Poland: Yale Strom Remembers Henryk Halkowski

Yale Strom Remembers Henry Halkowski

Ruth Ellen Gruber has posted a remembrance of Henry Halkowski by musician, author, filmmaker, photographer and mensch Yale Strom. Yale knew Henryk for almost 25 years.

Henryk died suddenly of a heart attack on the night of January 1-2. For a picture of Henryk click here.

Poland: Krakow's Henryk Halkowski Dies of Heart Attack at 58

Henryk at the Kupa Synagogue, October 2008. Photo: Samuel D. Gruber

Poland: Krakow's Henryk Halkowski Dies of Heart Attack at 58

Henryk Halkowski, the heart and soul of Jewish Krakow, died suddenly of a heart attack in Krakow the night January 1-2. Henryk was full of history, opinions and stories. Among his projects at the time of his death is a volume of translation and commentary of Rabbi Nachman's Stories.

I first met Henry in 1991 or 1992, when I was just beginning the Tempel Synagogue restoration project for the World Monuments Fund, and he introduced me to Jewish Krakow. I last saw him only two months ago. It had been many years since our last visit, but we picked up immediately...almost in mid-sentence from before.

Many people will remember Henryk for a long time to come, and they will hear his voice and his laugh, even when he is gone, as if he is picking up the conversation in mid-sentence.

My sister Ruth know Henryk very well, and she will be writing something about him soon.