Prince Charles meets with Polish Jews in Krakow

Ha'aretz ^ | Last update - 16:15 13/06/2002 | By DPA

[Cinnamon Girl]

Prince Charles walking in the Jewish district of Krakow during his visit Thursday. (Photo: AP)

WARSAW - British heir to the throne Prince Charles met with members of Poland's tiny Jewish community in Krakow on Thursday, on the second and final day of his first visit to Poland in nine years.

The Prince talked with Holocaust survivors in a cafe in Kazimierz, Krakow's historic Jewish quarter made famous by Steven Spielberg as the setting for his 1993 Oscar-winning Holocaust drama, Schindler's List.

While Jewish life in Kazimierz reaches as far back as the 14th Century, WWII saw the deportation of virtually all its Jews to the nearby Auschwitz and Birkenau Nazi death camps.

Prior to the Holocaust, Kazimierz was home to a vibrant Jewish community of 64,000. Today there are fewer than 200 Jews living in the area.

While in Kazimierz, the Prince of Wales also visited two restored synagogues and a 16th Century Jewish cemetery.

[MadIvan]

So, does this appearance mean that Prince Charles is throwing his weight behind Israel and by example criticizing the EU?

Indirectly, I believe, yes. It is a break from other European monarchies and governments.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Charles is also something of a twit.

To be fair to him, his record is mixed. He's handled his personal business less than brilliantly, but the Prince's Trust is good as it helps people set up businesses rather than keeps them on aid all their lives, and he's done some good things, like saying modern architecture is crap. Overall, not too bad.

Regards, Ivan

[Miss Marple]

Despite his personal failings, I will always root for Charles because of his stand against modern architecture! LOL! I hate it too!

[Miss Marple]

Back to his personal life...perhaps if he had stood up and insisted on Camilla 25 years ago, he wouldn't have had all the misery from his disastrous marriage.

Of course, I am speaking as an American, and the influence of the Queen, Prince Philiip, and the Queen Mother are something I don't quite understand.

[MadIvan]

Back to his personal life...perhaps if he had stood up and insisted on Camilla 25 years ago, he wouldn't have had all the misery from his disastrous marriage.

Part of it is Camilla's fault. Charles was taking his sweet time to ask her to marry him, and she couldn't wait any longer any married Mr. Parker-Bowles. Few people say this however.

Regards, Ivan