IN THE 17-TH CENTURY RZESZÓW , JUST LIKE OTHER TOWNS OF POLISH REPUBLIC WITNESSED A FAST AND POWERFUL GROWTH OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE JEWISH DISTRICT WAS LOCATED IN A SEPARATE PART OF THE TOWN. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY MOSTLY INVOLVED IN TRADE AND CRAFTS, WAS GRADUALLY MERGING WITHIN THE TOWN’S LIFE AND WAS GETTING BIGGER, SO AROUND 1910 ALMOST HALF OF THE TOWN POPULATION WAS JEWS. THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENT IS DATED IN 15-TH CENTURY.

NOWADAYS, TWO SYNAGOGUES, REBUILT AND ADAPTED FOR NEW TASKS ARE ONLY REMAINING WITNESSES OF THAT EPOCH. THE OLD TOWN SYNAGOGUE FROM 17-TH CENTURY HOUSES THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES. THE NEW TOWN SYNAGOGUE FROM 18-TH CENTURY HOLDS THE AGENCY OF ART EXHIBITIONS.