Objects

Door

Wooden interior door from the over century-old Kluger Family House in Oświęcim, preserved before the 2013–14 renovation of the building. Originally, located in one of the ground-floor rooms. At present, part of the interior design of Café Bergson, run by the Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC). Built in the late 19th century/early 20th century, the house changed hands over time and was consecutively owned by the Wulkan, Leser, and Teichner families. In 1928, it came into the possession of Bernard Teichman and his daughter Fryda Kluger. The Kluger family – Fryda and her husband Symcha as well as their children Mojżesz, Szymon, Bronia, Icchak, Melech, Izrael, Jehoszua, Chaim, and Malka – moved their in the early 1930s. They sold chickens for a living. In addition, Symcha Kluger was a melamed (Hebrew: religious teacher). Every Saturday afternoon he would deliver his commentaries on the Torah in the vestibule of the Great Synagogue in Oświęcim. Of the eleven-strong family, only three siblings, Bronia, Mojżesz, and Szymon, survived the Shoah. After WW2, Bronia and Mojżesz left for the United States, while their brother emigrated to Sweden. In 1961, Szymon Kluger returned to Oświęcim and resided in the family house. He died on 26 May 2000 and was buried in the local Jewish cemetery. His death put an end to the Jewish presence in Oświęcim that stretched over more than four centuries. In 2002, Bronia Rosenblatt and Mojżesz Kluger bequeathed the house to the Auschwitz Jewish Center (AJC). In 2013, renovation and redevelopment of the historical building bagan. The work also involved landslide prevention and protection of the escarpment into which the Kluger House is integrated. The condition of the slope is crucial to the structural safety of the buildings above, the Jewish Museum and the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Synagogue. As there was considerable landslide risk, the entire historical building complex was at stake. The preservation work started with a network of micropiles, thanks to which the soil supporting the foundation was strengthened and further damage was halted. In May 2014, upon completion of the work, the house was renamed as Café Bergson. The change was spearheaded by the principal private patron of the project, New York-based entrepreneur Simon Bergson, also acting in his capacity as Chairperson of the Board of the Jewish Center Foundation in Oświęcim, the owner of the buildings. It was his intention to commemorate Henri Bergson (1859–1941), the world famous philosopher of Polish-Jewish descent and the recipient of the 1927 Nobel Prize in Literature, as well as to honour the memory of the benefactor’s parents, Milton and Nadzia Bergson. Born in Ciechanów, they survived Auschwitz and emigrated to the United States after WW2. The overall cost of the renovation project amounted to 1.5 million Polish zlotys, which involved a public fund-raiser – a Kickstarter campaign that facilitated international bottom-up financial support. The restoration of the Kluger Family House was backed by 258 individuals. Local government authorities, Małopolska Voivodeship Office and the municipality of Oświęcim, also provided vital financial assistance. Oświęcim-based Susuł & Strama Architects designed the redevelopment of the entire building complex. At present, the historical Kluger Family House is a modern, minimalist space that has preserved its unique heritage. It is home to a museum cafe – Café Bergson, which offers a range of locally-sourced products. At the same time, it doubles as an education centre dedicated to the town's multicultural past. Numerous cultural events, such as concerts and children’s workshops, are also held there. Core values espoused include human rights, anti-discriminatory practice, ecological awareness, civic duties, and modern, progressive patriotism.

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Information about the object
Author / creator
unknown
Object type
element of architectural structure
Place of creation
Oświęcim (Małopolskie Province)
Material
wood
Keywords
Copyright status
the object is not protected by copyright law
Owner
Oshpitzin Jewish Museum in Oświęcim
Identification number
MZ-412-O