[21] The health department also coordinated the work of 156 physicians, 110 aides, along with facilities that included an outpatient clinic, radiology institute, a communicable disease station (as mandated by German authorities), and the only pharmacy in the Kraków Ghetto, although it only provided basic medicines.

[21] In September 1940, a mere 36 patients were admitted to the hospital with infectious diseases, which was a result of the measures in place by the Jewish Council.

The Kraków Jewish council provided welfare in the form of soup kitchens, cash payouts and medicine.